The Global Atmosphere Watch's mission is quite straightforward, consisting of three concise points:
To make reliable, comprehensive observations of the chemical composition and selected physical characteristics of the atmosphere on global and regional scales;
To provide the scientific community with the means to predict future atmospheric states;
To organize assessments in support of formulating environmental policy.
GoalsEdit
The GAW program is guided by 8 strategic goals:
To improve the measurements programme for better geographical and temporal coverage and for near real-time monitoring capability;
To complete the quality assurance/quality control system;
To improve availability of data and promote their use;
To improve communication and cooperation between all GAW components and with the scientific community;
To identify and clarify changing roles of GAW components;
To maintain present and solicit new support and collaborations for the GAW programme;
To intensify capacity-building in developing countries;
To enhance the capabilities of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services in providing urban environmental air quality services.
Moreover, the programme seeks not only to understand changes in the Earth's atmosphere, but also to forecast them, and perhaps control the human activities that cause them.
Nitrogen dioxide 2014 - global air quality levels (released 14 December 2015).[3]
GenesisEdit
Global Atmosphere Watch's logo until 2012
The original reason for testing the atmosphere for trace chemicals was mere scientific interest, but of course, many scientists eventually wondered what effects these trace chemicals could have on the atmosphere, and on life.
The GAW's genesis began as far back as the 1950s when the World Meteorological Organization began a programme of monitoring the atmosphere for trace chemicals, and also researching air pollution from a meteorological point of view. They were also responsible for monitoring ozone, establishing the Global Ozone Observing System (GO3OS) in 1957, in the International Geophysical Year.
In 1968, the United Nations called for an international conference to address world environmental problems caused by rapid industrialization. At about this time, the World Meteorological Organization set up another environmental research body, the Background Air Pollution Monitoring Network. The conference was held in Stockholm in 1972, and addressed several environmental concerns, namely:
Indeed, it was the World Meteorological Organization's readings and observations that figured prominently at this conference. They had little good news to offer.
The GAW itself was eventually created in 1989 by combining the GO3OS and the Background Air Pollution Monitoring Network. The GAW consists of a worldwide system of observing stations and supporting facilities providing data for atmospheric assessments, and also serving as an early warning system for chemical or physical changes in the Earth's atmosphere which could be cause for environmental concern. Such changes might involve a change in ozone, and therefore ultraviolet, levels, levels of greenhouse gases, or precipitation chemistry, the culprit in the world's acid rain woes.
OrganizationEdit
The GAW consists of a coordinated system of various components, prominent among which are:
measurement stations;
calibration and data quality centres;
data centres;
external scientific groups.
Measurement stationsEdit
More than 65 countries currently host and operate the GAW's global or regional measurement stations. There are also "contributing stations" that furnish additional data. Lately, satellite programmes have also become important to the GAW, providing atmospheric data that complement ground measurements.
Calibration and data quality centresEdit
These have the job of ensuring that all data produced by the system measure up to international standards. This is achieved by assuring a rigorous adherence to standards established by scientific advisory groups and a strict enforcement of world calibration standards. A number of programmes such as education, workshops, calibration station visits and so on are provided within the GAW programme to enhance the performance of the human component of the GAW. This has become particularly important in recent years as quite a number of stations are now operating in developing countries where further education is often a luxury enjoyed only by a small élite.
Data centresEdit
The Global Atmosphere Watch currently has six World Data Centres, each administered by its host nation, and each responsible for gathering and storing atmospheric data from measurement stations worldwide, and making it freely available to scientists in a number of different forms.
The six data centres are:
The World Ozone and UV radiation Data Centre (WOUDC), hosted by Environment Canada.
The World Data Centre for Greenhouse Gases (WDCGG), hosted by the Japan Meteorological Agency.
The World Data Centre for Aerosols (), hosted by the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU).
The World Radiation Data Centre (WRDC), hosted by the Voeikov Main Geophysical Observatory, St Petersburg
The World Data Centre for Precipitation Chemistry (WDCPC) hosted by the Illinois State Water Survey
The World Data Centre for Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere (WDC-RSAT), hosted by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR).
External scientific groupsEdit
Scientific Advisory Groups (SAGs) have the job of managing and implementing the GAW programme. This includes establishing data quality objectives and standard operating procedures, and also providing guidelines and recommendations for achieving these things. Measurement methods and procedures also fall within the SAGs' domain. They are also charged with promoting twinning and training in developing countries.
