News
Satellite Supplement up-dated in 2011 - now on-line
The supplemental details to the satellite-based component of the “Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC (2010 Update)” have been publicly reviewed and comments have been taken into account after consultation with the broader GCOS expert community.
The so-called "Satellite Supplement" provides additional technical detail to the actions and needs identified in the in 2010 updated GCOS Implementation Plan related to satellite-based observations for climate for each of the Essential Climate Variables (ECVs). In particular, it details the specific satellite data records that should be sustained in accordance with the GCOS Climate Monitoring Principles, as well as other important supplemental satellite observations that are needed on occasion or at regular intervals.
Download the document here: 
PDF
International Polar Year
With 50,000 student, scientists, crew and technicians from more than 60 nations working on 170 projects, the International Polar Year (IPY), has been the largest research effort ever undertaken in the Arctic and Antarctica. The summary report, “Understanding Earth’s Polar Challenges,” compiled by some 300 authors and reviewers describes its findings. This report will be submitted to the Arctic Council Ministerial meeting in Nuuk, Greenland in May, and to the 34th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina in June.
New GCOS brochure
A new brochure on "Opportunities to Improve Climate Observing Networks through Engagement with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change" has been released.
Updated version of the Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC published -- including revised list of GCOS Essential Climate Variables
The 'Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC' was updated and published on 31 August 2010. This 2010 update also includes the revised list of GCOS Essential Climate Variables (ECVs). It is important that all 138 actions recommended in the Implementation Plan be fully implemented, as these actions will substantially improve the availability of the observational information needed by all governments to understand, predict, and manage their response to, climate and climate change. This responds to Articles 4 and 5 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). read more
GCOS and WCRP Call for Strengthening Collaboration on Climate Data Records
In a joint letter, the Directors of the Global Climate Observing System and the World Climate Research Programme (GCOS/WCRP) are asking the worldwide organizations to support the international expert groups involved in scientific analysis, intercomparison and review of climate data records. Such effort is essential for world-class climate science and sound decision-making. The letter calls, inter alia, for adherence by groups and institutions involved in climate data record generation to the new Guideline for the Generation of Datasets and Products Meeting GCOS Requirements, to support transparency, traceability and scientific review.
List of recipients (4 June 2010): PDF
Upcoming events
GCOS newsletter
GCOS Technical Papers
The following GCOS reports have been published recently:
| Systematic Observation Requirements for Satellite-based Products for Climate Supplemental details to the satellite-based component of the Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC - 2011 Update, December 2011 | GCOS-154 | PDF |
| Report of the WCRP Observation and Assimilation Panel (WOAP) Workshop on Evaluation of Satellite-Related Global Climate Datasets, Frascati, Italy, 18-20 April 2011 | GCOS-153 | PDF |
| Report of the Nineteenth Session of the WMO-IOC-UNEP-ICSU Steering Committee for GCOS, Reading, UK, 20-23 September 2011 | GCOS-152 | PDF |
| Report of the Seventh GCOS Cooperation Mechanism Board Meeting, Reading, UK, 19 September 2010 | GCOS-151 | PDF |
| Report of the Third GCOS Reference Upper Air Network Implementation and Coordination Meeting (GRUAN ICM-3), Queenstown, New Zealand, 28 February -4 March 2011 | GCOS-149 | PDF |
| Summary Report and Recommendations from the Sixteenth Session of the GCOS/WCRP Atmospheric Observation Panel for Climate (AOPC), Geneva, Switzerland , 7-11 February 2011 | GCOS-148 | PDF |
| Summary Report of the Thirteenth Session of the GTOS/GCOS/WCRP Terrestrial Observation Panel for Climate (TOPC), Geneva, Switzerland , 10-11 March 2011 | GCOS-147 | PDF |
| Report of the Sixth GCOS Cooperation Mechanism Board Meeting, Geneva, Switzerland, 27 September 2010 | GCOS-146 | PDF |
| Report of the Eighteenth Session of the WMO-IOC-UNEP-ICSU Steering Committee for GCOS, Geneva, , 28 September-1 October 2010 | GCOS-145 | PDF |