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Global Climate Observing System (GCOS)
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Introduction
 
The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) was established in 1992 to ensure that the observations and information needed to address climate-related issues are obtained and made available to all potential users. It is co-sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Council for Science (ICSU). GCOS is intended to be a long-term, user-driven operational system capable of providing the comprehensive observations required for monitoring the climate system, for detecting and attributing climate change, for assessing the impacts of climate variability and change, and for supporting research toward improved understanding, modelling and prediction of the climate system. It addresses the total climate system including physical, chemical and biological properties, and atmospheric, oceanic, hydrologic, cryospheric and terrestrial processes.

GCOS does not itself directly make observations nor generate data products. It stimulates, encourages, coordinates and otherwise facilitates the taking of the needed observations by national or international organizations in support of their own requirements as well as of common goals. It provides an operational framework for integrating, and enhancing as needed, observational systems of participating countries and organizations into a comprehensive system focussed on the requirements for climate issues. GCOS builds upon, and works in partnership with, other existing and developing observing systems such as the Global Ocean Observing System, the Global Terrestrial Observing System, and the Global Observing System and Global Atmospheric Watch of the World Meteorological Organization.   See More...

 
 
 
 
All  (13) News   (3) Websites   (3) Documents   (3) Books   (3) Multimedia   (1)
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News
Websites
International project to collect information on the upper part of  the world's oceans Argo Home PAge International project to collect information on the upper part of the world's ...  
Conserving what we have as well as we can has become the greatest of all challenges to face humanity. This website is Veron's contribution towards this formidable task. Coral Reef Research Conserving what we have as well as we can has become the greatest of all challe...  
The Integrated Monitoring and Observing System (IMOS) is a fully-integrated Australian system, observing at ocean-basin and regional scales, and covering physical, chemical and biological variables. Integrated Monitoring and Observing System (IMOS) The Integrated Monitoring and Observing System (IMOS) is a fully-integrated Aus...  
Documents
Selected natural and cultural World Heritage sites around the globe. Maps, charts, photos. Case Studies on Climate Change and World Heritage Selected natural and cultural World Heritage sites around the globe. Maps, char...  
Reflects the growing recognition of the complex scientific and technical issues related to climate change and sustainable development Confronting Climate Change: Avoiding the Unmanageable and Managing th...Unavoidable Reflects the growing recognition of the complex scientific and technical issues...  
Review of the economics of climate change, with accompanying notes and comment Stern Review on the economics of climate change Review of the economics of climate change, with accompanying notes and comment...  
Books
History, biology and likely death of the Great Barrier Reef unless greenhouse emissions are reduced. Written by the former Chief Scientist at the <a href=http://www.aims.gov.au>Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)</a>. A Reef in Time. The Great Barrier Reef from Beginning to End History, biology and likely death of the Great Barrier Reef unless greenhouse e...  
Scholarly research to assist our understanding of climate change and our response. Climate Alert: Climate Change monitoring and strategy Scholarly research to assist our understanding of climate change and our respon...  
Species and habitats in tropical Australia that are vulnerable to climate change Climate Change and the Great Barrier Reef. A Vulnerability Assessment Species and habitats in tropical Australia that are vulnerable to climate chang...  
Multimedia
The complex relationship between oceans, climate and weather The effect of climate and weather on our oceans The complex relationship between oceans, climate and weather 
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