Kristin Vanderbilt using GTOS documentation informed the participants of the workshop on the organization, goals, and links GTOS has with other observing networks. The emphasis on the improvement of data exchange and accesss to information by wide circle of users was highlighted. As well as the need to harmonize methods, data classification and data dissemination.
The major issues addressed by GTOS were described as follows:
Changes in land quality;
Availability of freshwater resources;
Loss of biodiversity;
Climate change;
Impacts of pollution and toxicity.
Due to the ongoing revision process the TEMS metadatabase was not available on the Internet during the period of the workshop. However a copy of the TEMS 97 database was available to illustrate how the database can be used to find information about participating sites. Using reports of workshop attendees and literature sources a preliminary compilation of metadata on the types and length of data sets of selected sites in the CEE Region was produced.
