Global Terrestrial Observing System

linking the world’s terrestrial monitoring systems to provide a global vision of the

Earth we share

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.

GTOS Mission StatementGTOS Mission StatementGTOS Mission StatementGTOS Mission Statement

Focuses on five issues of global concern:

1. Changes in land quality

2. Availability of freshwater resources

3. Loss of biodiversity

4. Effects of climate change

5. Impacts of pollution and toxicity

IOC of UNESCO

UNEPWMOICSUFAO UNESCO

GTOS GCOS GOOS

Biodiversity AtmosphereOcean

services

Pollution, toxicity

Land surface/

hydrologyOcean & climate

Pollution/coastal zone

CryosphereMarine living

sources

Terrestrial ecosystem structure &

function

Global observing Global observing systems - convergence systems - convergence

of interest of interest

Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO)

International Council of Science (ICSU)

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

UN Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

GTOS SponsorsGTOS Sponsors

Key GTOS PartnersKey GTOS Partners

Countries (Europe, Southern Africa, South Asia)

Research institutes and universities

Global change programmes (GCOS, GOOS, IGBP ... )

Space agencies and programmes

Framework convention on climate change

Convention on biodiversity

1. Large-area experiments2. Long-term research centres3. Field stations4. Periodic, unstaffed sample sites5. Frequent low resolution remote sensing

The global observation The global observation hierarchyhierarchy

GTOS System of Networks:GTOS System of Networks: GT-NetGT-Net ObjectiveObjective:

to link existing terrestrial monitoring networks in order to study regional and global environmental change.

Key activitiesKey activities:

• share and exchange environmental data;

• define policies on data and information access;

• develop standards for metadata and in situ data;

• undertake demonstration projects

(e.g. Net primary productivity, carbon).

GTOS System of Networks:GTOS System of Networks: GT-NetGT-Net ObjectiveObjective:

to link existing terrestrial monitoring networks in order to study regional and global environmental change.

Key activitiesKey activities:

• share and exchange environmental data;

• define policies on data and information access;

• develop standards for metadata and in situ data;

• undertake demonstration projects

(e.g. Net primary productivity, carbon).

GTOS

SecretariatSteering Committee

(GTSC)

GT-Net Panel

Ecology-Net Coastal-Net Glacier-Net Hydrology-NetCentralEurope

SouthernAsia

Thematic Networks Regional / National Networks

SouthernAfrica

GT-Net StructureGT-Net Structure

GT-Net Ecology membersGT-Net Ecology members Arab Centre for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD) Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN) Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Fluxnet International Cooperative Programme on Integrated Monitoring

of Air Pollution Effects on Ecosystem (ICP IM) Organismo Autonomo Parques Nationales Réseau d’Observatoires de Surveillance Ecologique

à Long Terme (ROSELT) UK Environmental Change Network (ECN) US Long-term Ecological Research Networks (LTER) Worldwide Network of Biosphere Reserves (MAB-BR)

GT-Net demonstration projectGT-Net demonstration projectGT-Net undertakes projects which demonstrate the

value of linking existing networks by generating data sets

which are useful in studying global change. They serve

as test beds for collaboration among networks and sites,

including data sharing and exchange, and obtaining the

experience needed for further development of GT-Net

Net Primary ProductivityNet Primary ProductivityThe calculation of NPP requires input data which are valuable long-term observations in their own right:

Land cover

Leaf Area Index (LAI)

Net primary productivity

Soil water holding capacity and nitrogen content

Temperature

Rainfall

Critical vegetation variables of

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 if available).

GTOS-NPPGTOS-NPP

• A global register of long-term terrestrial observation sites;

• Information on more than 700 sites;

• Searchable on the web: http://www.fao.org/gtos/

• Supporting GT-Net, the NPP project, the terrestrial carbon observation initiative.

Terrestrial Ecosystem Terrestrial Ecosystem Monitoring Sites mMonitoring Sites meta-databaseeta-database

Value-added through GTOSValue-added through GTOS

• Linked systems of terrestrial networks and sites;

• Improved access to terrestrial data & information;

• Better collaboration between ecological networks;

• Filling gaps in key observations;

• Stronger links between science and policy

• Faster response to emerging issues

• Harmonization of measurements & terminology