TOPC Terms of reference:

1. To maintain and periodically review the list of GCOS terrestrial Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) and define their requirements;

2. To assess and monitor the adequacy of terrestrial observing networks, identify gaps, promote enhancements, and design plans for long-term sustainable systematic observations that meets users’ needs;

3. To advocate for the establishment, re-establishment and maintenance of international data centres that provide long-term, high-quality and consistent data, including the rehabilitation of relevant historical data sets, that meet those requirements according GCOS monitoring principles;

4. To promote and review institutional arrangements, involving both data suppliers and user communities, to ensure that climate data and observations are: of the highest quality based on agreed metrics; collected and archived in accordance with the highest standards of practice; freely accessible;

5. To publish and update GCOS studies and planning documents, such as the implementation plan and satellite supplement;

6. To instigate the establishment of working groups and other initiatives for pursuing TOPC goals;

7. To collaborate with relevant research and operational communities, as well as data users and other stakeholders, in order to address all the above points;

8. To coordinate activities with other GCOS panels and to liaise with WCRP and other relevant global entities and programmes, such as WMO Commissions, WIGOS, GFCS, CEOS and space agencies, Future Earth, UNFCCC and IPCC, on terrestrial climate observing system issues, in order to ensure overall consistency;

9. To respond to assignments from the GCOS Steering Committee;

10. To regularly report to the GCOS Steering Committee and the Joint Scientific Committee for WCRP.