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GCOS: Global Climate Observing System

GCOS is intended to be a long-term, user-driven operational system capable of providing the comprehensive observations required for: (1) monitoring the climate system, (2) detecting and attributing climate change, (3) assessing impacts of, and supporting adaptation to, climate variability and change, (4) application to national economic development, (5) research to improve understanding, modelling and prediction of the climate system. GCOS addresses the total climate system including physical, chemical and biological properties, and atmospheric, oceanic, terrestrial, hydrologic, and cryospheric components.

GCTE: Global Change and Terrestrial Ecosystems

Global Change and Terrestrial Ecosystems (GCTE) is a Core Project of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), an international scientific research programme established in 1986 by the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU). Its scientific objectives are: (1) To predict the effects of changes in climate, atmospheric composition, and land use on terrestrial ecosystems, including (i) agriculture, forestry, soils; and (ii) biodiversity; (2) To determine how these effects lead to feedbacks to the atmosphere and the physical climate system.

GOOS: Global Ocean Observing System

GOOS is a permanent global system for observations, modelling and analysis of marine and ocean variables to support operational ocean services worldwide. GOOS provides accurate descriptions of the present state of the oceans, including living resources; continuous forecasts of the future conditions of the sea for as far ahead as possible, and the basis for forecasts of climate change.

GTOS: Global Terrestrial Observing System

GTOS is a programme for observations, modelling, and analysis of terrestrial ecosystems to support sustainable development. GTOS facilitates access to information on terrestrial ecosystems so that researchers and policy makers can detect and manage global and regional environmental change.

IGBP - International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme

The International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) is a research programme that studies the phenomenon of Global Change. The vision of IGBP is to provide scientific knowledge to improve the sustainability of the living Earth. IGBP studies the interactions between biological, chemical and physical processes and interactions with human systems and collaborates with other programmes to develop and impart the understanding necessary to respond to global change.