date: Mon Aug 18 13:37:10 2008 from: Phil Jones subject: Re: Expert Meeting on Updating the GCOS Implementation Plan (1st to: "GCOSJPO" Paul, Stephan, I've made a note of the dates and they are good for me. I probably won't have any of my own resources, so would need full support. Cheers Phil At 13:49 15/08/2008, GCOSJPO wrote: 15 August 2008 Dear Colleague, GCOS is planning an expert meeting devoted to updating the 2004 "Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC", to be held 2-5 February 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland. This meeting will consist of about 30 participants covering the atmospheric, oceanic and terrestrial domains of the global observing systems for climate. The group will, subject to the guidelines previously set by the UNFCCC, undertake a critical review of existing requirements in the Implementation Plan, such as the GCOS networks and the list of Essential Climate Variables. The update will also include consideration of emerging issues, such as observations in support of regional modelling, and observational needs in the context of adaptation to the impacts of climate change. Nearly five years after publication of the Implementation Plan, such an update is timely and urgently needed. The Implementation Plan and its 2006 "Satellite Supplement" have provided consensus by the climate community as to its priority needs for systematic observation of climate. Many agents of implementation identified in the Plan have incorporated the requirements expressed into their own strategies and plans. With the Plan, the GCOS has been recognized as the climate observation component of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). Significant progress in GCOS implementation has been made in some areas, although progress remains more limited or absent in others. GCOS is currently undertaking a comprehensive assessment of progress against the Implementation Plan, which will be available in draft form by the time of the February 2009 meeting. We would like to ensure good and balanced attendance and would therefore ask you to check your availability for this meeting and reply to gcosjpo@wmo.int at your earliest convenience, but no later than by 29 August 2008. If you are available and willing to attend, you will receive a formal invitation in due course. There are limited funds available for the meeting to support your travel and per diem, although it would be extremely helpful if you were able to meet some or all of your expenses from other sources. We look forward to your participation and to a productive and engaging meeting. Best regards, Paul Mason Stephan Bojinski (on behalf of the GCOS Steering Committee) Reference: Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC, GCOS-92, October 2004: [1]http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/gcos/Publications/gcos-92_GIP.pdf Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) c/o World Meteorological Organization 7bis, Avenue de la Paix; 1211 Geneva 2 Switzerland Email: gcosjpo@wmo.int Phone: +41 22 730 8067 Web: [2]http://gcos.wmo.int Prof. Phil Jones Climatic Research Unit Telephone +44 (0) 1603 592090 School of Environmental Sciences Fax +44 (0) 1603 507784 University of East Anglia Norwich Email p.jones@uea.ac.uk NR4 7TJ UK ----------------------------------------------------------------------------