date: Mon Aug 18 13:37:10 2008
from: Phil Jones <p.jones@uea.ac.uk>
subject: Re: Expert Meeting on Updating the GCOS Implementation Plan (1st
to: "GCOSJPO" <GCOSJPO@wmo.int>

    Paul, Stephan,
       I've made a note of the dates and they are good for me.
    I probably won't have any of my own resources, so would need
    full support.
    Cheers
    Phil
   At 13:49 15/08/2008, GCOSJPO wrote:

     15 August 2008
     Dear Colleague,
     GCOS is planning an expert meeting devoted to updating the 2004
     "Implementation Plan for the Global
     Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC", to be held 2-5
     February 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland.
     This meeting will consist of about 30 participants covering the
     atmospheric, oceanic and terrestrial domains
     of the global observing systems for climate. The group will, subject to
     the guidelines previously set by the
     UNFCCC, undertake a critical review of existing requirements in the
     Implementation Plan, such as the GCOS
     networks and the list of Essential Climate Variables. The update will
     also include consideration of emerging issues,
     such as observations in support of regional modelling, and
     observational needs in the context of adaptation to
     the impacts of climate change.
     Nearly five years after publication of the Implementation Plan, such an
     update is timely and urgently needed.
     The Implementation Plan and its 2006 "Satellite Supplement" have
     provided consensus by the climate community
     as to its priority needs for systematic observation of climate. Many
     agents of implementation
     identified in the Plan have incorporated the requirements expressed
     into their own strategies and plans.
     With the Plan, the GCOS has been recognized as the climate observation
     component of the Global Earth
     Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).
     Significant progress in GCOS implementation has  been made in some
     areas, although progress remains more
     limited or absent in others. GCOS is currently undertaking a
     comprehensive assessment of progress against the
     Implementation Plan, which will be available in draft form by the time
     of the  February 2009 meeting.
     We would like to ensure good and balanced attendance and would
     therefore ask you to check your availability
     for this meeting and reply to gcosjpo@wmo.int at your earliest
     convenience, but no later than by 29 August 2008.
     If you are available and willing to attend, you will receive a formal
     invitation in due course. There are limited funds
     available for the meeting to support your travel and per diem, although
     it would be extremely helpful if you were
     able to meet some or all of your expenses from other sources.
     We look forward to your participation and to a productive and engaging
     meeting.
     Best regards,
     Paul Mason
     Stephan Bojinski
     (on behalf of the GCOS Steering Committee)
     Reference:
     Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in
     Support of the UNFCCC, GCOS-92, October 2004:
     [1]http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/gcos/Publications/gcos-92_GIP.pdf
     Global Climate Observing System (GCOS)
     c/o World Meteorological Organization
     7bis, Avenue de la Paix; 1211 Geneva 2
     Switzerland
     Email: gcosjpo@wmo.int
     Phone: +41 22 730 8067
     Web: [2]http://gcos.wmo.int

   Prof. Phil Jones
   Climatic Research Unit        Telephone +44 (0) 1603 592090
   School of Environmental Sciences    Fax +44 (0) 1603 507784
   University of East Anglia
   Norwich                          Email    p.jones@uea.ac.uk
   NR4 7TJ
   UK
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