The mission of GTOS is to provide policy makers, resource managers and researchers with access to the data they need to detect, quantify, locate, understand and warn of changes (especially reductions) in the capacity of terrestrial ecosystems (including managed ecosystems) to support sustainable development and improvements in human welfare, and to help advance scientific understanding of such changes.
GTOS definition
GTOS is envisaged as a dedicated long-term, integrated, user-driven observing system for monitoring the extent, form and function of terrestrial ecosystems, including those of managed lands, and detecting and measuring alterations in them resulting from climate changes, changes in human activities such as land-use and industrial development, and changes from other causes such as tectonic activities.
GTOS scope
GTOS addresses the total terrestrial ecosystem complex, including coastal systems, and thus considers biological, chemical and physical properties and processes. It works closely with, or through, the other two Global Observation Systems. GTOS is thus global in scope with comprehensive world-wide coverage and addresses phenomena that are global in their nature, impact or interest.
GTOS time trends
GTOS provides continuity of information collection over the long-term periods which are consistent with the rate at which global processes occur in order to allow sensitive and timely detection - and therefore early warning - of changes in trends.
GTOS data
GTOS does not itself make observations although it may generate data products. Rather GTOS identifies, encourages and otherwise facilitates the making of observations by national and international organizations in support of their own requirements and objectives, as well as in support of common goals.
GTOS research
GTOS is not a research programme. It does not undertake research in the field or laboratory. GTOS does, however, support and collaborate with existing international and national research programmes by making available relevant quality assured data for their use. Conversely, the research programmes advise GTOS about the variables on which observations are needed and on how they should be measured.
GTOS finance
GTOS does not control large financial resources. It does, however, advise and guide those who need finance for the implementation of GTOS related activities on how to seek and obtain the necessary funds from recognized bilateral and multilateral funding sources.
1. Guiding Principle
Data products produced through GTOS have enhanced value to users because they result from related focused inputs from more than one GTOS participating network.
2. Synergistic approaches
Participation in GTOS will add to the value and/or use of data and information obtained from individual international or national observing networks by providing complementary information from the other networks on the principle that two bits of related data have more information value when they are considered together than when they are apart. Linking networks together within GTOS will, for example, widen the range of studies possible, foster multidisciplinary research, extend spatial and temporal coverage, and through inter-comparison exercises and model testing, will greatly improve predictive power.
Integration of networks within the GTOS framework will also enable the applicability of protocols and standards to be more widely tested thus greatly facilitating national and international quality control. Such integration will also assist in more cost effective use of capital equipment and facilities by encouraging their collaborative use. Most importantly, the making available to each network participating in GTOS of the data series collected by the other component networks will materially aid in developing more effective, better based, common national management and resource utilization policies and strategies that will be of correspondingly greater value to governments and others concerned with sustainable development.
1. GTOS Data Collection Objectives
Objectives
Identification of relevant factors: the identification and quantification of the natural and anthropogenic factors that affect terrestrial ecosystem function and structure.
Factor rating: the determination of the relative importance at national, regional and global levels of the natural and anthropogenic factors that affect terrestrial ecosystems and their interactions.
Changes over time: To distinguish between short-term natural variations or perturbations, and long-term changes of anthropogenic origin.
Modelling possible future changes: The provision of assistance to modelling and multidisciplinary dynamic analysis of possible future changes scenarios in terrestrial ecosystems. These changes must not only be detected and described, but understood and predicted with some degree of advanced warning.
Attainment of objectives
GTOS will meet these data collection objectives by adopting appropriate mechanisms to:
Achieve an equitable partnership between data generators and data users through a harmonized and equitable system for integrated terrestrial monitoring and assessment that meets both the relatively immediate needs of national governments and the longer-term needs of the global -change research community;
Develop a hierarchical system of sites, remote sensing imagery, and variables that can provide the data essential for the clarification of the key questions and uncertainties on the resilience or vulnerability of terrestrial ecosystems to anthropogenic forces and their possible responses to them;
Promote the upgrading of site instrumentation and management where appropriate, and establish additional monitoring sites to ensure adequate representation of the dominant or most sensitive managed agro-ecosystems, biomes and ecotones;
Bring together existing monitoring networks into a global network of networks, and catalyze the establishment of new networks as required;
Gain international acceptance for a common data management framework with internationally accepted protocols and procedures for the collection, harmonization and free exchange of compatible data;
Support national monitoring systems and programmes in training and project preparation, and provide advice and assistance in obtaining external financial support.
