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Facilitating Access to Global Observing Systems Data and Information

GCOS Essential Climate Variables (ECV)
Data & Information Access Matrix

The ECV Data Access Matrix provides easy access to data download, metadata and information for each of the ECVs. Data access has been devided into 2 categories: 1) In-situ and Non-Satellite and 2) Satellite. The selection of the data sets are based on information from Scientific Steering committees and scientific expert advisory groups and the supporting documentation they provide and publish such as the recent WMO/IOC release: 'Implementation Plan for the Global Observing Systems for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC (August Update) (GCOS-138/GOOS-184/GTOS-76)

The Essential Climate Variables (ECV) are required to support the work of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). All ECV are technically and economically feasible for systematic observation. It is these variables for which international exchange is required for both current and historical observations. It is emphasized that the ordering within the table is simply for convenience and is not an indicator of relative priority. Currently, there are 50 ECVs. More about the ECV Matrix

Please note that this matrix is in development. A wiki page is being set up to facilitate data and information exchange (2-2-2012)

[ECV Matrix Main Page] [About the ECV Matrix] [Main Reference Documents] [Contact Information]
ATMOSPHERIC (over Land, Sea & Ice) OCEANIC TERRESTRIAL [2]
Surface [4]
Surface [6]
 River Discharge (ECV T1)
Pressure Carbon Dioxide Partial Pressure Water Use (ECV T2)
Air Temperature*** Current Ground Water (ECV T3)
Precipitation Ocean Acidity * Lakes (ECV T4) *
Surface Radiation Budget Ocean Color (for Biological Activity) Snow Cover (ECV T5) ***
Water Vapor Phytoplankton * Glacier and Ice Caps (ECV T6) */***
Wind Speed and Direction Sea Ice Permafrost (ECV T7)
Upper-Air [5]
 Sea Level*** Albedo (ECV T8) *
Cloud Properties Sea State Land Cover (including Vegetation Type) (ECV T9)
Earth Radiation Budget (including Solar Irradiance) */*** Sea Surface Salinity (SSS) Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FAPAR) (ECV T10)
Temperature Sea Surface Temperature (SST) Leaf Area Index (LAI) (ECV T11)
Water Vapor
Sub-Surface
 Above Ground Biomass (ECV T12) *
Wind Speed and Direction Carbon Fire Disturbance (ECV T13)
Composition
Current Soil Moisture *
Aerosols Properties Nutrients Soil Carbon *
Carbon Dioxide*** Ocean Acidity * Ice Sheets *
Methane and other Long-Lived Green House Gases [1] *** Oxygen *  
Ozone Salinity  
Precursors (supporting the Aerosols and Ozone ECVs) [3] * Temperature  
  Tracers  
  Global Ocean Heat Content **/***  

* Added or modified per 'Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC - August 2010, GCOS-138 (GOOS-184, GTOS-76, WMO-TD/No. 1523)' (page 19) (pdf)

** Not an official GCOS ECV

*** Holds data sets that are used in the NOAA Climate Services Portal, Global Climate Dashboard, Climate Change tab. Please note that the Dashboard is in development. To access the Climate Portal and the Dashboard go to http://www.climate.gov .

[1] The 'Other long-lived greenhouse gases' ECV includes Nitrous Oxide (N2O), Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), and Perfluorocarbons (PFCs).
[2] Includes Runoff (m3 s-1), Ground Water Extraction Rates (m3 yr-1) and Location, Snow Cover Extent (km2) and Duration, Snow Depth (cm), Glacier/Ice Cap Inventory and Mass Balance (kg m-2 yr-1), Glacier Length (m), Ice Sheet Mass Balance (kg m-2 yr-1) and Extent (km2), Permafrost Extent (km2), Temperature Profiles and Active Layer Thickness, above ground Biomass (t/ha), Burnt Area (ha), Date and Location of Active Fire, Burn Efficiency (% Vegetation Burned/Unit Area)
[3] NO2, SO2, HCHO, CO
[4] including measurements at standardized but globally varying height in close proximity to the surface
[5] Up to the stratopause
[6] Including measurements with the surface mixed layer, usually with the upper 15 meters