11. THE ROLE OF REMOTE SENSING IN LAND SURFACE
EXPERIMENTS WITHIN BAHC AND ISLSCP
99
6.
LONG-TERM GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
Three closely linked global observational systems are being established
to provide long-term, interdisciplinary monitoring of global change: the
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS; under the aegis of ICSU,
IOC/UNESCO, UNEP and WMO), the Global Ocean Observing System
(GOOS; under the aegis of ICSU, IOC/UNESCO and WMO), and the
Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS, under the aegis of ICSU, FAO,
UNEP, UNESCO and WMO). These operational programs build on existing
monitoring and research activities, with IGBP (primarily through IGBP-DIS)
and WCRP playing a significant role in developing their scientific
specifications and strategy for use.
A primary requirement for achieving the goals of WCRP is global
observations of climate parameters that are needed to improve the
understanding of climate-forming mechanisms, to provide a description of
the present state of climate, to monitor climate variability, and to serve as a
basis for initiating climate predictions.
Existing observing programs implemented through the World Weather
Watch (WWW) and other WMO activities provide for the acquisition and
processing of important climate information. GCOS is expected to include
operational or quasi-operational observing systems that could be used to
support well-established climate applications, and to characterize climate
impacts on the environment.
The needs of the climate research community, however, include data not
usually available from operational centers. WCRP therefore plans to
continue observational projects as part of its overall strategy in order to
satisfy specific and evolving scientific needs. Examples of such projects
include the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP),
ISLSCP and the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP). Many of
these projects include the development of techniques to solve particular
observing problems. Large-scale regional data sets such as those from the
GEWEX Continental-Scale Experiments are also being integrated to solve
global climate problems.
7.
LBA (LARGE SCALE BIOSPHEREATMOSPHERE EXPERIMENT IN AMAZONIA)
In order to illustrate the Earth Observation data requirements of landsurface experiments (LSEs), we have chosen the LSE currently under
progress, viz. the Large Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in
EXPERIMENTS WITHIN BAHC AND ISLSCP
99
6.
LONG-TERM GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
Three closely linked global observational systems are being established
to provide long-term, interdisciplinary monitoring of global change: the
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS; under the aegis of ICSU,
IOC/UNESCO, UNEP and WMO), the Global Ocean Observing System
(GOOS; under the aegis of ICSU, IOC/UNESCO and WMO), and the
Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS, under the aegis of ICSU, FAO,
UNEP, UNESCO and WMO). These operational programs build on existing
monitoring and research activities, with IGBP (primarily through IGBP-DIS)
and WCRP playing a significant role in developing their scientific
specifications and strategy for use.
A primary requirement for achieving the goals of WCRP is global
observations of climate parameters that are needed to improve the
understanding of climate-forming mechanisms, to provide a description of
the present state of climate, to monitor climate variability, and to serve as a
basis for initiating climate predictions.
Existing observing programs implemented through the World Weather
Watch (WWW) and other WMO activities provide for the acquisition and
processing of important climate information. GCOS is expected to include
operational or quasi-operational observing systems that could be used to
support well-established climate applications, and to characterize climate
impacts on the environment.
The needs of the climate research community, however, include data not
usually available from operational centers. WCRP therefore plans to
continue observational projects as part of its overall strategy in order to
satisfy specific and evolving scientific needs. Examples of such projects
include the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP),
ISLSCP and the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP). Many of
these projects include the development of techniques to solve particular
observing problems. Large-scale regional data sets such as those from the
GEWEX Continental-Scale Experiments are also being integrated to solve
global climate problems.
7.
LBA (LARGE SCALE BIOSPHEREATMOSPHERE EXPERIMENT IN AMAZONIA)
In order to illustrate the Earth Observation data requirements of landsurface experiments (LSEs), we have chosen the LSE currently under
progress, viz. the Large Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in