MAIN ACTIVITY AREAS
• Global system of terrestrial observation
networks: Gt-Net (ecology, glaciers, hydrology,
permafrost)
• Regional activities: Central and Eastern Europe,
Southern Africa
• Demonstration projects: Net primary productivity,
Terrestrial carbon, Global forest cover.
• Data and information
WHAT?
• Web database: ca. 700 terrestrial sites (TSite)
registered in 100 countries.
• Related to the 5 GTOS priority areas: land
quality, freshwater resources, biodiversity, climate
change, pollution and toxicity.
• Measuring any of 120 environmental variables.
TSITE
CRITERIA
• Actively collect and archive terrestrial
ecosystem data as part of an ongoing science
programme.
• Tangible interest in international
collaboration.
• Reasonable history of terrestrial observations
and/or security of long-term tenure and
funding.
DATABASE CHARACTERISTICS
• Registration
Web template
E-mail
Surface mail
• Searchable
TSite
name
Network
Country
Region
Variable
Eco-region
• Modular
Coastal areas
Mountains
Drylands
DATA AVAILABLE
• Names and addresses of key personnel.
• Descriptive information (e.g. altitude, geology, climatic
conditions, etc).
• Network affiliations (e.g. Roselt, Acsad, ILTER).
• 120 environmental variables and methodology sheets.
• 65 socio-economic variables and methodology sheets
with links to global data sets.
• Under consideration: modules, mapping, library of
methods, napster-style database registration.
USE OF TEMS
• Modelling, assessment, and research
programmes.
• Assessing gaps in geographic coverage of key
variables.
• Linking ground observations with satellites.
• Evaluating data quality and measurement
methods.
• Identifying sites that need upgrading.
WHERE?
Approximately 1,000 TSites in 100 countries