1. GCOS Needs for Satellite Observations and Data
Stephen Briggs, Chairman, GCOS Steering Committee Carolin Richter, Director, GCOS Secretariat 29 January 2016

2. Recent and Next Milestones
Status Report of the Global Observing System for Climate (2015)
New Implementation Plan (2016)

3. WMO Congress in 2015 (Cg-17)
Commitment of WMO Members to
Resolution 39 (Cg-17): Global Climate Observing System
Excerpt from Cg-17 Report:
“ …Congress recommended that the Status Report and Implementation Plan should be
submitted for review to relevant WMO Technical Commissions and the appropriate Expert Teams,
before formal submission to the UNFCCC. …”

4. Status Report and Outline for the new GCOS IP submitted to UNFCCC SBSTA43/COP21
GCOS fulfils the responsibility to review and assess the development and implementation of the component parts of the climate observing system and to report to its sponsors, partners and to UNFCCC.
A report on the “Status of the Global Observing System for Climate” has been prepared during the period from May to October 2015 with contributions from panels and external experts. It has been submitted to public review during summer of 2015, and has been delivered to SBSTA on 20 October 2015, for presentation at COP21 in Paris.
Draft outline for the new GCOS Implementation has been submitted to COP21. The new plan is due for SBSTA45 / COP22 in 2016.

5. COP21 / SBSTA43, Paris, December 2015
Conclusion:
Encouraged GCOS to consider the outcomes of COP21 when preparing the new GCOS Implementation Plan.
Invited GCOS to collaborate with relevant partners to continue enhancing access to, and understanding and interpretation of, data products and information to support decision-making on adaptation and mitigation at national, regional and global scales.
Urged Parties to work towards addressing the priorities and gaps identified in the GCOS 2015 Status Report.
Invited Parties and relevant organizations to provide inputs to, and contribute to the review of, the new GCOS implementation plan.

6. Chronic of GCOS Reports and Plans: following the Second Adequacy Report in 2003, GCOS produced:
an Implementation Plan in 2004
a Supplement to the Plan in 2006 on requirements for satellite-based data products
a Progress Report in 2009
an updated Implementation Plan in 2010
an updated Satellite Supplement in 2011
and most recently:
The Status Report in 2015

7. Conclusions of the Status Report 2015

9. General finding on atmospheric observations:
Global observation varies in its nature, arrangement and extent across the atmospheric, oceanic and terrestrial domains.
Owing to the heritage of many decades of meteorological data collection, atmospheric observation is the best developed, with relatively dense though far from gap-free networks, clear observational standards, largely open data exchange and international data centres covering most, if not all, variables.
Refinement of atmospheric observation is on-going.

10. General finding on ocean observations:
Ocean observation has developed quickly, with international planning and implementation of observational networks, and new technologies that enable more and better autonomous data collection.
While there are still limitations and some issues with established networks, overall structures are in place for the improvement to continue.

11. General finding on terrestrial observations:
Terrestrial observations have traditionally been made on smaller scales, with different standards and methods in different countries. They also have a poor history of open data exchange. Space-based observation is now providing global coverage of improving quality for a number of variables, increasingly with open data access, and there is progress in other areas, through global networks for glaciers and permafrost, for example. Standards, methods and data-exchange protocols for key hydrological variables have been developed.
However, an integrated approach to terrestrial observation is still lacking.

12. Principal Findings for space-based components – slide 1/4
The newer and planned generations of operational meteorological satellite systems offer improved quality and a broader range of measurements. China is becoming established as the provider of a third pillar in the constellation of polar- orbiting systems.
The European Copernicus programme is placing additional types of observation on an operational basis, with increased coverage and quality of measurement, and accompanying service provision.

13. Principal Findings for space-based components – slide 2/4
There have been increases in the numbers of national providers, co-operative international missions and other collaborative arrangements.
There has been very little progress on the continuation of limb sounding and the establishment of a reference mission.
Continuity of measurement is at risk for solar irradiance and for sea-surface temperature at microwave frequencies.

