Introduction to GCOS

Richard K. Thigpen

Implementation Project Manager

GCOS Secretariat

Geneva

GSN and GUAN Stations

In South America

Stations Mostly Run by NMHS

Should be your best stations

Good Long Continuous Operational Record

Quality Needed not Quantity

Historical Record Available

Part of your Regional and National Responsibility

Not Something additional

Must be Important to You

GSN and GUAN

Performance of Stations In SA

Most Stations are Working

See Report of last 5 years performance

Some Historical Data for most GSN Stations

Monthly (CLIMAT) data fairly complete

Daily data available for few stations

Several requests from WMO for Historical

NCDC may have more Historical Data

Some GCOS Initiatives

Regional Workshops have increased awareness

10 Regional Workshops

Recent Africa Strategy Meeting

Direct Renovation of stations

Upper Air Equipment and H2 generators

Surface Instruments

Supply of consumables

Technical Support ProjectsPacific, Caribbean, SADCActive Support to StationsImproved Station Meta data

Workshops for Improved Upper Air ObservingTraining by Experts on Upper Air TechniquesPrevious in South America, next in Africa

Established CBS Lead Centers for GCOS dataJapan, Iran, Morocco, US, Australia, British

Antarctic Survey, Chile, GermanyWork Together to Improve GSN and GUAN

GCOS Initiatives

Workshops for CLIMAT/CLIMAT TEMP PreparationPrevious in Africa, Next in South AmericaInstruction on Format and ContentSponsored by WWW, WCP, and GCOS

CLIREP Software DevelopedPrepares CLIMAT/ CLIMAT TEMP Reports

GCOS Cooperative MechanismAdditional Donors Permit these Activities

GCOS Initiatives

Some South American ActivitiesChile is CBS Lead Center for South America

Upper Air Workshop Completed

CLIMAT/CLIMAT TEMP Workshop in Buenos Aires 25-27 October

Improve quality of Monthly reports

Technical Support Project for South America

Invited all Met Services last year, No responses!

Again this year, perhaps inviting Private Sector

Possible South American Strategy Meeting?

We Need Your Help

GSN Historical Daily Data

Requests for Historical Daily data Unanswered

Up Date and Correct

RBSN,

RBCN,

Pub 9 Vol A

National GCOS Focal Point List

Muchas Gracias

RKT