2 November 2015
Status Report on GCOS Released
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The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) has released the report, ‘Status of the Global Observing System for Climate,' which reviews the overall status of Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) that support the work of the UNFCCC, and assesses progress made on the latest GCOS implementation plan.

GCOS26 October 2015: The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) has released a report, titled ‘Status of the Global Observing System for Climate,’ which reviews the overall status of Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) that support the work of the UNFCCC, and assesses progress made on the latest GCOS implementation plan.

A new GCOS Implementation Plan, which will provide actions or plans to address gaps, deficiencies or additional requirements that have been identified, is being developed for release and submission to the UNFCCC in 2016.

The report, produced at the invitation of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) of the UNFCCC, reiterates that global observation of the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and land: is essential for identifying climate variability and change, and for understanding their causes; provides data for evaluating and refining models that predict variability in the near future; and projects how the climate will change in the longer term. The publication details how well these observations are faring, the progress made and where deterioration has occurred. It also provides a basis for identifying those actions needed to reduce knowledge gaps, improve monitoring and prediction, support mitigation, and improve information on impacts, adaptation and vulnerability.

GCOS aims to provide comprehensive information on the total climate system, involving a range of physical, chemical and biological properties, and atmospheric, oceanic, hydrological, cryospheric and terrestrial processes. It, inter alia, maintains and works to strengthen the GCOS Surface Network (GSN) and the GCOS Upper-Air Network (GUAN), which have helped GCOS and National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) incorporate climate requirements into meteorological service procedures and provide the foundation for the Regional Basic Climatological Network.

GCOS is a joint undertaking of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Council for Science (ICSU). [WMO Press Release] [Publication: Status of the Global Observing System for Climate] [Global Climate Observation Conference Website]

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