About GCOS
TOPCTerrestrial Observation Panel for Climate (TOPC)
The Terrestrial Observation Panel for Climate was set up to develop a balanced and integrated system of in situ and satellite observations of the terrestrial ecosystem. The Panel focuses on the identification of terrestrial observation requirements, assisting the establishment of observing networks for climate, providing guidance on observation standards and norms, facilitating access to climate data and information and its assimilation, and promoting climate studies and assessments. TOPC is jointly sponsored by GCOS and by the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP).
Terms of Reference
Recognizing the need for specific and technical input concerning terrestrial observations for climate purposes, the sponsoring organizations of GTOS and the GCOS have jointly established TOPC with the following terms of reference:
- To define the requirements for long-term monitoring of terrestrial properties for climate and climate change;
- To liaise with relevant research and operational communities to identify measurable terrestrial (biosphere, cryosphere, and hydrosphere) properties and attributes which
- control the physical, biological and chemical processes affecting climate,
- are themselves affected by climate change, are indicators of climate change and provide information on impacts of climate change;
- To assess and monitor the adequacy of terrestrial observing networks (in-situ, satellite-based), promote their integration and promote the development of their capacity to measure terrestrial properties and exchange climate data and information;
- To identify gaps in present systems and design, promote and periodically revise plans for a long-term systematic observing system that fills these gaps, makes the data available and so better serves the needs of the research and operational communities;
- To coordinate activities with other global observing system panels and task groups to ensure consistency of requirements with the overall programmes;
- Publish and update GCOS/GTOS studies and planning documents;
- To liaise with the other GCOS panels, WCRP steering groups and other relevant entities, such as WMO Commissions and CEOS, on terrestrial climate observing system issues., and also to other GTOS panels, where relevant.
- Carry out agreed assignments from the GCOS and GTOS Steering Committees;
- Report regularly to the GCOS Steering Committee and GTOS Steering Committee on issues related to the terrestrial component of GCOS.
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Members of the panel participate in several working groups assigned particular tasks. These are:
- AOPC/TOPC Working Group on Land-Surface/Atmosphere Issues (WG-LSA)
- Working groups foreseen in the new GTOS Implementation Plan, cross cutting different panels and dealing with, for example, vulnerable areas (coastal, mountains, wetlands) and land degradation.
Working Group
Sessions
TOPC-XV
TOPC-XIV
TOPC-XIII
Members (6 March 2013)
Prof. Konrad Steffen (Chairman)
Director
Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL
Zürcherstrasse 111
CH-8903 Birmensdorft
Switzerland
Mr Ulrich Looser
Global Runoff Data Centre (GRDC)
Federal Institute of Hydrology
P.O. Box 200253
56002 Koblenz
Germany
Dr Jan Polcher
Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique du CNRS
4, pl. Jussieu
75252 Paris Cedex 05
France
Prof. Shaun Quegan
Centre for Terrestrial Carbon Dynamics
Sheffield Centre for Earth Observation Science
University of Sheffield, Hicks Building
Hounsfield Road
Sheffield S3 7RH
UK
Dr Kevin Tansey
Department of Geography
University of Leicester
Leicester, LE1 7RH
UK
Dr Michel Verstraete
Institute for Environment and Sustainability
European Commission, Joint Research Centre
Via Enrico Fermi, 2749
I-21027 Ispra (VA)
Italy
Mr Valery Vuglinskiy
State Hydrological Institute of Roshydromet
23, Second Line
199053 St. Petersburg
Russian Federation
Prof. Wolfgang Wagner
Institute of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (I.P.F.)
Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien)
Gusshausstrasse 27-29
1040 Vienna
Austria
Dr Michael Zemp
Word Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS)
Department of Geography
University of Zurich
Winterthurerstr. 190
8057 Zürich
Switzerland