2. Data quality and harmonization
Guiding Principle
Data produced through GTOS are high quality, compatible, comparable, reliable and can be used with confidence by policy-making and decision-making bodies, international programmes, and the scientific community.
GTOS harmonization framework and levels
A conceptual science and methods framework is needed to ensure that ongoing national programmes with different aims, when brought together within GTOS, produce compatible data for use in subsequent analyses. The framework would also allow better coordination of research and observational activities and help to ensure that all the necessary data are being collected. Such a framework would provide clear guidelines to be followed in specific observation situations. To encourage and achieve harmonization GTOS should/WILL seek representation on bodies that define protocols and standards, and should/WILL actively promote the protocols and standards that GTOS adopts. In most cases three levels of harmonization can be recognized.
Metadata harmonization
The first and most general level is that of recording information on who is doing what, where, how and why. Such metadata information is required for all coordination activities and as a basis for decisions on where to employ financial resources most effectively. The proper collection and distribution of such information is a harmonization task in itself.
Data integration and data aggregation
To provide harmonized information to GTOS users, the data collected in different environmental research and monitoring programmes at different sites must first be integrated to ensure that the data of different origins are compatible and can be compared. The data must also be aggregated further for local, national, regional and global analyses and for use at different levels of decision making. Thus integration and aggregation must be performed both within and between the different programmes of the various networks taking part in GTOS. To do this satisfactorily will require reaching agreement on the definitions of objects, classification systems (e.g. vegetation, land-use, land-cover) and the formats for data handling and exchange. Similarly any models used in GTOS should be comparable and compatible in supporting the integration and aggregation of data.
Data collection and generation
Ensuring data compatibility in basic data gathering for GTOS will require that the same parameter be recorded in the same way using the same units, averaging time, sampling frequency and codata.
Ensuring GTOS data comparability will require that data have a properly documented and defined level of quality. Since it is not possible to apply standardized measurement techniques globally, quality assurance and quality control will be the main means of achieving useful harmonization at this level.
GTOS quality assurance and quality control
Data quality assurance programmes, including direct quality control, are applied at different levels in the data gathering process. These include: in the field or laboratory, at the GTOS Data Centres, in approvals to the final database, and in simple statistical and graphical evaluations to check on the validity and representativeness of the acquired data. Because of its geographical nature, wherever possible GTOS data should be spatially and temporally referenced. GTOS should consider developing more than one level of quality control in order to record unusual or sparse but valuable data that otherwise might be lost. In all cases the true reliability of these data should be indicated. Application of quality control procedures will give data international and scientific credibility, indicate their reliability, and ensure their acceptance by users in both the development and scientific communities.
3. Data ownership and distribution
Guiding Principle
GTOS aims to distribute data in an unrestricted manner to encourage free flow of data and information between GTOS data providers, GTOS data processors, and GTOS data users, while respecting the rights of sovereign nations in this regard.
Unrestricted data availability
Ideally past, present and future data and information generated or supplied through GTOS should be readily available to potential users in a free and unrestricted manner. This means that all users can obtain them at no more than the cost of reproduction and delivery without charge for the data and data products themselves. Wherever possible, checked and verified data should be made readily accessible through direct access to databases held by GTOS Data Centres using both on-line and off-line means, and through the World Wide Web. This is in accordance with the call made at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, 1992) for an increasing global commitment to exchange scientific data and analyses and for promoting access to strengthened systematic observations. GTOS should develop appropriate policies and protocols for use in this area.
