PREFACE

This Plan for terrestrial observations has been prepared by a Terrestrial Observation Panel for Climate (TOPC) jointly sponsored by the Joint Scientific and Technical Committee (JSTC) of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) and the Scientific and Technical Planning Group for the Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS). The Plan presents the minimum set of terrestrial requirements for GCOS and the climate change requirements for GTOS. It complements both the GCOS and GTOS programme plans.

The Plan provides an initial assessment of the requirements for climate-related observations which will be required to predict, detect and assess impacts of climate change. These requirements were developed in three meetings of the TOPC, but will be subject to revision as the Plan is reviewed, observational requirements change, and the scientific concepts and observational capabilities develop and improve. Future activities will focus on refining the requirements, prioritizing the requirements, and the initial implementation. It is intended that the Plan will be implemented through existing programmes.

Suggestions for additions or improvements should be forwarded to the GCOS Joint Planning Office, c/o World Meteorological Organization, P.O. Box No. 2300, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland.