The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS)/World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Atmospheric Observation Panel for Climate (AOPC) and the GCOS/Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)/Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS) Joint Data and Information Management Panel (JDIMP) jointly held their fourth sessions at the Hawaii Imin International Conference Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, from 28 April to 1 May 1998. On behalf of the Chairmen of the two panels, Dr T.W. Spence, Director of the Joint Planning Office of GCOS, opened the joint session at 10:00 hrs on 28 April 1998.
Dr Spence welcomed all the participants (Annex I) of AOPC and JDIMP to the joint session, and particularly Prof. Magaard, Associate Dean of the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii, and Dr. T. Schroeder, Director of the Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR). Dr Spence invited Prof. L. Magaard to give some opening remarks. He presented information about the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) and discussed research activities of the International Pacific Research Center (IPRC), which has been established jointly by USA and Japan. He noted that participating organisations include the University of Hawaii, the Japan Marine Science and Technology Center (JAMSTEC) and the National Space Development Agency (NASDA). Their research is focused on the Asia-Pacific Climate, Asia-Pacific Hydrological Cycle and Impacts of Global Changes on Asia-Pacific Climate.
It was suggested that the first two agenda items of the joint session are chaired by Mr M. Manton, Chairman of AOPC, and the third agenda item is chaired by Mr T. Karl, Chairman of JDIMP (Annex II).
The agenda of the joint session was modified and adopted (Annex II).
The Chairmen invited representatives of the three global observing systems (G3OS)[1] and the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) to update participants on recent programme activities.
2.1.1 Global Climate Observing System (GCOS)
Dr Spence explained the relationship among the global observing systems and described a context for the observations from atmosphere, ocean, and land surface as they relate to the Climate Agenda. GCOS has the responsibility to ensure that the needed elements from these three areas are addressed through partnerships with research and observing programmes. The final goal should be the delivery of products to the various user communities.
Dr Spence provided a brief update on recent GCOS progress. Now that plans have been published, a number of networks have been established. These include atmospheric components obtained through partnerships with the World Weather Watch and the Global Atmosphere Watch, oceanic components through partnerships with a number of implementation groups and GOOS, and terrestrial components, similarly with a number of collaborators including GTOS.
He noted that this joint session of the AOPC and JDIMP would provide an opportunity to develop a close relationship between the specialists in atmospheric observations for climate, and in data and information management. An end-to-end process from observations to delivery of products was envisioned. Particular focus should be on the atmospheric components such as the GCOS Upper-Air Network (GUAN) and the GCOS Surface Network (GSN), for example.
2.1.2 Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)
Mr J. Withrow reported on recent GOOS activities and progress. He informed the participants about the first GOOS Steering Committee held in Paris, 20 to 23 April 1998. The Steering Committee reviewed the overall GOOS programme including the activities of the various GOOS panels. The GCOS/GOOS/WCRP Ocean Observations Panel for Climate (OOPC) reported considerable progress in developing components of the ocean climate module. OOPC also co-sponsored a few workshops on time series, sea-level, and co-ordination of implementation activities. The Health of the Oceans Panel (HOTO) has developed plans and are initiating regionally focussed elements; the Living Marine Resources Panel (LMR) and the Coastal Panel (CP) are now defining requirements[2]..
Mr N. Hasegawa updated the panels on the recent development of the North East Asian Regional GOOS (NEAR-GOOS) activities. He noted that the NEAR-GOOS is a regional pilot project of GOOS, which was at the stage of the initial implementation with the emphasis on the exchange of existing oceanographic data. He informed the panels that the number of users of the NEAR-GOOS data exchange system and the volume of the exchange data have been substantially increased since the last JDIMP meeting. He particularly noted the increased contribution from the Fisheries Agency of Japan to the real time exchange of subsurface temperature profile data. He also reported that the collaboration between NEAR-GOOS and the Global Temperature Salinity Profile Project (GTSPP) on the quality control of temperature profile data was progressing as suggested by JDIMP-III. A proposal on the use of GTSPP as quality assurance mechanism in NEAR-GOOS would be made at the next meeting of the NEAR-GOOS Co-ordinating Committee planned for August 1998. The collaboration was also expected to make the GTSPP data coverage more complete.
2.1.3 Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS)
Ms G. Martin reported on the activities of GTOS. Since the last JDIMP meeting in July 1997, an Implementation Plan for GTOS has been prepared. It is a substantial document, which lays out the rationale for GTOS, the guiding principles, the structure of the observing system, and the general activities to be undertaken. The plan covers three phases - a preparatory year (1997), establishment (1998) and development (1999) - and prioritises tasks to be undertaken to establish GTOS for the 21st century.
GTOS is seen as a "network of networks", that will build on existing national and international networks bringing together their data, information and facilities. The emphasis throughout is on the provision of high quality, reliable information and data collected to answer identified needs of users. The development and implementation of policies on data and information is a high priority for the current year.
She noted two specific GTOS activities. The first is the operation of the Terrestrial Ecosystem Monitoring Sites (TEMS) metadatabase, which can be accessed and queried through the World Wide Web. There are over 1000 terrestrial sites listed, and support is being sought to update the content and quality of existing data. The site information may be of interest and/or of applicability to the other observing systems. The second activity is the establishment of a Global Terrestrial Observing Network (GT-Net) resulting from a GCOS/GTOS meeting of experts on Ecological Networks[3]. It will be composed initially of the networks represented at that meeting and will be undertaking projects to demonstrate the effectiveness of linking existing networks. Key activities will be the application of policies and guidelines in areas such as metadata, data exchange and release of data and information. Essentially it provides a test-bed for development of a wider network of networks in the longer term.
Dr J. Vande Castle reported on a demonstration project of GT-Net, to initiate interaction between GTOS monitoring sites and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration/ Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (NASA/MODIS) Land team. The purpose of the project will be to validate products produced by NASA from the MODIS sensor system of the NASA/ Earth Observing System (EOS) AM-1 satellite platform. The basis for the work is a need for climatic and land cover data to compare with the satellite data and data products. A key component of this work is the use of the TEMS database of global monitoring sites to provide information for potential validation sites. To take advantage of existing networks, site information within the TEMS database will be used for access to data from sites of the International Long-Term Ecological Research (ILTER) Network for the MODIS validation work. The long-term component of the ILTER network proposes a commitment to the data collection and a more operational rather than purely research component of the data. ILTER sites in exchange will receive MODIS product maps for their region. Dr H. Kibby has updated the older version of the TEMS database produced by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and further augmentation of the TEMS database is planned for the GT-Net interaction. The Network co-ordination office of the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) programme in the USA will facilitate data exchange between the ILTER and NASA/MODIS groups. Future plans are to integrate this work within the framework of the proposed Global Observing Systems Information Center (GOSIC).
2.1.4 World Climate Research Programme (WCRP)
Dr M.-L. Chanin reported that the WCRP Joint Scientific Committee (JSC) at its last meeting in March 1998 stressed the need for GCOS to implement an independent programme complementing the operational activities of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), and helping the scientific community to go from research to operational mode. A close co-operation with the Committee on Earth Observing Satellites (CEOS) in developing an Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS) is developing. Encouragement was given to AOPC to work in close co-operation with WCRP programmes: for example with the Stratospheric Processes and their Role in Climate (SPARC) programme for improving the observations of water vapour in the stratosphere and upper troposphere, and with the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) for observation of the monsoon system. Strong encouragement was also given to the Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment (GODAE) and to the realisation of a real global ocean observation system in close relation with the Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) and World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) programmes.
The Chairmen invited individual participants to report on items for joint panel consideration.
2.2.1 Atmospheric Observation Panel for Climate (AOPC)
Dr Manton reported on the Joint Scientific and Technical Committee (JSTC) recommendation related to the AOPC. He reported that the Panel is effectively co-operating with other programmes (i.e., CLIVAR) and that the draft of the Plan is making rapid progress. This session, the panel will review the GUAN and GSN "best practices", consider atmospheric constituents and aerosols, and address networks for precipitation.
2.2.2 Joint Data and Information Management Panel (JDIMP)
Mr Karl reviewed briefly the actions from JDIMP-III and JSTC. He noted the current joint meeting with the AOPC in response to JSTC recommendations. He reviewed the guiding principles for JDIMP.
2.2.3 Terrestrial Observation Panel for Climate (TOPC)
Ms Martin reported on the activities of TOPC. Through its activities to date the Panel has identified the set of terrestrial observations required to detect, predict and assess impacts of climate change[4]. Two types of initiatives are planned to acquire data for the required variables-establishment or consolidation of terrestrial networks, and identification and access to existing data sets. With regard to the latter, Panel members have identified over 150 possibilities and are assembling comments on each, describing such things as existing metadata, quality assessments, uses, etc. The Panel is due to meet in May to review the data sets and plan next steps, and seeks guidance from JDIMP, specifically with regard to format, standards and metadata requirements. A further question concerns the process or procedures to be followed once a data set has been identified as one, which meets the requirements of the observing systems.
2.2.4 Ocean Observations Panel for Climate (OOPC)
Dr D.E. Harrison reported on the progress of the OOPC, which met in Grasse 6-8 April, 1998[5]. He noted the recent activities of the panel directed toward implementation. He informed the participants that the Tropical Atmosphere-Ocean (TAO) array, which contributed essential information to document the 1997-1998 El Niño, has recently received operational support. The OOPC was also influential in organising a meeting to address ocean climate observations for GOOS and GCOS in Sydney, Australia. At the OOPC meeting, the panel considered the needs for biogeochemical sites in conjunction with the Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) programme and further refined the recommendations from the Time-Series Workshop[6] in Baltimore which it organised. The panel also played an important role in assessing sea-level programmes for climate. One of the most important projects of OOPC is the Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment (GODAE) which will address the assimilation of in situ and space-based information to provide a physical characterisation of the ocean.
2.2.5 WMO Commission for Climatology (CCl)
Mr P. Scholefield informed the joint session on recent deliberations of CCl at its 12th Session in August 1997 and at its Advisory Working Group held in February 1998. As a result of these recent meetings, new terms of reference for the Commission have been adopted which include an overall guiding statement that CCl shall be responsible for promoting and facilitating activities relating to climate and its relationship with human well-being, human activities, natural ecosystems and sustainable development. CCl also adopted a new structure assigning over 70 specific individuals to serve on one of four working groups or as individual rapporteurs. He cited two of importance for this session: the Joint CCl/CLIVAR Working Group on Climate Change Detection and a newly formed Working Group on Climate Information and Prediction Services (CLIPS).
Interaction with GCOS was discussed at both sessions and it was reaffirmed that the World Climate Data and Monitoring Programme (WCDMP) formed an important mechanism for meeting Members' needs for co-ordinating climate data services and monitoring. Concern was expressed that GCOS activities might appear to lie outside that mandate and with the need to maintain visibility and strong support for the extensive national climate observing networks of WMO Members. CCl agreed that the existing liaison channels with GCOS be strengthened and that CCl should take more interest in the broader scope of data types important to climate such as cryospheric, oceanic and terrestrial data.
CCl identified a number of priorities for future work within the Commission, which included the following: (i) further development and implementation of CLIPS, including seasonal to interannual climate predictions; (ii) the development of a comprehensive climate database management system for WMO Members to replace the existing Climate Computer (CLICOM) software; (iii) facilitate improved international exchange of climate data and products including promoting greater use of the Internet; (iv) the development of indices for monitoring and detecting climate change; (v) promoting the use of climate information to support sectoral activities such as agriculture, energy, urban development and human health; and (vi) completion of the revised Guide to Climatological Practices.
Participants welcomed the opportunity to see a pre-print copy of the 6th Global Climate System Review, which includes chapters on the oceans and cryosphere produced in collaboration with GCOS. The participants noted the imminent publication of a prospectus on the climate of the 20th century.
2.2.6 WMO Commission on Basic Systems (CBS)
Dr A.P.M. Baede reported on the outcome of the latest meeting of the CBS Working Group on Observations (CBS/WGOBS), 17-31 October, 1997. It discussed in particular GUAN and GSN and dealt with several items of relevance to the work of AOPC.
The WGOBS took note with appreciation of the monitoring report on GUAN stations, prepared by the European Centre for Middle-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), and was informed that several GUAN stations were reported "silent" or "suspect". It recommended that these reports be distributed to the members concerned, requesting their comments and reports on any remedial action taken. Moreover, it agreed that it would be desirable to evaluate the implementation of GUAN on the basis of ECMWF's six-monthly reports, and requested the Secretariat to undertake the necessary action. This might lead to some changes in the composition of GUAN.
The WGOBS noted the status of the establishment of the GSN and the offer of Germany and Japan to monitor the availability and quality of CLIMAT reports received from GSN stations, and that CCl had agreed that the World Data Centres (WDC) A and B would be appropriate depositories for CLIMAT messages transmitted through the Global Telecommunication System (GTS), including historical data and metadata. The WGOBS stressed that CBS should play a leading role in the implementation and operation of GUAN and GSN, but that other agencies involved (UNEP, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the International Council for Science (ICSU)) should have substantial responsibility for the maintenance of GCOS networks and assistance to National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in case of financial difficulties of Members in keeping their GCOS stations fully operational. The WGOBS further developed a set of "best practices" for GUAN and GSN stations, to be reviewed by AOPC for submission to the forthcoming CBS meeting for approval and adoption in the Manual of the Global Observing System (GOS).
Dr Baede reported then on the closure of the Omega radio-navigation system. The WGOBS noted that, of the 258 stations affected by the closure, by mid 1998 some 200 were expected to have been converted to alternative systems. For the remaining 50 stations, solutions were sought with priority being given to GUAN stations. It noted there is a continuing pressure on radio frequency bands used by the meteorological community. Further, the WGOBS noted a growing trend and increasing importance of Automatic Weather Stations (AWSs). Mr A.J. Lourens of South Africa was nominated as Rapporteur on this issue. Additionally, the WGOBS discussed the Year-2000 problem on the basis of a report of Mr J. Nash of the UK MetOffice, who reported that difficulties may be expected in particular in the operation of radio sondes. WMO will keep Members informed on the issue through their Internet site. The WGOBS requested Ms M. Atkins (UK) and Mr A. Sharp (Australia) to keep abreast of developments and to inform the Chairman of WGOBS and the Secretariat. Also, the WGOBS recalled that CBS-XI had agreed upon a Work Programme for the Working Group, one of the items of the Programme being "to provide assistance in the review of implementation of the GCOS upper-air and surface networks". Finally, Dr Baede noted that he had been nominated to act as Rapporteur on GCOS matters to the WGOBS.
2.2.7 WMO Commission for Marine Meteorology (CMM)
The President of the Commission for Marine Meteorology (CMM), Mr J. Guddal, described its functions and contributions relevant to GOOS. The major CMM issues with regards to JDIMP were: (1) metadata base establishment; (2) facilitation and compliance with the 'end-to-end' process, (3) consideration of a proposed 'High Quality' GOOS Services Bulletin. The bulletin should be aimed not only to describe the servicing and production, but also impact information from the end user communities. He noted that a process is underway to consider the merger of the Integrated Global Ocean Services System (IGOSS) and CMM.
2.2.8 Integrated Global Ocean Services System (IGOSS)
The Chairman of the Joint IOC-WMO Committee for IGOSS, Prof. D. Kohnke, informed the joint session about its observation system and its data management arrangements. He mentioned the establishment of a new organisational structure for the management of the Ship-Of-Opportunity Programme (SOOP), and the plans of the Joint Committee for the development and long-term maintenance of an operational SOOP network. Prof Kohnke briefly described the end-to-end data management system of real-time and non-real-time data streams, which has been established jointly with the IOC Committee for the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE). A very important part of this end-to-end data management scheme is GTSPP, which improved the real-time capture of data, the quality control of both real-time and non-real-time data, the monitoring of data flows, as well as the precipitation and distribution of data products. GTSPP may be used as an example for the management of data from the G3OS programmes.
2.3.1 Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS)
Ms L. Moodie explained that IGOS is a strategy to involve the major systems for satellite and in situ global environmental observations, for the atmosphere, oceans and the land in a framework that delivers maximum benefit and effectiveness in their final use. The major focus of IGOS is on definition of the requirements and responses. Organisations that represent suppliers and users want to present their needs and their capabilities. They want to develop a common understanding of current and planned systems, help to influence priorities and help to obtain new commitments for future investments in systems and services. Ms Moodie then gave an activity summary ranging from the first year of the introduction of the concept in 1995, to the first meeting of the Strategic Implementation Team (SIT) in February 1997 and the latest one in Paris, in March 1998. She pointed out that the tasks of the CEOS Analysis Group (AG) which was disbanded in November 1997, could be taken over by the Global Observing Systems Space Panel (GOSSP). The AG was created to identify overlap and gaps, and to analyse which existing and planned satellite missions, programmes and products meet defined user and national requirements. Furthermore she stressed that two out of the six IGOS pilot projects, Upper-Air and Ozone measurements, are an important element of the work of the AOPC.
2.3.2 Re-analysis Projects
Dr P. Arkin reported briefly on re-analyses projects, and stressed that the results give a more homogeneous view than in situ observing systems. The reanalyses concept has been implemented by three groups: the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Data Assimilation Office (DAO), the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/ National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) in partnership with the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), and the ECMWF. The DAO reanalysis is complete from 1980 through 1993. Extension to February 1995 is planned, and a series of reanalyses of the year 1979 are also proposed. The NCEP/NCAR reanalysis is complete from 1958 through 1996, and, together with the Climate Data Assimilation System (CDAS), provides a time series through the present. CDAS is an attempt to bring the concept of reanalysis into use in the monitoring of current climate variations through the use of the identical assimilation system to analyse current observations. The ECMWF reanalysis was completed for the period 1979-1993, and a longer version, covering the period 1957-1997, is planned to be completed by July 2001.
Mr D. Parker commented on the advantages and problems of re-analyses. They ensure global coverage, and unlike many quality-control procedures applied to available in situ data, can remove local biases. However, the introduction of satellite data into the NCEP Re-analysis resulted in spurious warming in the lower stratosphere in the tropics in 1979 and in high southern latitudes in 1977. The underlying problem probably lies in the model's physics, which, in the absence of sufficient data, makes the lower stratosphere too cold. Latitude-height profiles of zonal mean temperature changes from 1965-74 to 1988-97 show the same problem, which is largely removed by blending with radiosonde data as ground-truth. Mr Parker pointed out that there is a need for application of bias adjustments to radiosonde data, to compensate for instrument changes. Unadjusted data overestimate stratospheric cooling in some regions, and this will affect re-analyses if the data are not corrected. The biases in the NCEP Reanalysis are much smaller after 1979, and the NCEP Re-analysis's dynamics better represent Arctic lower stratospheric cooling than radiosonde data alone. The NCEP Reanalysis-radiosonde blend maintains the improvement over the Arctic.
2.3.3 Extreme Events Workshop
Mr Karl informed the participants on the results of a workshop on Indices and Indicators for Changes in Climate Extremes which was held at Asheville in June 1997. He also mentioned plans for an Asian Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) workshop later in 1998, hosted by Dr Manton, and referred to a follow-up climate extremes meeting in Asheville early in 1999. Mr Scholefield added that an Indices Task Group CCl/CLIVAR Working Group on Climate Change Detection is going to meet at the beginning of September 1998 in Bracknell, UK.
2.3.4 European Climate Support Network (ECSN)
Dr R. Heino described the ECSN and the work of the members of the European Meteorological Network (EUMETNET)/ECSN Programme. He added that ECSN could be seen as complementing the global activities of GCOS, by working on a regional scale through co-operation with the NMHS services. Dr Heino noted as an example the ECSN Regional Historical Climate Database (Regal Database).
2.3.5 El Niño - Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
Dr Harrison briefly revisited the 1997-1998 ENSO event. He reported that the observing systems performed very well and delivered quality data and operational products, e.g., sea surface temperatures. He suggested introducing an ENSO index to better identify the intensity of each event. It was emphasised that the monthly sea-level data will be an important element of the ENSO operational system. The panel stressed that WMO produces a monthly up-date on ENSO, which was considered as an excellent tool to communicate from end-to-end.
2.3.6 El Niño - Southern Oscillation Retrospective
Dr Spence informed the participants that an ENSO retrospective was being planned in response to a request from the United Nations. The retrospective will include a technical component organized jointly by WMO and IOC, and a component focused on socio-economic issues and impacts organized under the auspices of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR). A major conference is being planned in Ecuador for fall 1998.
2.3.7 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Dr Spence also reported on the third UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP-3) in Kyoto, December 1997. COP-3 requested a report on the adequacy of the observing systems to support the needs of the Convention. GCOS has agreed to take a lead role in preparing a document for the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) to address this issue. This document may be submitted to COP-4 in Buenos-Aires in November 1998. The participants discussed a possible co-operation between GCOS and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), particularly with regard to providing assistance to IPCC for its Third Assessment Report.
Dr Baede reviewed the history of GSN for the joint session. A Task Team developed a procedure to create an objective methodology for selection, which let to a first list of some 1000 stations. The CBS WGOBS reviewed the selection inviting input from regional lead centres, regional co-ordinators and rapporteurs on GCOS matters, and by Members concerned. The responses were evaluated during a second expert meeting, and recommendations were formulated on the monitoring of the exchange of actual and historical information and on the formulation of a set of "best practices". In the meantime the Secretary-General of WMO requested Members to comment on the selection and on the list of all surface stations, compiled by the Task Team, to correct this list and to indicate which stations were acceptable. Dr Baede commended the Task Team on its excellent job. He said that in particular the compilation and correction of the list of all stations was a very important achievement, which should be renewed regularly. On the basis of all information received, the Task Team completed a Final Selection of 969 GSN stations, 758 stations of which had already been approved and 211 of which were awaiting approval by the Members concerned. Germany and Japan offered to CCl to monitor the quality and availability of CLIMAT Reports, distributed by GSN stations over GTS. The WDC A and B would be depositories for the reports, the historical data and the metadata. The final selection will be submitted to the Presidents of the Regional Associations (RAs) for approval and subsequently to the GCOS JSTC and CBS for official confirmation.
Mr M. Werscheck elaborated on Germany's contribution to the joint Germany/Japan GSN Monitoring Centre (MC) at the German Weather Service (DWD), which will have a special emphasis on precipitation, due to the co-location with the Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (GPCC). He described the routine of processing CLIMAT data and the activities involved in monitoring, quality control and quality assessment. The DWD will use the expertise of the GPCC, the Global Collecting Centre (GCC) and the other national data centres to implement the database and procedures on the relational database system. The MC will report biannually to WMO and disseminate monitoring results via Internet according to WMO regulations. In addition, the MC will provide a quality controlled and flagged data set to the WDC A and B. The preparatory phase will be finished end of 1998. The database and quality control mechanism should enter the operational phase in 1999.
Mr Hasegawa presented the planned contribution of the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) to the GSN monitoring. JAM has agreed to the general concept and will share the responsibilities with the German MC. The Japanese MC will focus on temperature because it is already monitoring SYNOP reports due to earlier agreements.
Drs F. Webster and J.R. Wilson gave a presentation demonstrating the GOSIC. It will provide access to data sets, identify gaps in data information, but will avoid duplicating activities of the G3OS.
Dr Heino presented information on the Marine and Coastal Data Directory of Australia, a prototype search facility for data sets. The user can, for example, select the region, define search criteria and will obtain relevant metadata. He noted that the homogenisation of metadata is a problem. He added that the selection procedure for data sets is in process and that some data have been rejected which raised concern among some of the panel participants. It was proposed that instead of rejecting data, it should be flagged to indicate the quality.
With respect to data set registration, GOOS reported that it has not gone into the registration of data, but if so, it will seek guidance from JDIMP. GTOS is discussing data set registration. GTOS agreed that metadata is necessary but not sufficient, and that variables depend strongly upon subject of the data set.
Panel attendees noted that very often restrictions are imposed by countries on data supply. There was concern that if the commercial use of data is restricted the use of data is being narrowed. It was proposed that discussions should be initiated about data availability and its use for all user communities.
Mr Scholefield reported on Resolution 40 as it applies to the international exchange of climate data and products. CCl established a Task Team to see how the resolution is being interpreted and what problems might arise in the future. Due to the divergent views expressed by the Task Team Members, a meeting of the task team is planed for 10-11 June 1998 to develop a consolidated position that the President of CCl can use in his report to the 50th Session of the Executive Council of WMO in mid June.
An ad hoc working group was formed jointly by the AOPC and JDIMP. The purpose of this working group was to discuss AOPC/JDIMP cross-cutting issues including GUAN and GSN, extreme climate events, and an ENSO index. The Panel was charged to identify and clarify the interactions, responsibilities and joint projects between the two panels. Further, the progress of on-going projects should be reviewed and assessed, and new projects should be identified (see D 9.2).
The two panels resumed in joint plenary after the individual sessions and the break-out sessions of the working groups. The panel chairmen noted that both panels sharing members for their sessions. Working groups have been successfully set-up with mixed memberships to support and foster the cross-cutting activities between AOPC and JDIMP.
4.1.1 The AOPC Chairman summarised the action items of the individual panel session as follows. The elaborated list can be found in section A 9 of the AOPC session report.
Actions as recommended by the AOPC are:
1. Consider the overall process for the collection, processing, archiving, analysis and distribution of the atmospheric component of GCOS.
2. Designate specific centres to ensure the overall quality of data and to produce basic products from GCOS data.
3. Provide the panel with some statistics on the performance of the GTS, especially as it relates to the operation of GSN and GUAN stations.
4. Identify replacement stations for GUAN at high latitudes.
5. Approach NMHSs for their historic GUAN data to develop the generation of a CD-ROM of global quality-controlled historic GUAN data.
6. Identify additional GSN stations in central and western France to fill the data gaps.
7. Seek a more comprehensive data set from the GSN. GSN data should consist of: mean daily temperature, maximum daily temperature, minimum daily temperature, total daily precipitation, daily mean sea level and station pressure, daily mean wind speed.
8. Consider the issue of GSN data availability and adequate distribution with the help of NCDC.
9. Prepare a letter from WMO to NMHSs seeking GSN stations' historical daily data and meta-data, which would be sent to the World Data Centres A and B.
10. Develop a process for handling links with research groups providing atmospheric constituents observations.
11. Hold a workshop on SST, to be hosted by IRI, in November 1998.
12. Develop a draft of the AOPC Plan by September 1998 for CBS to consider.
13. Seek advice on whether AOPC could further assist IPCC with the provision of other data sets, diagrams and documentation to support the IPCC Third Assessment Report process.
Recommendations by the AOPC:
1. Send an annual letter from the JSTC Chair to the NMHSs that contribute to GUAN and GSN providing positive feedback on the appreciation of the broad community for contributions to GCOS, and informing NMHSs directly of the outcomes and outputs of their efforts.
2. Support the development of basic GUAN products.
3. Maintain GUAN core stations to provide long-term consistent upper-air observations.
4. Add new stations to the GUAN list, i.e., 4 sites in India and 1 site in each of Diego Garcia, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Angola. Approach USA to re-activate the TOGA radiosonde stations for GUAN at Wake Island and Canton island.
5. The Hadley Centre, the UK Met Office and NOAA/National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) to take the lead in quality control and assembly of GUAN data sets.
6. Exchange GUAN data free of charge in real time as deemed essential under WMO Resolution 40.
7. Identify the cause of any problem in the GUAN network and assist CBS with the development of appropriate solutions.
8. Note in the SBSTA document that developing countries have problems in funding continuing operations.
9. Continue to provide analyses of observation statistics of South American GUAN and non-GUAN data.
10. All GSN stations report in the correct CLIMAT format.
11. Send an AOPC representative to the GSN monitoring expert meeting, organised by Germany and Japan.
12. Provide daily GSN data directly from NMHSs in delayed-mode time and monthly GSN data in real time using CLIMAT format from the GTS.
