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The Carbon Observations Theme has been approved by the partners
Background
The realisation
that human activities are already affecting climates, and that the emission
of greenhouse gases is the primary cause, has focused attention on the
global carbon cycle. Effective management of the carbon cycle poses a
major challenge to policy makers and to the observation and research communities.
The IGOS Partners have responded to this challenge by the development
of an Integrated Global Carbon Observation (IGCO) Theme.
The IGOS Partnership
has taken a phased approach to the carbon observational challenge, building
on comprehensive strategy documents prepared for the terrestrial, atmosphere,
and ocean components of the carbon cycle and integrating them into a single,
unified strategy, closely linked with the research agenda being developed
by the Global Carbon Project with IGBP, IHDP (International Human Dimensions
Programme), and WCRP.
Objectives
The overall objective of the IGCO Theme is to develop a flexible and robust strategy for international global carbon observations over the next decade. The aim is to build integrated approaches that combine both remote and in-situ observations and bring together observational strategies in the terrestrial oceanic, and atmospheric compartments; to build close collaboration with the international carbon cycle research community; and to be flexible enough to incorporate new observational requirements, as measurement technologies and science develop and as requirements evolve. More specific objectives over the next decade include the determination of terrestrial and oceanic carbon sources and sinks with increasing accuracy and spatial resolution.
Remote sensing technology is advanced in being able to provide imagery from space for many of the measurements of carbon-related variables, with global and repetitive coverage. However, the in-situ networks that are needed to validate and provide direct measurements of carbon fluxes and pools from the terrestrial ecosystems and the oceans are still in their infancy. Designing, building and efficiently operating an operational system will require significant investment in developing he required technology, commitment to long term systematic observations, and capacity to exchange and manage carbon data. In parallel, comprehensive carbon cycle data assimilation systems are being developed to combine in-situ and remotely sensed data streams.
Approach
The IGCO Theme team has adopted some common approaches among the three components in developing the carbon observation strategy, which aim to:
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Identify key global products that can be delivered with a reasonable
time and at an acceptable quality to help international bodies formulate
policy and action programmes. |
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Build upon existing efforts to identify priority observational requirements
in terrestrial, oceanic and atmospheric components of the carbon
cycle. |
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Foster the development of cheaper and lower maintenance in-situ sensors
that could be deployed in areas with low observational coverage. |
|
Develop strategy in close collaboration with the carbon cycle research
community, greatly enhancing the ‘fit’ between the observations
and other parts of the research approach. |
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Efficiently combine both remote and in-situ observations. |
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Identify ‘multiple constraint techniques’ that assimilate
observations from a wide variety of sources into a single analysis
and synthesis framework. |
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Promote an end-to-end process identifying products, services and their
end users. |
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Be flexible enough to incorporate new observational requirements as
both science and measurement technologies develop and requirements
evolve. |
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Be robust enough to meet the challenges of continuity and consistence. |
Benefits and applications
The IGCO Theme is aimed at delivering the following benefits:
Improved knowledge base for better policy-making
The IPCC has highlighted an improved understanding of carbon dynamics as vital in tackling one of the biggest environmental problems facing human societies. The IGOS carbon observation effort is an essential component in a coordinated international approach to providing better understanding for the implementation of the UNFCCC and better ability to forecast future CO2 levels and climate change. This has become even more important given the discussions in the Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC on the role of natural sinks in meeting the targets of the Kyoto protocol.
Enhanced scientific understanding of the global carbon cycle
This requires better understanding of the current patterns of carbon stocks and flows and prediction of their changes in the future. The IGOS carbon themes are being carried out in close collaboration with IGBP and its partner global environmental change programmes, which have launched an international carbon research project that integrates multiple approaches, process studies, manipulative experiments, observations and models.
Advanced Earth System observation capability
The global carbon cycle lies at the heart of Earth’s metabolic
processes. The observational challenge of developing an integrated global
system, both remotely sensed and in-situ, will undoubted accelerate the
development of new observation technologies and data handling systems
with the context of Earth System observation.
Status
The IGCO report was provisionally approved by IGOS_P at its June 2003 meeting in Paris, subject to final revision to address the final comments. The report was finally approved by IGOS Partners in November 2003. The theme moved into implementation phase. Implementation of parts of the theme by GTOS and GOOS are already underway.
Membership
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS)
Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)
Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS)
International Council for Science (ICSU)
International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) (Lead)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA/CEOS)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Further Information
Contact: Philippe Ciais (ciais@isce.saclay.cea.fr) and Berrien Moore (b.moore@unh.edu)
Report
- recent documents and ppts - 32,734kb
Presentation
- April 2004 - 13,900kb
Website - not available
