The Pacific Islands Regional Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) program

Howard J. Diamond

doi:10.1117/12.810844

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5 December 2008 The Pacific Islands Regional Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) program

Howard J. Diamond

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Proceedings Volume 7151, GEOSS, CEOS, and the Future Global Remote Sensing Space System for Societal Benefits; 715104 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.810844
Event: SPIE Asia-Pacific Remote Sensing, 2008, Noumea, New Caledonia

Abstract

The U.S. GCOS Program [http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/usgcos/index.htm htm] at NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) [http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov] is involved in working to implement a sustainable and robust GCOS observing network for international atmospheric, oceanographic, and terrestrial climate observing. The U.S. GCOS support philosophy is based upon a three-tiered approach involving a series of international, regional, and bi-lateral project efforts. One of the most active and important areas of involvement is in the Pacific Ocean region where we leverage support for this via formal climate bilateral agreements that the U.S. has with both Australia and New Zealand. NCDC and the U.S. GCOS Program Manager serve as the NOAA and U.S. lead on these bilateral climate agreements. This paper will describe the efforts undertaken in the Pacific region towards developing a more sustainable and robust GCOS observing ground-based network for atmospheric, oceanographic, and terrestrial climate observing in the region. The paper will describe the actions to date, plans for the future, and how the efforts to date such as the establishment of a virtual Regional Climate Center for the region in order to, among other things, work towards improving data availability and access for and from the nations in the region in order to improve climate services across the region. NCDC is also interested in developing partnerships for installing U.S. Climate Reference Network [see http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/crn] equipment to be part of a global long-term climate reference network for improving climate information from more data sparse tropical and high-elevation areas. In order to properly document this, a full description of the overall climate observations program in the U.S. is required.

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Howard J. Diamond "The Pacific Islands Regional Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) program", Proc. SPIE 7151, GEOSS, CEOS, and the Future Global Remote Sensing Space System for Societal Benefits, 715104 (5 December 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.810844

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