The GTOS system consists of three elements. Throughout this document the term "GTOS" used on its own means the entire GTOS system. Individual elements of the GTOS structure are mentioned only where it is appropriate to distinguish them.
GTOS Networks:
The networks of national stations, sites, and areas are where observations are made and data and information are collected. Included in GTOS Networks are all the centres, designated and un-designated where GTOS data are stored, managed or analyzed, and where assessments and other forms of evaluation are made. A number of different types of networks are involved based on environment types (e.g. Coastal, Glacier) and organizational efforts (e.g. regional/national networks). A GTOS Network Panel (GT-Net Panel) will provide an organizational link between the various networks and the other elements of GTOS.
GTOS Programme:
The work programme of GTOS, the reason for gathering and analyzing the data and information.
GTOS Management:
GTOS Management provides the means for bringing together the various independent national networks, habitat networks that comprise GTOS and in making their liaison and co-operating easier, more cost effective, and more productive.
At present this has three components.
1. Co-sponsors
Role
The GTOS Co-sponsoring organizations collectively are the primary authority governing GTOS with all other governing authority descending from them. They formally take legal and administrative responsibility for its existence and operation, and for the funding of its Secretariat. Each Co-sponsor contributes a jointly agreed amount annually, mainly towards the operational costs of the GTOS Secretariat. Funds for this purpose are deposited in a specially created GTOS Trust Fund administered by the host organization of the GTOS Secretariat (currently FAO).
The Governing Bodies of the organizations that Co-sponsor GTOS have ultimate authority over GTOS since each must give its prior approval, for each of its budgetary periods, on the level of administrative and financial support that its organization provides to GTOS. The organizations supporting the three Global Observing Systems, including GTOS, have formed a Sponsors Group (see Annex II) as a mechanism for improving inter observing system co-operation, limiting duplication, and facilitating administration thus reducing costs. The Sponsors Group meets annually and on a time-to-time basis.
Membership
Currently there are five Co-sponsors of GTOS - the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the International Council for Science (ICSU). There is no limit to the number of organizations that can become Co-sponsors providing the existing Co-sponsors agree to the new candidates, and that each candidate formally agrees to conditions set by the existing co-sponsors, and formally recognizes its legal and administrative responsibilities as a Co-sponsor.
2. Steering Committee
The Steering Committee (SC) comprises the Main Steering Committee and its subsidiary bodies (such as working groups and panels).
Main GTOS Steering Committee
· Role
The Co-sponsors provide the GTOS Steering Committee with Terms of Reference governing its composition, general responsibilities, and powers, by which it provides scientific, technical and general directional guidance to GTOS. The Chair of the GTOS Steering Committee reports directly to the Co-sponsors. The Steering Committee meets on a time-to-time basis, at least annually, depending on the status of the program and available funds. The GTOS Steering Committee can create limited-life GTOS subsidiary bodies, such as Working Groups and Panels, for specific purposes as required and funds permitting.
· Membership
The initial Steering Committee is a group of 15-20 experts invited by the Co-sponsors to participate in their personal capacities and on a voluntary basis, augmented by one representative of each of the Co-sponsoring organizations. Co-sponsor representatives serve as members for an indefinite number of years and each Co-sponsor can change its representative at its own discretion. Each term of membership for an independent member is three years and members may not serve for more than two consecutive membership terms.
A rotational plan will be implemented after the initial 3 years whereby 4-5 members will be replaced each year thereafter. The Steering Committee will be reduced in size to 12 - 15 independent members after the initial 3 years. New members are identified by both the current Steering Committee and Co-sponsors and following Co-sponsor approval, will be invited by the Chairman of the Steering Committee on behalf of the Co-sponsors. Identification of new Steering Committee members will be based on expertise needed to provide a balance across GTOS programs, geographical representation, underrepresented groups, and user needs. The Steering Committee can co-opt additional persons from time to time to attend particular Steering Committee meetings when the Chair considers that discussion on a specific agenda topic needs expert opinion beyond that within the expertise of the Steering Committee.
· Executive Steering Committee
On certain matters - and when necessary for budgetary and time constraints - the Chair shall convene an Executive Session of the SC composed of a subset of SC members to act on behalf of the full Steering Committee. The full SC will be provided with recommendations and minutes from the Executive SC discussion sessions.
3. GTOS Panels
GTOS Panels are expert groups appointed, subject to available resources, by the Chair of the GTOS Steering Committee to consider and make recommendations on designated specific topics. Panels have no specified length of life but they may be disbanded by the GTOS Steering Committee on the recommendation of its Chair. Panels are composed of outside experts (about 80%) augmented by Steering Committee members (about 20%). Each may co-opt additional members for particular discussion items should this be necessary. The most important of these Panels will be the GTOS Network Panel which will provide most of the scientific and technical guidance to the GTOS Steering Committee while also serving as a forum for allowing direct input into GTOS management from the networks participating in GTOS.
