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.

The link address is: http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/gcos/index.php