A Global Observing System Network of existing networks and sites that are making in situ land and freshwater measurements that are relevant to GTOS and GCOS should be formed. The network should be administered by GTOS but clearly be designed to meet the needs for terrestrial and freshwater observations of all three global observing systems.
The GTSC should:
Issue a set of formal invitations to those networks at the meeting and any additional ones they deem appropriate to form an initial GOS-Net;
Provide the necessary leadership for GOS-Net by assuring the GTOS secretariat does the following:
(a) Serve as the documentation and information centre for GOS-Net and prepare information or action documents pertaining to GOS-Net, as required by the GTSC;
(b) Maintain a meta-database about the networks and sites participating in GOS-Net and make the database available on the web;
(c) Provide technical assistance to networks and sites as mutually agreed on a case-by-case basis with the network/site involved and the GTSC;
(d) Maintain a library of methods that are used by sites and networks and provide a reference list of these methods on the web;
(e) Carry out other selected tasks in support of GTOS as mutually agreed to with the GTSC and/or Director of the GTOS Secretariat;
(f) Support the implementation of demonstration projects and other GOS-Net activities;
(g) Provide computer support for the assembly and exchange of data to facilitate the work of the GOS-Net, as agreed on a case-by-case basis;
Establish a GOS-Net Network Panel consisting of representatives of those networks and sites that are participating in the initial GOS-Net and representatives of the GTOS and GCOS Steering Committees;
Request that the U.S. LTER office in New Mexico provide secretariat support for GOS-Net;
Endorse the NPP/NEP demonstration project;
Develop a process to effectively review GTOS including GOS-Net at periodic intervals. The review process is a critical form for keeping the programme at a high quality and ensuring that projects are appropriate;
Recognising the climate requirements are well developed it is recommended that the GTOS steering committee develop specific requirements for other priority issues as soon as possible. The conventions document prepared by Dr Gwynne and the work of the DIVERSITAS programme are excellent starting points.
The JSTC should:
Jointly sponsor a GOS-Net Panel consisting of representatives of those networks and sites that are participating in the initial GOS-Net and representatives of the GTOS and GCOS Steering Committees;
Endorse the NPP/NEP demonstration project;
Actively participate in the review process of GOS-Net.
