Lead Centres for GCOS

Lead Centres for GCOS have been designated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Commission for Observation, Infrastructure, and Information Systems (INFCOM) as being responsible for monitoring the performance of GCOS networks, in particular of the GCOS Surface and Upper Air Networks (GSN, GUAN), and to support any follow-up action in designated areas of responsibility (for all WMO Regional Associations and Antarctica).  

World map with regions color-coded by specific research agencies from various countries managing different areas.

Terms of Reference of the Lead Centres for GCOS are:

  1. Diagnose problems in the GSN and GUAN by using the monitoring reports produced for the GCOS Networks.
  2. Liaise with the nominated National Focal Points for GCOS Networks, and other responsible officials, to improve data & metadata availability and quality, and to provide capacity development.
  3. In collaboration with the Regional WIGOS Centres (RWC), support the incident management process for the GCOS Network Issues, applying the WIGOS Data Quality Management functions and using relevant WIGOS Tools.
  4. Co-ordinate activities with other WMO centres and Export Teams, including the collection of related climatological data.
  5. Monitor and report to INFCOM and GCOS on actions taken, progress achieved, concerns and recommendations.
  6. Assist GCOS Panel AOPC in the revisions of GSN and GUAN stations.
  7. Assist the WMO Secretariat in maintaining the list of National Focal Points for GCOS Networks.

Latest Reports from the Lead Centres Meetings (older reports can be found here)

WMO Regional Association (RA)

WMO Member/Host Institution of Lead Centre

Lead Centre Contact

Responsible for GSN and GUAN stations in:

Latest Report

RA I (Africa)

Morocco (DMN)

Rachid Sebbari

Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros Islands, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Equatorial, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Mauritania, Morocco, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia

2016, 

A I (Africa)

Mozambique (INM)

Jose Sequeira

Angola, Botswana , Burundi, Canary Island, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, the Ocean Islands (St. Helena Island, Ascension Island, Martin de Vivies, Iles Crozet, Iles Kerguelen), Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

RA II (Asia), RA VI (Europe)

Iran (IRIMO)

Mina Jabbari

Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, India, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

RA II (Asia)

Japan (JAM)

Hiroshi Nakamigawa

Brunei, Cambodia, China, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

RA III (South America)

Chile (DMC)

Gaston Torres

All of RA III (South America)

RA IV (North and Central America, Caribbean)

USA (NOAA NCEI)

Jay Lawrimore

Most of RA IV (North and Central America, and the Caribbean) and Hawaii

RA V (South-West Pacific)

Australia (BOM)

Dean Lockett

Most of RA V, except those areas noted for Japan and Hawaii

RA VI (Europe)

Germany (DWD)

Axel Andersson

Most of RA VI (Europe), except those countries noted for Iran

Antarctica

UK (BAS)

Steve Colwell

All of Antarctica