GTOS Network Panel (GT-Net Panel)
· Background
The heart of GTOS is a world-wide network of representative sites and observational facilities at which terrestrial observations are made. These sites are mainly those already within existing national and international networks; however, new national networks and international networking activities are expected that would become involved in GTOS, eventually reaching over 100. GTOS will continuously attempt to involve these current and future activities, especially as gaps in coverage are revealed. To ensure that GTOS develops along sound scientific lines and in ways that do not contradict the already operational aims and goals of each participating network, it is essential that each participating network is represented within GTOS. The many national sites and networks are organized into different international networks (e.g. Glacier-net, Hydrology-net - see figure 3).
Each of these international networks will have a person designated by that network that will serve on a GTOS Network Panel (GT-Net Panel). Each site or network will have a say in the international network to which it belongs and be able to pass information and directives using the designated person for that network. In this way, each type of network will have a voice in determining how GTOS will operate and the directions in which it will move. This two-level hierarchy of sites/national networks and international networks will provide the guidance GTOS needs, provide a voice for all sites and networks and be economical. The various international networks will host their own meetings and determine their own governance rules.
The GT-Net Panel will be, therefore, in effect the GTOS Scientific and Technical Committee that was proposed, along with a GTOS Steering Committee, at the Fontainebleau meeting in 1992. Such a body is very important if GTOS is to succeed because it is vital that active terrestrial/aquatic scientists at the forefront of their fields should keep GTOS abreast of current scientific findings and applications. The reports of the GT-Net Panel will come before the GTOS Steering Committee which will consider them in light of current political, economic, social and development needs thus giving GTOS the requisite geopolitical and scientific balance.
· Role
The GT-Net Panel has no operational mandate and exists to provide the GTOS Steering Committee with sound scientific and technical guidance on all matters relating to the implementation and operation of GTOS terrestrial observation programmes including practical advice on means to facilitate their on-going operation. This guidance includes advising on the future expansion of GTOS networks, observational and analytical aspects of GTOS, identification of important gaps in geographical, ecosystem and observation coverage with suggestions on how the gaps might be closed, necessary metadata, harmonization approaches including quality assurance and quality control procedures, evaluation of methods for use within GTOS, and national scientific and technical capacity building and training. Individual Panel members and their respective organizations may be asked to assist from time-to-time in some operational tasks such as transforming scientific data into other forms for use by national policy makers.
FIGURE 4: Structure of the GTOS System of Networks (GT-Net)
· Membership
The GT-Net Panel is composed mainly (about 75%) of scientists designated by the international networks participating in GTOS and members of the GTOS Steering Committee (about 20%) plus a few (about 5%) independent scientists of distinction who ma have no direct role in GTOS and its networks. Each of the international networks will develop its own membership rules and procedures for designating the representative to the GT-Net Panel. The Chair of the GT-Net Panel will be elected from the panel members and will report to the Chair of the Steering Committee. The GTOS Secretariat will serve as the focal point for the Panel and act as its Secretariat.
4. GTOS Working Groups
· Role
Working Groups are informal subsidiary bodies of the GTOS Steering Committee and are created by its Chair on the recommendation of Steering Committee members. Each Working Group is led by a designated member of the Steering Committee. Working Groups are created to consider, develop or evaluate specific topics and issues thought relevant to the GTOS programme and its operations. Working Groups have no fixed length of life but are generally short-term. Each is disbanded on completion of its work. Working Groups normally do not meet but communicate and interact by electronic and other means. Very occasionally, however, a topic may be of such complexity or importance that electronic communication is not sufficient and an actual meeting is required. If the Chair of the Steering Committee approves, and available funds permit, the GTOS Secretariat will support such a meeting.
· Membership
Each Working Group is comprised of those Steering Committee members who volunteer to join because they are interested and knowledgeable in the discussion subject. Working Groups may seek advice (or co-opt) where necessary) from those on the GTOS Roster of Experts and from others not members of the Steering Committee or Roster.
5. Secretariat
· Role
The Secretariat provides the continuity necessary to keep GTOS operational. The Director of the Secretariat reports to and liaises with the Chair of the GTOS Steering Committee over liaison and operation of the national networks comprising GTOS, and keeps the Co-sponsors informed on progress and problems. The Director also attends meetings of the Sponsors Group of the Global Observing Systems.
· Organization
A small full time funded administrative secretariat headed by an internationally recruited Director. The Secretariat should be located in a national or international host organization (currently FAO). Secretariat staff are staff members of the host organization for administrative and audit purposes. In addition to the Director, the Secretariat should have two other professional staff and appropriate secretarial services. The Secretariat should also be able to accommodate additional support staff supplied from or through other sources, such as Junior Programme Officers, Associate Experts, senior retired academic and industrial staff, and direct short-term secondment from governments and industry.
