Global Terrestrial Observing System
linking the world’s terrestrial monitoring
systems to provide a global vision of the
Earth we share
GTOS Mission Statement
To provide policy makers, resource managers
and researchers with access to the data they
need to detect, quantify, locate, understand
and warn of changes (especially reductions)
in the capacity of terrestrial ecosystems to
support sustainable development.
Focuses on five
issues of global
concern:
1. Changes in land quality
2. Availability of freshwater resources
3. Loss of biodiversity
4. Impacts of climate change
5. Effect of pollution and toxicity
Sponsors
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
International Council of Science Unions (ICSU)
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Key partners
Countries (Europe, Southern Africa, South Asia)
Research institutes and universities
Global change programmes (GCOS, GOOS, IGBP ... )
Committee of earth observation satellites
Framework convention on climate change
Convention on biodiversity
The global observation hierarchy
1. Large-area experiments
2. Long-term research centres
3. Field stations
4. Periodic, unstaffed sample sites
5. Frequent low resolution remote sensing
GT-Net Structure
GTOS
Steering Committee
(GTSC)
Secretariat
GT-Net Panel
Thematic Networks
Ecology-Net
Coastal-Net
Glacier-Net
Regional / National Networks
Hydrology-Net
Southern
Asia
Central
Europe
Southern
Africa
GT-Net demonstration project
GT-Net undertakes projects which demonstrate the value
of linking existing networks in order to better understand
global change.
It serves as a test bed for collaboration among networks
and sites through data sharing and exchange, by
generating data and information, and obtaining
experience needed for further GT-Net development.
GT-Net demonstration project
The first project will improve current estimates of global net terrestrial
primary productivity.
It uses a hierarchical approach with models that combine satellite data
with in situ observations.
A set of products, which have NPP as their common foundation, will be
produced.
The project will: (1) distribute a standard global NPP product to
regional networks for evaluation; and
(2) derive regionally specific crop, range and forest yield maps for
land management applications.
Net Primary Productivity
Critical vegetation variables such
as LC, LAI and NPP are measured
at local and regional scales, and
used to validate the global
satellite-based estimates. NEP
measurements provide a separate
validation and translation of the
carbon budget based NPP to
estimate commodity yields (with
local weather data).
Terrestrial carbon initiative
Led by GTOS and FAO in collaboration with IGOS Partners, including
UN organizations, remote sensing agencies and international research
organizations such as ICSU.
Aimed at developing a coordinated international response to improve
scientific understanding of terrestrial carbon sources and sinks.
An evolving network whereby frequent observations and computer models
are used to document and understand the terrestrial component of the
global carbon cycle and meet some of the carbon accounting requirements
of the Kyoto protocol.
Terrestrial carbon initiative
Objective: Demonstrate feasibility of continuous monitoring of
spatial and temporal variations of terrestrial carbon cycle by 2004
with near-km resolution and good accuracy
Improve on required models and observations (site location,
sensors, variables...)
Terrestrial carbon initiative
Characteristics:
•data from a combination of remote sensing and ground-based
observing systems;
•operate at a relatively high resolution to use of remote and in situ
observations;
•produce reliable maps of terrestrial carbon sources and sinks on a
seasonal, annual, inter-annual, and decadal basis by 2004.
Terrestrial Ecosystem Monitoring Sites
TEMS meta-database
•A register of long-term terrestrial observation
sites around the world
•Information on more than 700 sites
•Searchable on the Web: http://www.fao.org/gtos/
•Supporting GT-Net and the NPP project
Value-added of GTOS
•Operational links between terrestrial databases, sites, networks
•Improved access to terrestrial data & information and better
collaboration between networks
•Filling gaps in key observations and harmonization of
measurements & terminology
•Stronger links between satellite and ground research (IGOS)
•Stronger links between science and policy
Benefits of the approach
Site research
•Access to imagery, data
Satellite programmes
•Application of research
results
•Broader access to data and
information
•Better data and new tools
Access to ground validation
Analysis, synthesis
modelling
Policy forums
(COP, SBSTTA, governments)