Overview
Role
The role of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS)
Working Group on Surface Pressure (WG-SP) is to promote the development
of long-term high-quality analyses of atmospheric surface pressure.
Terms of Reference
The terms of reference of the GCOS Working Group on Surface Pressure are:
- to promote the analysis of global surface pressure from both real-time and historical sources using both daily and monthly data;
- to record and evaluate differences among surface pressure analyses through comparison of basic products;
- to recommend actions needed to ensure the quality and consistency of surface pressure analyses based on analysis of those differences;
- to promote the recovery of atmospheric pressure data, including issues associated with data access, archiving and maintenance;
- to promote the comparison of the various types of barometers and pressure sensors (including satellite estimates) used to measure surface pressure;
- to report annually to Atmosphere Observation Panel for Climate (AOPC)
and Ocean Observations Panel for Climate (OOPC) on progress, recommendations and future plans of the Group.
The Working Group on Surface Pressure is organized under the auspices of the
Global Climate Observing System. More information about GCOS can be found at
its homepage:
http://www.wmo.ch/web/gcos/gcoshome.html