On Weather and Forest Monitoring, GEO, and GCOS

Thoughts for the GCOS Steering Committee

by Jim BakerGeneva, 30 Sept 2010

Weather and Forest Monitoring

• Elements of Forecast systems– Data– Models– Information Delivery– National Systems– International Coordination

3

Data

System Elements

Models GIS Users

Science

Satellite Im

agery Field Studies

Standards

Forest Carbon Models

Delivery of Carbon

Information through

GIS

Forest Carbon

Satellite and Field

Studies

To Users

ForecastModels

Delivery of Warnings

and Forecasts

Satellite and Ground

Observation

To Users

Weather

Forests

Key role of international organizations

• WMO– Set standards– Ensure data flow– Build capacity

• FAO/GEO– Standards (with IPCC)– Data Flow– Capacity building

Projects:PrivateSector

Projects:NGOs

National and

RegionalProjects:

GovernmentNational and

Regional

UN AgenciesFAOUNDPUNEPUNFCCC/IPCC

Markets Carbon Exchanges, Voluntary Markets

Data and Visualization

Forest Carbon Models

Delivery of Carbon

Emissions Information

GIS

Foundations Supporting: ProjectsNational SystemsInternational Coordination All of the above

National EmissionsAccounting Systems

Communities,Other Users

Organizational Landscape for Forest

Carbon Emissions

Measuring and Monitoring

GEOSatellite data

Carbon Tracking and other tasks

International NGOs working globally and in specific countries

Role of GEO

• Working through GEO Forest Carbon Tracking Task

• Ensure satellite and ground data for forest monitoring integrated with models in a systematic and coordinated effort

• Support UNFCCC

• Work with FAO and IPCC

Role of GCOS

• Already considerable through GTOS and GOFC-GOLD – Sourcebook on REDD

• GFOI will contribute to GCOS Implementation Plan

• GFOI will help meet GTOS observing needs

• CEOS a key player