GSRN Lead Centre

The GCOS Surface Reference Network Lead Center is hosted by the China Meteorological Administration (CMA).

On 23 May 2022, the inaugural ceremony for the establishment of the GCOS Surface Reference Network Lead Center was held as an online event.
 

Two groups of people in separate conference rooms with GSRN signage and UN flags in the background, participating in a virtual meeting.


Several members of China Meteorological Administration (CMA) participated to the meeting.
Yu Xinwen, Deputy Administrator of CMA, and Li Liangxu, Director of CMA Meteorological Observation Centre (MOC) gave statements expressing appreciation to the effort made by WMO and GCOS in effectively promoting weather and climate observations and confirming the commitment of CMA to work closely with WMO and GCOS in establishing the Lead Centre and in filling its responsibilities so that GSRN will achieve the expected goals.

Wenjian Zhang, WMO Assistant Secretary General, and Anthony Rea, Director of the WMO Infrastructure Department and GCOS Secretariat, both expressed their appreciation for the role CMA has taken up in the implementation of the GSRN and welcomed the beginning of this collaboration that will bring CMA and WMO closer.

The GCOS Surface Reference Network Lead Centre (GSRN-LC) is responsible for managing the overall work and development of the GSRN network, and for the implementation and operation of GSRN.  It plays an important role in the coordination, certification, monitoring and evaluation of observation stations. 

The GSRN-LC has developed a website where information on the GSRN, on the pilot stations and on the updated data flow can be found.

Initial Terms of Reference for the GSRN Lead Centre

The GSRN Lead Centre (GSRN-LC) is to be responsible for the monitoring of the Global Climate 
Observing System (GCOS) Surface Reference Network (GSRN), including development of GCOS needs for station operation, coordination among stations, and ensuring archival and dissemination of GSRN data and metadata (this could in principle supported by a third party). 

Noting that this is the initial implementation of the GSRN it is possible that the Terms of Reference may be revised and updated prior to the review date. 

  1. Internal reporting, responsibilities, and guidance
    • Report to the GSRN Steering Committee (GSRN-SC) on an annual basis, detailing the status of 
      the GSRN, the performance against agreed activities and any significant variations from 
      expected performance. It shall also maintain a risk-register which should be reviewed at least 
      annually. Initially the role of the Steering Committee will be undertaken by the Task Team of 
      GSRN (TT-GSRN).
    • Oversight of the GSRN operations, managing the certification, review and recertification 
      processes for all GSRN stations and coordinating these processes with the GSRN national focal 
      points. 
    • Regularly evaluate the operational status and observation quality and compile and publish 
      evaluation reports.
    • Provide administrative and technical support for Expert Teams. 
    • The Lead Centre, or a nominated GSRN station representative/WMO member, shall 
      co-organise a regular GSRN coordination meeting, at least annually. 
    • Regularly carry out technical exchanges, collect and summarize best practices throughout the 
      network.
    • The Lead Centre can delegate some of its responsibilities to other GSRN teams (i.e. regional 
      centres, expert teams) with the approval of the GSRN-SC.
  2. Coordination of the network in collaboration with Members, GSRN-SC and GCOS Secretariat
    • Select stations and develop a network based on existing reference quality observing stations.
    • Coordinate national contributions to the network.
    • Ensure that all observations are of reference quality and meet the requirements for GSRN 
      sites.
    • Establish common procedures and standards across the GSRN.
    • Certify stations as being of reference quality and contributing to the GSRN.
    • Coordinate mechanisms for ensuring adequate overlap and comparisons when inevitable 
      instrument changes / improvements are made.
    • Coordinate with the data user community.
    • Contribute to the plan for the long-term operation and development of GSRN.
  3. Data management
    • Establish systems to monitor station performance and perform QA/QC, including feedback to 
      stations having potential problems.
    • Define the GSRN data format in collaboration with TT-GSRN.
    • Collect and aggregate the GSRN data and metadata from GSRN sites. 
    • Perform the data processing and store and archive the GSRN data and metadata. 
    • Provide climate data sets including their relative uncertainties.
    • Ensure the GSRN data and metadata are easily discoverable and freely and openly available
      to all users, conforming to the WMO Unified Policy for the International Exchange of Earth 
      System Data.
    • Establish a system to monitor the status and performance of the overall GSRN Network. 
    • Undertake development and provision of guidelines to harmonize long-time series of surface 
      observations, especially for archived data sets. 
  4. Training, education, development and research (in collaboration with Members, GCOS 
    Secretariat, GSRN-SC and associated research facilities)
    • Provide training and support e.g. on measurement procedures and data management either 
      on-line or on-site at the lead centre as required.
    • Provide advice on instrument deployments and developments, and coordinate work to 
      encourage commercial development of reference instruments.
    • With WMO, GCOS and BIPM engage additional instrument experts and scientists in the work 
      of GSRN. 
    • Promote GSRN related research activities, e.g. on representativeness and uncertainty of GSRN 
      measurements and expanded application of GSRN data products. 
    • Collaborate with the WMO Measurement lead centres in GSRN specific research activities.