Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW)

WMO Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) Strategic Plan: 2008 - 2015

The Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) programme of WMO is a partnership involving 80 countries, which provides reliable scientific data and information on the chemical composition of the atmosphere, its natural and anthropogenic change, and helps to improve the understanding of interactions between the atmosphere, the oceans and the biosphere.

GAW focal areas are GHGs, ozone, UV, aerosols, selected reactive gases, and precipitation chemistry.

GAW is considered the atmospheric chemistry component of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS).

The GAW programme supports global networks that deliver observations which are then used to address gaps in understanding of climate, weather and air pollution issues and to deliver services and products required by WMO Members in fulfilling their national mandate. The GAW monitoring system focuses on six classes of variables (i.e. ozone, UV radiation, greenhouse gases, aerosols, selected reactive gases and precipitation chemistry). For these variables, GAW acts as a “steward of global coordination” supporting all components needed for a rational observing system. Each of the six variable groups has a SAG and GAW Central Facilities responsible for scientific guidance and technical details of the global network. An additional SAG exists for the GAW Urban Research and Meteorology Experiment (GURME).

Organizational components and structure of the Programme are presented under "Structure".

Meetings & Training

GAW 198 - Data Quality Objectives (DQO) for Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Measurements (Part I). Addendum to WMO/GAW Report No. 146 - Quality Assurance in Monitoring Solar Ultraviolet Radiation: State of the Art

GAW 197 - Addendum for the Period 2012-2015 to the WMO Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) Strategic Plan 2008 - 2015

DRAFT GAW 193- Guidelines for Reporting Total Ozone Data in Near Real Time