14. Principal Findings for space-based components – slide 3/4
New observational capabilities have been demonstrated, and others are being prepared for demonstration. Future deployment is uncertain for some of the demonstrated capabilities, for example for monitoring cloud and aerosol profiles, sea-ice thickness and soil moisture.
The generation and supply of products derived from space-based observations have progressed well, with increasing attention paid to documenting product quality and uncertainty.

15. Principal Findings for space-based components – slide 4/4
Inter-agency cooperation has been effective in product validation and in starting to develop an architecture for climate monitoring from space and an inventory of products.
Data access is becoming more open, although there is still progress to be made. Some data remain to be recovered from early missions, and long-term preservation of data, including occasional reprocessing, is not yet fully ensured.

16. Detailed findings for:
In-situ and non-spaced components
Spaced-based component
Data Management
Reanalysis
International Organization of Observing Systems

17. download from gcos.wmo.int

18. New GCOS
Implementation Plan 2016

19. Timeline for the GCOS Implementation Plan
Preparatory work in 2013 – 2015 (GCOS panel meetings and three workshops with GFCS/UNFCCC/IPCC; Publication of Status Report)
15 November 2015 Draft Table of Contents submitted to COP21
2-4 February 2016 First Writing Team meeting, JRC, Italy
2-4 March Open GCOS Conference
April Bring work in progress to GCOS panel meetings
24-26 May Second Writing Team meeting, JRC, Italy
July Public review (6 weeks)
September Final version prepared in light of comments on the draft
September 2016 Final Version submitted to GCOS SC-24
October Final plan submitted to COP22

20. NEW GCOS Implementation Plan (2016)
 The new implementation plan is envisaging broadening its scope to global Earth`s environmental cycles, i.e., energy, carbon and water, and inter alia taking into account Sustainable Development Goals, climate services, climate indicators and relevant outcomes of discussions during COP21. It will advise on new requirements for measures needed for adaptation to a changing climate, and measures to mitigate climate changes.
 The new plan will lay out a new strategic approach to further implement the Global Climate Observing System and will introduce a section on cross-cutting disciplines and on scientific and technological challenges.

21. What came out of COP21 and the Paris Agreement:
Adaptation (Article 7(c)): Strengthening scientific knowledge on climate, including research, systematic observation of the climate system and early warning systems, in a manner that informs climate services and supports decision-making
Items for GCOS to consider
Observational requirements to monitor emissions and emission reductions (Global Stocktaking, Transparency)
Observational needs for loss and damage, adaptation etc.
Data needs of Public awareness (Indicators etc.)
Capacity Development (GCOS Cooperation Mechanism)

22. What do we need to consider in the next plan?
Are the current definition of ECVs suitable?
Are the current observations sufficient to assess the contribution of the hydrological, energy or carbon cycles to the changing climate?
Are additional ECV needed for mitigation or vulnerability, impacts and adaption studies and planning?
Are the monitoring networks sufficient and delivering data as needed?
Could storage of, and access to, data be improved?
What are appropriate indicators for
Communicating ongoing and historic climate change?
Guidance of actions to adapt to and manage consequences o f climate change?
What is role of GCOS in these?
What additional observations are needed post-COP21? (Observational requirements to monitor emissions and emission reductions (Global Stocktaking, Transparency), Technology transfer and Capacity Development (GCOS Cooperation Mechanism),

23. New Implementation Plan – Satellite Supplement
Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC - October, 2004
Systematic Observation Requirements for Satellite-based Products for Climate Supplemental details to the satellite-based component of the Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC - September 2006
Implementation Plan (2010 Update), August 2010
“Satellite Supplemental” 2011 Update, December 2011
New GCOS Implementation Plan, in December 2016
Satellite Supplement: to be published timely to the new implementation plan.