Scientific Panels

• Atmospheric Observations Panel for Climate (AOPC)

  The 16th session of the AOPC had to be postponed due to the interruption of air traffic following the Icelandic volcanic eruption. It will be held in the week 7-11 February 2011 at WMO HQ in Geneva, Switzerland. In the meantime, the Chairman and GCOS Secretariat have started bilateral discussions of the agenda items based on meeting documents, and will approach members on an individual or collective basis, as appropriate. As an intermediate result of that activity, a summary paper of the discussions will be distributed. In that way any time-critical issues or concerns can hopefully be resolved ahead of the 2011 AOPC session.

• Ocean Observing Panel for Climate (OOPC)

  is sponsored by GCOS. GCOS, GOOS and WCRP, held its 14th session from 19 to 21 January 2010 at the NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory in Miami, Florida. Participants discussed scientific issues related to tropical cyclones and deep ocean observations, as well as liaison with other organisations and programmes, such as the WCRP Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) project. Other important issues were the establishment of a new framework for sustained ocean observations as an outcome of the OceanObs’09 conference in Venice, in September 2009, and the update of the GCOS Implementation Plan, in particular the ocean related ECVs. The next OOPC session will take place in January 2011. More information on OOPC activities can be found here: http://ioc-goos-oopc.org/meetings/index.php. The OceanObs’09 Conference established a ‘Task Team on an Integrated Framework for Sustained Ocean Observations.’ Its members are representatives of the International Oceanographic Commission (IOC), the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), the International Council for Science (ICSU) Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR), the International Geosphere-Biospshere Programme (IGBP), the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES), the WMO-IOC Joint Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM), the Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans (POGO), the Census of Marine Life (CoML), the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), WCRP, GOOS and GCOS. The Task Team will provide recommendations on the organizational structure as well as the spatial distribution of the proposed Framework by October 2010. The Framework is intended to integrate existing efforts with new observations, bridging satellites and in-situ observations, physics, bio-geochemistry and biological observations.

• Terrestrial Observing Panel for Climate (TOPC)

  was set up to develop a balanced and integrated system of in-situ and satellite observations of the terrestrial ecosystem. The Panel focuses on the identification of terrestrial observation requirements, assisting the establishment of observing networks for climate, providing guidance on observation standards and norms, facilitating access to climate data and information and its assimilation, and promoting climate studies and assessments. TOPC is jointly sponsored by GCOS, GTOS, and WCRP. The 12th Session of the TOPC was held 10-11 March 2010 at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy. It focussed on the role of GCOS within the envisaged Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), the status of the Global Terrestrial Networks, and on a new Reference Network for Ecosystem sites. The observation of soil moisture was discussed as it will be designated an Essential Climate Variable (ECV). TOPC members were further briefed on the GEO Carbon Strategy and the Global Forest Monitoring Facility with respect to its potential for GCOS. The Director of the GTOS Secretariat reported on the status, plans and role of TOPC and GTOS in establishing a framework for terrestrial observations.

(Source: WMO/GCOS)