U.S. Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Program Overview

This paper will provide information on the support for GCOS provided by the U.S. Climate Change Research Initiative and how that fits in with a proactive process approach for GCOS implementation planning with the goal of obtaining a sustainable and robust GCOS observing network for international atmospheric, oceanographic, and terrestrial climate observing. The paper will describe the actions taken to date, and plans for the future regarding international, regional, bi-lateral, and U.S. national level GCOS activities. The paper will detail the continued support for GCOS that is managed by the U.S. GCOS Program Manager in NOAA.

The paper will further update how that global effort for supporting GCOS in developing nations fits in with the progress that has been made in the Pacific Islands region. The progress in the Pacific has been accomplished through a solid planning process that has as its goal obtaining a sustainable and robust GCOS observing network for atmospheric, oceanographic, and terrestrial climate observing in the region. The paper will describe the actions completed to date, plans for the future, and how the establishment of a full-time Pacific GCOS Manager along with the efforts of the newly established Pacific Islands Regional GCOS Steering Committee, have combined with related efforts such as the establishment of a new NOAA Integrated Environmental Applications Information Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, in order to benefit the region.