GCOS Steering Committee

The GCOS Steering Committee consists of scientific and technical experts selected on the basis of their personal expertise. The Chairs of standing GCOS panels are members ex officio. The Steering Committee members are appointed by mutual consent by the Executive Heads of the GCOS sponsoring organizations:

• The World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
• The International Science Council (ISC)
• The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO
• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The Steering Committee membership is geographically balanced. Major operational and research observing programmes contributing to GCOS are represented, as well as an appropriate mix of disciplines in atmospheric, oceanic, hydrological, cryospheric and biospheric sciences. The four sponsors agreed on the GCOS objectives and the GCOS Steering Committee Terms of Reference in a Memorandum of Understanding in 1998.