HR: 15:10h
AN: U13B-04    [Abstracts]
TI: Progress Towards a Global Climate Upper-air Reference Network
AU: * Thorne, P W
EM: peter.thorne@metoffice.gov.uk
AF: Hadley Centre, Met Office, FitzRoy Road, Exeter, EX1 3PB United Kingdom
AB: The World Meteorological Organization Global Climate Observing System calls for the creation of a reference network in its 2004 implementation plan. This call recognises that a lack of reference data for explicit characterization of non-climatic influences has seriously undermined our efforts to obtain unambiguous, robust estimates of recent climate changes, particularly aloft. This challenge has been taken up by NOAA and the GCOS Atmospheric Observation Panel for Climate, resulting in an ongoing series of workshops to instigate a robust upper-air reference network. This talk will summarize progress to date on defining the scientific requirements and rationale. Key aspects of a reference network identified to date that will be discussed are: * dedicated end-to-end data management * characterization of a large suite of physical and chemical atmospheric column properties * measurement of the same parameter (e.g temperature) by more than one instrument * full and unrestricted provision of all data for research purposes * retention of all coincident (satellite, GPS-Radio Occultation etc.) measures * network station sampling across a range of climate and surface types * data requirements (e.g., temporal and spatial sampling, accuracy, long-term stability) Future workshops will aim to address technological options and then complete a proposal for further consideration. Further information on the process can be found at: www.oco.noaa.gov/workshop. Feedback on the plans is welcomed through this website.
UR: http://www.oco.noaa.gov/workshop
DE: 0325 Evolution of the atmosphere (1610, 8125)
DE: 1610 Atmosphere (0315, 0325)
DE: 1694 Instruments and techniques
SC: Union [U]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005