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You are in:  Home » Science & Data » Standing Scientific Group on Physical Sciences

Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS)

SCAR co-sponsors the Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS) Partners Cryosphere Theme.

• IGOS Partners website
• Cryosphere Theme website

The Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS) Partnership (IGOS-P) brings together the efforts of a number of international bodies concerned with the observational component of global environmental issues, both from a research and a long-term operational perspective. It includes the space agencies, the UN agencies responsible for environmental observations (WMO, IOC, UNEP, FAO), the main global research agencies (ICSU, IGFA, WCRP, and IGBP), and the global observing systems (GOOS, GCOS, GTOS, GOS and GAW.

Principal objectives are to address how well user requirements are being met by the existing mix of observations, including those of the global observing systems, and how they could be met in future through better integration and optimisation of remote sensing (especially space based) and in situ systems.

To aid the development of the Strategy, the Partners have adopted an incremental approach based around a set of 'Themes' centred on perceived priorities. This approach recognises that it is not practical to attempt to define a comprehensive global system that would in a single step satisfy all needs for environmental information. Themes focus the best efforts of all partners on achieving a number of common objectives, and help to shape future satellite and in situ data collecting missions.

The current themes are:

• Oceans (since 2001)
• Global Carbon (since 2003)
• Global Water Cycle (since 2003)
• Geohazards (since 2003)
• Atmospheric Chemistry (in development)
• Coasts (in development)
• Land (pre-proposal stage)
• Cryosphere (2007)

The IGOS Partners' meeting at Colorado Springs (November 18-20, 2003) was persuaded that the Cryosphere was a major missing element. They asked Colin Summerhayes to draw together interested parties to outline a proposal for a Cryosphere Theme.

The Cryosphere Theme team, led by Jeff Key, of NOAA/NESDIS, Madison, Wiconsin, has now developed a full proposal. The full proposal will be considered at the 14th session of the IGOS Partners at the end of May 2007. Assuming this initiative is successful, we will have a fully-fledged IGOS Theme on the Cryosphere operating during the International Polar Year(2007-2008), and beyond.

You can download the Cryosphere Theme Report from Documents on the Cryosphere Theme website.

The Cryosphere Theme team meeting at the Kananaskis Hotel in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains near Calgary.