13. NCDC take the lead in quality-control and analysis of daily GSN data.
14. Investigate the consistency and longevity of the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) and determine the links between ISCCP and in situ cloud observations.
15. Review the AOPC variables with respect to the WMO Affiliates Database and the AOPC Plan.
16. Consider the use of satellite data in GUAN and GSN both to assist validation and to develop composite products.
17. Consider the handling of satellite-based estimates of precipitation, particularly the Global Precipitation Climatology Program (GPCP) products at the next meeting of AOPC.
The AOPC endorsed:
1. "Best practices" for GUAN.
2. The revised list of GSN stations.
3. A GSN expert meeting hosted by the DWD, in co-operation with JMA end of 1998.
4. "Best practices" for GSN, suggesting changes in GSN to include daily data.
5. Proposal of OOPC to develop a number of reference sites around the world's oceans to provide baseline data on air-sea properties related to surface fluxes.
6. A workshop on extreme events in 1999 to follow on from the Asheville workshop in June 1997.
7. A proposal for the APN to sponsor a similar meeting on extreme events focused on the Asia Pacific region.
4.1.2 The JDIMP Chairman summarised the results of the individual JDIMP session as follows: (The individual issues have been discussed in detail in section D 9.)
Actions as recommended by the JDIMP:
1. Establish a link to the IPCC Data Distribution Centre.
2. Identify participating data centres in the G3OS data centre workshop.
3. Prepare a draft Data Management Plan.
Recommendations by the JDIMP:
1. Monitor GUAN and GSN data for temperature in an operational mode and for precipitation, pressure and wind in a delayed mode.
2. Prepare a letter from the WMO/CCl to NMHSs seeking historical climate data for GUAN and GSN stations.
3. Develop a feedback mechanism from users who participate in the metadata related activities.
4. Hold a participating data centre workshop in 1999.
5. Proceed with the Meta Data pilot project.
The JDIMP endorsed:
1. A workshop on extreme events in 1999 to follow on from the Asheville workshop in June 1997.
2. A workshop on SST as initiated by the AOPC (see AOPC action item 10.)
The agenda of the GSN expert meeting[7] was outlined by Mr Hasegawa and Mr Werschek (Annex A-I). Both panels recommended inviting experts from the UK Meteorological Office and NCDC.
The participants agreed that expert-meetings need to be set-up to identify products and responsible product centres. A workshop which will assess global and near-global sea-surface temperatures (SST) was agreed to be held to establish criteria satisfied by SST analyses. [Workshop on SST, to be hosted by the International Research Institute for Climate Predictions (IRI), at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) of Columbia University in Palisades, New York, 2-4 November 1998. Further information by Dr Phil Arkin: [email protected]]. Recommendations will be developed for AOPC and OOPC.
The AOPC Chairman suggested that future AOPC meeting formats start with the review of current climatic events and of the GCOS systems per se. The Panel then should discuss new activities and propose revisions to the AOPC Plan. The meeting should receive input from other bodies and panels and set-up task groups as needed (Annex A-II).
The Chairmen of AOPC and JDIMP thanked the participants for attending the session. They particularly thanked Dr Spence for the preparations for this joint session and his efforts on behalf of GCOS. The Chairmen closed the joint meeting at 13:00 hrs, 1 May, 1998.
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[1] G3OS stands for the three
global observing systems GCOS, GOOS and GTOS [2] Relevant documents are available from the GOOS Project Office [3] Report of the Meeting of Experts on Ecological Networks, Guernica, Spain, June 17-20, 1997, (GCOS-38/GTOS-10). [4] GCOS/GTOS Plan for Terrestrial Climate-related Observations (GCOS-32). [5] Report of the third session of the GCOS/GOOS/WCRP Ocean Observations Panel for Climate (GCOS-44). [6] Report of the Joint GCOS GOOS WCRP Ocean Observations Panel for Climate (OOPC) Ocean Climate Time-Series Workshop (GCOS-41). [7] Workshop on GSN monitoring, hosted by the German Weather Service (DWD), in Offenbach, end of 1998. |
