Global Climate Observing System GCOS update for WDAC-4 Carolin Richter Director, GCOS Secretariat 2 - 3 July 2015 ECMWF, Reading, UK

Scope of GCOS as a System (of Systems) GCOS encompasses the climate components of: the WMO observing systems (WIGOS: GOS, GAW, WHYCOS, ...) the IOC-led co-sponsored Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) the terrestrial observing networks, FAO co-sponsored Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS) observational elements of research programmes (WCRP, IGBP, ...) other systems contributing to climate observations, data management or products which together form our overall global observing system for climate, and the climate-observing component of the GEO System of Systems

WCRP sponsored Expert Panels Koni Steffen (Switzerland) Chair since 2013 Next meeting of TOPC-17: 16-17 March 2015, WSL, Zürich, Switzerland Joint activities between GCOS and GOFC-GOLD on ‘Observations for Climate Change Mitigation’ focussing on engaging REDD+ experts, the agriculture mitigation community, representatives from the climate modelling and integrated impact assessment community, etc. Ocean Observations Panel for Climate (OOPC) - co-sponsored by GOOS Reactivated following GOOS reorganization; support now based in GCOS Secretariat, the OOPC Technical Secretariat has moved to GCOS at WMO headquarters. Due to a restructuring of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) that follows the Framework for Ocean Observations (FOO), GOOS has – similar to the structure of GCOS – three expert panels for ocean physical observations (OOPC), biogeochemical observations (IOCCP), and biological observations (formed in November 2013). OOPC will expand its focus to coastal oceans/shelf areas, and the deep ocean. 2013/2014 – coordination of the Tropical Pacific Observing System (TPOS) workshop, organized by NOAA and JAMSTEC, that was held at Scribbs Institute from 27-30 January 2014, and discussed the potential of existing (i.e. Argo, satellite observation) and new technologies (i.e. profiling floats, gliders) in the region. Mark Bourassa (US) and Toshio Suga (Japan) co-Chairs since 2013 Next meeting of OOPC-18: 14-16 April 2015, Sendai, Japan

GCOS Continuous Improvement & Assessment Cycle The GCOS programme has started the process for: (1) The GCOS Status Report: a 2015 report on the progress and status of climate observation, submitted to COP21/SBSTA in November 2015. (2) A new “Implementation Plan” in 2016, which will: reinforce Energy, Carbon and Water Cycles discuss Essential Climate Variables to be used across UN conventions for climate change, biological diversity and to combat desertification : UNFCCC, CBD, UNCCD address adaptation and mitigation planning acknowledge climate services The new Plan will be submitted to COP22 in 2016.

Reports available: gcos.wmo.int/publications GCOS workshops 2013-2015 to support GFCS Two workshops on « Adaptation»: Observations for Adaptation to Climate Variability and Change, February 2013, Offenbach (co-sponsored by IOC of UNESCO) Enhancing observations to support preparedness and adaptation in a changing climate – Learning from the Fifth IPCC Assessment Report (AR5), February 2015, UNFCCC, Bonn, Germany One workshop on «Mitigation»: Observations for Climate Change Mitigation, May 2014, Geneva, Switzerland Reports available: gcos.wmo.int/publications

Current Key activities GCOS Panel Meetings March – April 2015 WCRP Task Force on Observations (result of JSC in April 2015) GCOS Expert Meeting to draft the new Implementation Plan (6th July 2015) Common Future Conference 7 – 10 July, Paris

Key activities Status Report goes for Public review … July-August 2015 Organisation of the GCOS Science Conference GCOS Steering Committee 29 Sep – 1 Oct, Cape Town, RZA

GCOS International Science Conference –The Road to the Future (Shaping the next GCOS Implementation Plan) 2 – 4 March 2016 Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Infos: gcos.wmo.int Mail to organising committee: GCOS-SC@eumetsat.int