Extended Abstract (48K)J7.11a
An Update on the Status of the U.S. Global Climate Observing System (US-GCOS)Program
Howard J. Diamond, NOAA/NESDIS, Silver Spring, MD
A full-time national Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) program manager position was established and filled within NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service in November 1999. The primary focus of this position is to coordinate the development of a national GCOS program that involves all U.S. federal agencies with a role in climate observations (e.g., NOAA, NASA, National Science Foundation, U.S. Departments of Energy and Agriculture, and the Environmental Protection Agency). As part of this effort, a national GCOS Steering Group has been formed in order to begin coordinating a national GCOS program. The US national program manager will coordinate GCOS with other climate activities within the US including the US Global Change Research Program and CLIVAR. The US GCOS program manager serves as the national focal point for GCOS to the GCOS Secretariat at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). In accordance with decisions adopted at the Fifth Session of the Conference of Parties (COP-5) of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change in November 1999, the US GCOS Program Manager along with the aid of the national GCOS steering group has developed a national report in time for submission to the meeting of the COP-7 in October 2001 time frame; a summary of that report will be presented. The US has been a key participant in meetings focused on developing a better intergovernmental process for GCOS, as well as looking for resources to better support the GCOS Secretariat's office at the WMO. In addition, the US is supporting the a series of regional GCOS workshops, the first one which was held in Apia, Samoa, from August 14-15, 2000. An update of the overall program from last year, as well as the current status of the GCOS Surface Network (GSN) and GCOS Upper Air Network (GUAN) will also be discussed.
Joint Session 7, Advancements/applications in Meteorology, Hydrology, Oceanography, and Climatology: Part II (Joint with AWIPS and IIPS)
Tuesday, 15 January 2002, 8:30 AM-3:00 PM
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