1. Terrestrial Observations Panel for Climate TOPC TOPC Terrestrial Observations Panel for Climate An overview of the TOPC Ispra, 3 rd March 2003 Alan Belward

2. Terrestrial Observations Panel for Climate TOPC UNFCCCUNCCDUNCBDUNCLOS IPCCMAGOOSGTOSGCOS An international framework TOPC AOPC OOPC TCO GOLD CGTOS

3. Terrestrial Observations Panel for Climate TOPC Guiding principles To provide strategic guidance to the Conventions secretariats, COPs & SBSTAs on terrestrial observations for the Climate Change Agenda: TOPC starts with the scientific rational –What questions are being answered through the collection of these observations? The quality and relevance of observations, fitness of purpose & expected impact are analysed Scope of the global requirement (not regional) is determined

4. Terrestrial Observations Panel for Climate TOPC Terms of Reference To liaise with relevant research and operational communities to identify measurable terrestrial properties and attributes which –control the physical, biological and chemical processes affecting climate, –are themselves affected by climate change or serve as indicators of climate change, –and where long-term observation records are essential to provide information concerning the impacts of climate and climate change;

5. Terrestrial Observations Panel for Climate TOPC ToR 2 & 3 To assess and monitor the adequacy of terrestrial observing networks and to promote their further development and capacity to exchange climate data and information; To assess and monitor the adequacy of Earth observing satellite systems and to promote their further development and capacity to measure terrestrial properties relevant to climate and climate change;

6. Terrestrial Observations Panel for Climate TOPC ToR 4 & 5 To identify gaps in present systems and –design, promote and periodically revise plans for a long-term systematic observing system that fills these gaps, makes the data available and so better serves the needs of the research and operational communities; To improve access to terrestrial data and information related to climate, –in particular through development and use of the Terrestrial Ecosystem Monitoring Sites (TEMS) data base and the Global Observing System Information Centre (GOSIC);

7. Terrestrial Observations Panel for Climate TOPC ToR 6, 7& 8 To co-ordinate activities with other global observing system panels and task groups; –AOPC, OOPC, GOFC-GOLD, TCO, CGTOS Publish and update GCOS/GTOS studies and planning documents; Carry out agreed assignments from, and to report regularly to, the Steering Committees for GCOS and for GTOS

8. Terrestrial Observations Panel for Climate TOPC Some operating guidelines for the Panel What can be achieved with the TOPC System that could not be achieved without it? Identify the parameters that TOPC is going to determine the adequacy of Identify and bring together all elements of a network Deal with scattered data sets and archives Address QA / QC and data exchange issues Identify Data Centres for the priority observations Make data available to data centres…many don't –Must be data (not just metadata) Consider funding & institutional issues