Restricted access to data
The above not withstanding, it is recognized that some institutions and governments may have strict rules regarding access to, and use of, data acquired by them. In other cases data obtained through GTOS may be thought of sufficient sensitivity that some national governments may not wish selected data series concerning their countries to be readily accessible to all potential users. This may apply particularly to some types of data about national renewable natural resources of economic significance which might be open to adverse manipulative use in the market place. In such instances, the right of a sovereign state to limit the distribution and availability of such primary data will be respected by GTOS. GTOS should then enter into discussions with the government or institution concerned to develop a protocol controlling the release of the restricted national data series for specified agreed purposes such as the development, testing and verification of certain scientific models.
4. Methods evolution
Guiding Principle
Recognizing that a diversity of data collection methods are available, wherever possible suitable, practical, proven and cost-effective methods for data acquisition, data management, and data analysis are encouraged by GTOS.
GTOS methods
Suitable tried and tested advanced methods for data gathering, handling and analysis must be used within GTOS. Methods recommended for GTOS should in general be available in both developing and developed countries. New methods are constantly evolving and these should be kept under review. With very few exceptions, proven methods should be used.
Review of relevant methods should become an ongoing activity of the GTOS Terrestrial Observation Network Panel which should make recommendations to the GTOS Steering Committee as appropriate.
5. Data use
Guiding Principle
GTOS data are of selected variables chosen to meet specific user needs, and are made available to users in forms, including transformations and derivations, appropriate to those needs.
Analysis and management
GTOS will ensure that capacity is identified or developed in participating nations for performing the analyses that transform data into information usable by planners and policy makers on terrestrial issues related to environmental and natural resource management (including sustainable production of food and forest products). GTOS will ensure that criteria are available for models and GIS applications (inter alia) to allow aggregation of derived national information at the global level.
GTOS data uses
GTOS is a user driven system in which data are gathered on variables chosen to help answer specific questions posed by potential users in policy making bodies, international programmes and the scientific community. The variables selected are those that can provide the most information about the topic of interest for the least expenditure of time, effort and money. Most directly measured data relate to the present but in some cases sample analyses will produce information about past environmental events (e.g. historical temperatures or past vegetation types).
GTOS data can be supplied as straight data, or they can be transformed into secondary data such as technical indicators or tertiary data such as indices or composite indicators that may be more suitable for some uses. Data can be measured directly with known precision and accuracy, or they can be derived from indirect sources such as satellite images. In these cases a relationship must be established between actual observations made at a particular site and the indirect satellite measurements. GTOS site data will, therefore, be used as ground truth for calibrating satellite data. GTOS data will also be used to develop, test and verify a wide range of environmental and ecological models for global change studies, and for use by planners, development economists and social scientists.
6. Data scales
At the centre of GTOS is a five-tier hierarchy of data collection which is referred to as the Global Hierarchical Observation Strategy (GHOST). It consists of large-scale studies, research centres and institutes, ecosystem research programmes, national and regional networks and satellite remote sensing (see annex III for more information on spatial/temporal scales and upscaling).
7. Identification of gaps
Guiding Principle
On-going GTOS programme actions are taken to help close known data and information gaps relevant to the priority areas of GTOS.
Gaps in data and knowledge
There are major uncertainties and gaps at all levels in knowledge including, for example, environmental and ecological processes and their functions, the extent of ecosystems and their component species, and the availability and sustainability of exploitable natural resources including unpolluted air, soil and freshwater. Many important data series are not available or are only partly developed (e.g. changes in soil properties, soil carbon, erosion rates, and contaminant deposition patterns).
There are also gaps in knowledge of how these are affected by altering patterns of industrialization, increasing urbanization, and other expressions of social change. Gaps occur in the analytical tools and methods available for effectively and meaningfully analyzing environmental and ecological data, including some very basic classification systems necessary for proper analyses and assessments (e.g. global classification systems for vegetation, land-cover and land-use). In short, there are no sectors or areas in which GTOS will work where there are not important gaps in data and information.
