Gérard Brachet, chair of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), gave an informal presentation on CEOS and IGOS (Integrated Global Observing Strategy). He introduced a project proposed by Canada on the Global Forest Cover, that indicated GTOS support. CEOS is considering the possibility of having a CEOS/IGFA/GxOS sponsors meeting in early 1998 to finalize the selection and implementation schedule of specific projects.
The group agreed on the need for GTOS interaction with CEOS, but questions arose about the requirements for GTOS to co-sponsor CEOS projects. It was suggested to develop a policy, or at least some criteria in the choice of being associated with CEOS projects and in the role that GTOS should have.
Tom Spence, Director of the Joint Planning Office for GCOS, provided a brief overview of the activities that have been conducted jointly between GCOS and GTOS, in particular DIMP, GOSSP and TOPC. He mentioned in addition the joint publication of Version 2.0 of the TOPC Plan and the Bilbao meeting, coming up in the near future. He pointed out the need to have a joint publication policy, share common terminology and set up some process where the three observing systems explicitly agree on joint activities, in order to strengthen the collaboration and coordination among them. Tom Spence also addressed the Sponsors meeting held in Geneva in January. He felt it was the first time the sponsors actually took note of their responsibilities as sponsors. He stressed the need for GCOS, GOOS and GTOS to prepare a coordinated position for their next meeting in September. It was agreed that a copy of the January sponsors group report will be distributed to the Steering Committee.
Colin Summerhayes, Director of the GOOS Support Office, provided an introduction to GOOS. GOOS has five modules: Coastal Zones, Living Marine Resources, Health of the Oceans, Climate, and Services. Emphasis is placed on “end-to-end” services and products. In addition they jointly sponsor DIMP and GOSSP with GCOS and GTOS. He felt that the DIMP plan was an excellent starting point and that by GOOS adopting it has saved a considerable amount of work. GTOS should review it carefully and decide where to go from here. With regards to the coastal zones, he recognized the common interests between GTOS and GOOS, but did not feel the time was right for a joint panel. He suggested that GOOS and GTOS should have observers on each others panels.
At the Sponsors Group meeting in January, Geneva, it was agreed to produce a joint GCOS/GOOS/GTOS brochure. A draft text prepared by ICSU was circulated to the participants, asking them to send their comments to Sophie Boyer King in ICSU.
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Follow-up actions: · Secretariat to send to the Steering Committee a copy of the report of the First Sponsors Group meeting (Geneva, 13-14 January 1997). · Secretariat to send to the absent members of the Steering Committee the draft text for the joint GCOS/GOOS/GTOS brochure, asking them to send their comments to Sophie Boyer King in ICSU. |
