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National Activities

Almost all the networks, systems, data centres and analysis centres that GCOS works with and relies upon are funded, managed and operated by national entities within their own requirements, plans, procedures, standards and regulations. The needs of UNFCCC and other users of global climate observations and products can only be addressed if plans are developed and implemented in a coordinated manner by national organizations.

Such mechanisms are usually best sustained when national coordinators or focal points are designated. Their assigned responsibility should include the coordinated planning and implementation of systematic climate observing systems across the many national departments and agencies involved with their provision.

Download the brochure: "The Implementation of the Global Climate Observing System at the National Level".

More information about National Climate Observing Systems and their networks is available under Networks.

GCOS National Coordinators

GCOS activities and interests in any nation normally cut across many departments and agencies in that nation, rather than being limited to one agency, such as a meteorological service. It is therefore desirable and efficient for GCOS to have, if possible, a single contact in each nation who can coordinate amongst the relevant agencies and represent the views of all, or at least most, of them on a regular basis. This is the role envisaged for a "GCOS National Coordinator".

Download their Terms of Reference

Download a list of GCOS National Coordinators

GCOS National Focal Points

There are National Focal Points for GCOS and related Climatological Data in more than 130 countries. An updated list of national focal points is availabe at the WMO CountryProfile Database.

Their Terms of Reference are:

  • Liaise within the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services on GCOS related networks (including GSN and GUAN) issues related to data availability and quality;
  • Inform the INFCOM (WMO Commission for Observation, Infrastructure and Information Systems) Lead Centres for GCOS on current and potential problems that might impact data availability and quality;
  • Respond to requests from the GCOS Secretariat and Lead Centres for GCOS regarding metadata, and data availability and quality.