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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.
The rationale for the Global Atmosphere Watch is the need to understand and control the increasing influence of human activity on the global atmosphere. Among the grand challenges are
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Stratospheric ozone depletion and the increase of ultraviolet (UV) radiation; |
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Changes in the weather and climate related to human influence on atmospheric
composition, particularly, greenhouse gases, ozone and aerosols; |
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Risk reduction of air pollution on human health and issues involving long-range transport
and deposition of air pollution |
GAW focuses on global networks for GHGs, ozone,
UV, aerosols, selected reactive gases, and
precipitation chemistry.
The mission of GAW, taking into account the Integrated Global Atmospheric Chemistry
Observations (IGACO) strategy, is to
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Reduce environmental risks to society and meet the requirements of environmental
conventions; |
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Strengthen capabilities to predict climate, weather and air quality; |
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Contribute to scientific assessments in support of environmental policy. |
through
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Maintaining and applying global, long-term observations of the chemical composition and
selected physical characteristics of the atmosphere. |
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Emphasising quality assurance and quality control. |
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Delivering integrated products and services of relevance to users |
GAW is considered the atmospheric chemistry component of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS).
Components of the WMO-GAW programme
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