Pilot projects
Recommendation 4.1: It is recommended that mapping the spatial distribution of NEP be included as an explicit objective of the NPP project, and that the project be renamed accordingly (“NPP/NEP” is a possibility, used below).
Recommendation 4.2: It is recommended that all GTN-E sites interested in participating in the NPP/NEP project be included in the initial phase of testing the satellite-derived products (see also Section 11).
Recommendation 4.3: It is recommended that GOFC work with NPP/NEP to meet its Forest Biophysical Processes theme objectives and that it provide biomass burning emission estimates for that purpose.
Recommendation 4.4: It is recommended that GOFC broaden its Land Cover theme to include all terrestrial ecosystems, and that it establish close linkages with global land cover mapping activities under EOS Terra.
Recommendation 4.5: It is recommended that GOFC establish access and linkages to national forestry agencies on behalf of both NPP/NEP and GOFC projects.
Terrestrial carbon theme
Recommendation 5.1: TOPC recommends that GCOS/GTOS support the development of the TCI concept along the lines described Appendix V, including interactions with key agencies and interest groups as well as additional meetings as required.
GTOS non-climate observation requirements
Recommendation 6.1: It is recommended that GTOS consider the following steps to finalise the variables for GTOS non-climate requirements:
examination of the variables and specifications from the perspective of models/intended uses of the variables;
additional reviews of the freshwater and land quality variables by other experts;
preparation of exact definitions for individual variables and terms where required; and
preparation of a GTOS report containing a description of the process used, the definitions of the various terms and criteria used, and the final specifications.
Glacier network
Recommendation 7.1: Given the potential of GLIMS to provide a fundamental enhancement to the global capability for glacier monitoring, the following actions should be taken:
GTOS and GCOS should continue supporting GLIMS as an important component of systematic global observations of glaciers
GLIMS should be endorsed as a pilot project in the TOPC framework, with the goal of integrating GLIMS-developed capabilities into GTN-G
TOPC/GCOS/GTOS should support GLIMS in securing resources needed to carry out its plans in the various glacier regions of the world. In particular, a letter should be prepared to highlight the importance (both short-term and long-term) of GLIMS for the funding process.
GLIMS should strive to ensure that regional gaps are filled where possible and should use existing GTN-G contacts/sites for this purpose.
Recommendation 7.2: That the process initiated by COP-4 be used to increase the comprehensiveness of GTN-G coverage (refer to Section 7.1).
Recommendation 7.3: It is recommended that based on the results and experience from GLIMS, glacier monitoring be incorporated in the terrestrial theme of IGOS-P when the latter is being defined.
Permafrost network
Recommendation 7.4: TOPC recommends that GCOS/GTOS send out invitations to countries to participate in GTN-P, based on the plans developed by IPA.
Recommendation 7.5: TOPC recommends that the borehole sites be identified in GTN-P as part of the measurement of the thermal state parameter.
Recommendation 7.6: TOPC recommends that once initial sets of sites (active layer and boreholes) are identified they be entered into the GTN database (refer to Section 11).
Recommendation 7.7: TOPC encourages GTN-P to continue improving the network, the comprehensiveness of its geographic and temporal coverage (with priority emphasis on mountain and plateau regions of Eurasia and South America), and its long-term viability and functioning, along the lines of the action plan developed (refer to Appendix VII).
Recommendation 7.8: TOPC endorsed IPA and GTN-P initiatives in recovery of data in digital form, including soil temperature observations in Asia and historical permafrost borehole data.
Hydrology network
Recommendation 7.9: Water use should be added to the list of hydrologic variables to be obtained globally. The USGS model of reporting WATER USE both by political and hydrologic spatial units, for various economic/industrial sectors, on a five-year time step, could be used as an appropriate format.
Recommendation 7.10: GTOS should develop contacts with HELP coordinators to see how programmes could be developed in a coordinated manner.
Recommendation 7.11: GTOS should continue exploring ways of improved availability of snow depth and other observations, and should consider the feasibility of proposing “water theme” in IGOS-P framework.
Recommendation 7.12: TOPC recommends that the meeting on hydrological observations be prepared according to the outline in Section 7.3.6, and an organising committee should be established representing both ‘source’ and ‘use’ agencies.
Ecology network
Recommendation 7.12: TOPC recommends that GTN-E be expanded if possible to include all ILTER sites and that these be engaged in the demonstration projects to the maximum extent feasible.
Recommendation 7.13: TOPC recommends that GTN-E serve as the focal point for the involvement of the long-term ecological sites in the NPP/NEP and the GOFC projects.
Recommendation 7.14: TOPC recommends that NPP/NEP and GOFC projects further examine the adequacy of the existing flux networks for the two projects, and make appropriate recommendations for further action.
Reporting on national observation networks
Recommendation 8.1: TOPC recommends that the above approach be considered in obtaining national inputs on climate-related observing networks
Recommendation 8.2: TOPC recommends that the member GT-NET networks develop the required information on the present networks, with the support of GCOS and GTOS secretariats.
Land cover data sets
Recommendation 10.1: TOPC recommends that close links be established with groups involved in the preparation of global or significant regional data sets, to facilitate early access to such data sets and to highlight their availability for G3OS purposes.
Recommendation 10.2: TOPC recommends that GOFC take the lead in organising a workshop on land cover classification and mapping methodologies involving high resolution data sets over large areas.
TEMS development
Recommendation 11.1: Regarding the next steps in the development of TEMS, TOPC recommends that:
All sites that are participating in GTOS be added to GT-Net database (including national networks in ILTER, Central & Eastern Europe Regional Network, GTN-P, GTN-G, Fluxnet, South & Eastern Africa Regional Network, and NoLimits)
The sites participating in the NPP/NEP, GOFC, GLIMS and other demonstration projects as they develop, be flagged in the database
In collaboration with WMO (Dr Donald Hinsman), GOSIC (Dr Ron Wilson) and GOSSP (Dr Francis Bretherton), the necessary steps be taken to link TEMS with the WMO database of observation requirements and capabilities, thus enabling comprehensive overviews and analyses of requirements vs. capabilities (space- and ground-based)
A template of all GTOS variables be added (as they are confirmed), and variables for which sites have data be identified in the database
A (initially central server-based) search capability be developed to sort by GTOS variable(s), network, etc.
An interactive plotting capability be developed to map sites selected in a search. This will complement (or be an option to) the list of sites identified in any given search
Additional resources be identified to facilitate the above changes.
TOPC data sets
Recommendation 12.1: The above data sets should be added to the GOSIC inventory of relevant data sets.