Identification of gaps
Data generated or obtained through GTOS can be used to help close many important knowledge gaps. However, GTOS cannot and should not, attempt to contribute to closing all known information gaps. It must identify knowledge gaps that are significant and which affect the five priority areas.
The GTOS Network Observation Panel should take the lead in identifying important gaps in geographical, ecosystem, and observation coverage, and in method development and data management techniques. The Panel should also make suggestions on how the gaps might be closed, or at least narrowed. Gap identification and review will be an important on-going activity of the Panel.
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Box 1: Effects of toxic exposures Chemical exposure A broad spectrum of toxic chemicals, often in complex mixtures, is being released constantly into the local, regional, national and global environments. The types of chemicals involved include heavy metals, and persistent organic compounds such as organo-chlorines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their metabolites. In animals these substances act as carcinogens, carcinogenesis modulators, genotoxins, and reproductive development toxicants; many are neurotoxins. These emissions are largely from industrial, disposal and energy production activities in both industrialized and developing countries. The widespread growth in the production and use of synthetic organic chemicals, plastics, pesticides and drugs, particularly over the last fifty years, is one of the main causes of increases in these emissions. There are three main types of emission sources; those from point sources (industrial plants), area sources (agriculture, households, small businesses and light industries), and mobile sources (mainly vehicles and aircraft). Persistant organic pollutants Increasing concerns are being raised about toxic exposures from persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and particularly those that mimic hormones and disrupt reproduction. POPs are chemical substances that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate through the food web, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health, and both natural and man made ecosystems. They include a number of pesticides which are now banned but are still widespread in the environment e.g DDT, but also others whose use continues to grow, e.g. various organophosphorous pesticides. Given the evidence of long-range transport of POPs to regions where they have never been used or produced and the consequent threats they pose to the whole globe it is important that they are included in the GTOS implementation plan. Any GTOS activities, however, must be drawn up to compliment and not duplicate on-going FAO and UNEP procedures such Prior Informed Consent (PIC) which help to control imports of environmentally hazardous chemicals and provide countries with data on them. Critical loads Uptake of these substances can adversely affect the health and well being of most organisms by altering the efficient functioning and metabolism of their constituent cells, which can result in illness, incapacitation, or even death. Each organism, or ecological sector, has a quantitative critical load of exposure to single or groups of specific pollutants below which significant harmful effects do not usually occur, according to present knowledge. Above the critical load level adverse effects may occur. Human health, the health of other organisms (including crops and domestic livestock), and the health of ecosystems are all disturbed by contaminant deposition that exceeds their critical loads. Direct and indirect effects The effects on organisms can be through direct exposure to the substances in the environment (intake of air, water and food, or through physical contact), or indirect where the contaminants affect other organisms on which the primary organism depends for survival. For example, in a given area, if contaminants deposited onto soil, water and grass from the air lead to changes in the vegetation species mix and a downgrading of its nutritional quality, any grazing animals dependent upon that vegetation will be adversely affected, which will, in turn, affect those that eat the grazers as a main source of food. This is as applicable to managed agricultural systems as it is to natural wildlife. The role of GTOS The world-wide monitoring of environmental contaminants allows trends in concentrations of substances in ecosystems to be assessed and enables predictions to be made of the development of contamination and of other deleterious effects. It also assists in the improved determination of critical load exposure levels of various specified contaminants and groups of pollutants for people, species, and ecosystems under different environmental conditions and in different geographical locations. Thus it provides fundamental information for protecting the environment. Monitoring of concentrations of specified contaminants in air, water, soil and biota is essential for introducing controls for the use and discharge of substances which may be detrimental to human health and to the natural environment. These activities require the systematic collection of material in the field and its analysis using special methods and precautions at all stages of sample handling. Many of the required data can be obtained through the GTOS networks. These will include samples gathered for chemical and physical analyses, as well as relevant quantitative data on changes in the extent, distribution and species composition of both managed and wild biota. GTOS can thus play a very important part in improving human health and well being throughout the world and in improving the state of the global environment. This area is potentially a very important user sector for GTOS. |
