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Global Climate Observing System (GCOS)
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS)
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Global Climate Observing System (GCOS)
About GCOS
  • About GCOS
  • GCOS History
  • Systematic Observations Under UNFCCC
  • Organization and Governance
  • Partners and Contributors
Essential Climate Variables
  • Essential Climate Variables
  • About Essential Climate Variables
  • ECV Rationalization
Panels
  • Panels
  • Atmospheric Observation Panel for Climate (AOPC)
  • Ocean Observations Physics and Climate Panel (OOPC)
  • Terrestrial Observation Panel for Climate (TOPC)
  • Joint Panels Meeting
Networks
  • Networks
  • AOPC in situ
  • OOPC in situ
  • TOPC in situ
  • Satellite programs
  • GCOS Network Accreditation
Cooperation
  • Cooperation
  • Cooperation Mechanism
  • Regional Workshops
  • GCOS on the National Level
  • Lead Centres for GCOS
News
  • News
Publications
  • Publications

Breadcrumb

  1. Global Climate Observing System (GCOS)
  2. Essential Climate Variables

Essential Climate Variables

                                      What are Essential Climate Variables (ECVs)?

Atmosphere
Surface
  • Precipitation
    Precipitation
  • Surface pressure
    Surface Pressure
  • Surface radiation budget
    Surface Radiation Budget
  • Surface temperature
    Surface Temperature
  • Surface and upper air water vapour
    Surface Water Vapour
  • Surface wind speed
    Surface Wind Speed and Direction
  • Upper air temperature
    Upper-air Temperature
Upper Atmosphere
  • Earth radiation budget
    Earth Radiation Budget
  • Lightning
    Lightning
  • Upper air water vapour
    Upper-air Water Vapour
  • Upper air windspeed
    Upper-air Wind Speed and Direction
Atmospheric Composition
  • Clouds
    Clouds
  • Aerosol
    Aerosols
  • Greenhouse gases
    Carbon Dioxide, Methane & Other Greenhouse Gases
  • Ozone
    Ozone
  • Precursors
    Precursors for Aerosols and Ozone
Land
Hydrology
  • Groundwater
    Groundwater
  • Lakes
    Lakes
  • River discharge
    River Discharge
  • ECV Terrestrial water storage
    Terrestrial Water Storage (TWS)
  • Evaporation from land
    Evaporation from Land
  • Soil moisture
    Soil Moisture
Cryosphere
  • Glaciers
    Glaciers
  • Ice sheets and ice shelves
    Ice Sheets and Ice Shelves
  • Permafrost
    Permafrost
  • Snow
    Snow
Biology
  • Above-ground biomass
    Above-ground Biomass
  • Albedo
    Albedo
  • Fire
    Fire
  • Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FAPAR)
    Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FAPAR)
  • Land cover
    Land Cover
  • Land surface temperature
    Land Surface Temperature
  • Leaf area index
    Leaf Area Index
  • Soil carbon
    Soil Carbon
Human Use of Natural Resources
  • Anthropogenic Greenhouse gas fluxes
    Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  • Anthropogenic water use
    Anthropogenic Water Use
Ocean
Physical
  • Ocean surface heat flux
    Ocean Surface Heat Flux
  • Sea ice
    Sea Ice
  • Sea level
    Sea Level
  • Sea state
    Sea State
  • Sea surface currents
    Surface Currents
  • Sea surface salinity
    Sea Surface Salinity
  • Sea surface stress
    Surface Stress
  • Sea surface temperature
    Sea Surface Temperature
  • Subsurface currents
    Subsurface Currents
  • Subsurface salinity
    Subsurface Salinity
  • Subsurface temperature
    Subsurface Temperature
Biogeochemical
  • Inorganic carbon
    Inorganic Carbon
  • Nitrous oxide
    Nitrous Oxide
  • Nutrients
    Nutrients
  • Ocean colour
    Ocean Colour
  • Oxygen
    Oxygen
  • Transient tracers
    Transient Tracers
Biological/Ecosystems
  • Marine habitat
    Marine Habitats
  • Plankton
    Plankton

The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) is co-sponsored by WMO, IOC-UNESCO, UNEP, and ISC.

GCOS is supported by the European Union.

 

 

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