Global Terrestrial Observing System

Global Terrestrial Observing System
Name	Global Terrestrial Observing System
Formation	1996
Type	International scientific network
Headquarters	Geneva
Parent organization	World Meteorological Organization

Global Terrestrial Observing System is an international coordinating framework that integrates terrestrial observations for environmental monitoring, policy, and research. It connects national and regional programs to global initiatives for biodiversity, climate, hydrology, and land use, supporting assessments by organizations such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Overview

The system links observing efforts across networks such as the Global Climate Observing System, the Global Ocean Observing System, the Group on Earth Observations, and the Global Earth Observation System of Systems, coordinating with agencies including the World Meteorological Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It aggregates data types from monitoring programs like the Long Term Ecological Research Network, the International Soil Reference and Information Centre, the Global Terrestrial Network for Hydrology, and regional observatories such as the European Long-Term Ecosystem Research Network and the AmeriFlux network. Stakeholders include research institutes like the Smithsonian Institution, universities such as University of Oxford and Stanford University, and national agencies such as the United States Geological Survey and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

History and Development

Origins trace to international science policy dialogues at forums including the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and the Earth Summit (1992), and later coordination under the World Climate Programme and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Foundational collaborations involved the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, the Global Water Partnership, and the International Council for Science. Important milestones include alignment with the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, integration with the Group on Earth Observations after the 2003 Earth Observation Summit, and links to the Sustainable Development Goals process promoted by the United Nations General Assembly.

Governance and Organizational Structure

Governance is multi-institutional, involving bodies such as the World Meteorological Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Union of Soil Sciences, and advisory panels drawn from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Operational guidance has been informed by committees with representatives from the European Commission, the National Science Foundation, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and regional entities like the African Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Partnerships with philanthropic foundations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and standard-setting organizations like the International Organization for Standardization influence strategic priorities.

Observing Networks and Components

Core observing components include in situ networks (for example FluxNet, Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative, Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost), remote sensing linkages to satellite missions like Landsat, Sentinel-2, MODIS, ICESat-2, and airborne campaigns led by institutions such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the European Space Agency. Hydrological and meteorological inputs draw on systems such as the Global Runoff Data Centre, the Hydrological Cycle Observing System, and national meteorological services including the Met Office and Météo-France. Biodiversity and carbon networks connect with programs such as the Ramsar Convention monitoring, the Red List assessments by IUCN, and forest inventories coordinated with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Data Management and Standards

Data stewardship follows interoperable standards promoted by organizations like the Group on Earth Observations, the Open Geospatial Consortium, and the World Meteorological Organization Information System. Metadata frameworks reference the ISO 19115 family and the Darwin Core schema for biodiversity, with data repositories linked to infrastructures such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, the PANGAEA data publisher, and national archives like the United States Geological Survey data portals. Emphasis on FAIR principles aligns with guidance from the Research Data Alliance and the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites to enable synthesis across climate, land use, and ecosystem datasets.

Applications and Use Cases

Outputs inform global assessments by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, national reporting under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity, and implementation of the Paris Agreement and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Sectoral uses include agricultural decision-support systems used by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, water resources planning for the World Bank, urban resilience projects supported by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, and conservation planning by NGOs such as World Wide Fund for Nature and Conservation International.

Challenges and Future Directions

Challenges involve coordination across international actors like the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme, funding volatility from multilateral lenders such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, and technical issues including scaling of satellite programs like Sentinel-1 and continuity of legacy missions such as Landsat series. Future directions emphasize stronger ties with initiatives like the Sustainable Development Goals, expanded capacity building through institutions such as the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, adoption of new technologies from private-sector partners like Planet Labs and Maxar Technologies, and enhanced integration with policy processes in bodies like the United Nations General Assembly and the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Category:Earth observation Category:Environmental monitoring