ReferencesEdit
^St. Fleur, Nicholas (10 November 2015). "Atmospheric Greenhouse Gas Levels Hit Record, Report Says". New York Times. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
^Ritter, Karl (9 November 2015). "UK: In 1st, global temps average could be 1 degree C higher". AP News. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
^Cole, Steve; Gray, Ellen (14 December 2015). "New NASA Satellite Maps Show Human Fingerprint on Global Air Quality". NASA. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
External linksEdit
Official website
GAW Station Information System
October 20, 2023
global, atmosphere, watch, worldwide, system, established, world, meteorological, organization, united, nations, agency, monitor, trends, earth, atmosphere, arose, concerns, state, atmosphere, 1960s, official, logo, program, since, 2012, contents, mission, goa. The Global Atmosphere Watch GAW is a worldwide system established by the World Meteorological Organization a United Nations agency to monitor trends in the Earth s atmosphere It arose out of concerns for the state of the atmosphere in the 1960s The official logo of the Global Atmosphere Watch program since 2012 Contents 1 Mission 2 Goals 3 Genesis 4 Organization 4 1 Measurement stations 4 2 Calibration and data quality centres 4 3 Data centres 4 4 External scientific groups 5 References 6 External linksMission EditThe Global Atmosphere Watch s mission is quite straightforward consisting of three concise points To make reliable comprehensive observations of the chemical composition and selected physical characteristics of the atmosphere on global and regional scales To provide the scientific community with the means to predict future atmospheric states To organize assessments in support of formulating environmental policy Goals EditThe GAW program is guided by 8 strategic goals To improve the measurements programme for better geographical and temporal coverage and for near real time monitoring capability To complete the quality assurance quality control system To improve availability of data and promote their use To improve communication and cooperation between all GAW components and with the scientific community To identify and clarify changing roles of GAW components To maintain present and solicit new support and collaborations for the GAW programme To intensify capacity building in developing countries To enhance the capabilities of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services in providing urban environmental air quality services Moreover the programme seeks not only to understand changes in the Earth s atmosphere but also to forecast them and perhaps control the human activities that cause them nbsp Carbon dioxide in Earth s atmosphere if half of global warming emissions 1 2 are not absorbed NASA simulation 9 November 2015 nbsp Nitrogen dioxide 2014 global air quality levels released 14 December 2015 3 Genesis Edit nbsp Global Atmosphere Watch s logo until 2012The original reason for testing the atmosphere for trace chemicals was mere scientific interest but of course many scientists eventually wondered what effects these trace chemicals could have on the atmosphere and on life The GAW s genesis began as far back as the 1950s when the World Meteorological Organization began a programme of monitoring the atmosphere for trace chemicals and also researching air pollution from a meteorological point of view They were also responsible for monitoring ozone establishing the Global Ozone Observing System GO3OS in 1957 in the International Geophysical Year In 1968 the United Nations called for an international conference to address world environmental problems caused by rapid industrialization At about this time the World Meteorological Organization set up another environmental research body the Background Air Pollution Monitoring Network The conference was held in Stockholm in 1972 and addressed several environmental concerns namely The threat posed to the atmosphere by chlorofluorocarbons CFCs Acidification of lakes and forests in North America and Europe due to acid rain Global warming caused by build up of greenhouse gases Indeed it was the World Meteorological Organization s readings and observations that figured prominently at this conference They had little good news to offer The GAW itself was eventually created in 1989 by combining the GO3OS and the Background Air Pollution Monitoring Network The GAW consists of a worldwide system of observing stations and supporting facilities providing data for atmospheric assessments and also serving as an early warning system for chemical or physical changes in the Earth s atmosphere which could be cause for environmental concern Such changes might involve a change in ozone and therefore ultraviolet levels levels of greenhouse gases or precipitation chemistry the culprit in the world s acid rain woes Organization EditThe GAW consists of a coordinated system of various components prominent among which are measurement stations calibration and data quality centres data centres external scientific groups Measurement stations Edit More than 65 countries currently host and operate the GAW s global or regional measurement stations There are also contributing stations that furnish additional data Lately satellite programmes have also become important to the GAW providing atmospheric data that complement ground measurements Calibration and data quality centres Edit These have the job of ensuring that all data produced by the system measure up to international standards This is achieved by assuring a rigorous adherence to standards established by scientific advisory groups and a strict enforcement of world calibration standards A number of programmes such as education workshops calibration station visits and so on are provided within the GAW programme to enhance the performance of the human component of the GAW This has become particularly important in recent years as quite a number of stations are now operating in developing countries where further education is often a luxury enjoyed only by a small elite Data centres Edit The Global Atmosphere Watch currently has six World Data Centres each administered by its host nation and each responsible for gathering and storing atmospheric data from measurement stations worldwide and making it freely available to scientists in a number of different forms The six data centres are The World Ozone and UV radiation Data Centre WOUDC hosted by Environment Canada The World Data Centre for Greenhouse Gases WDCGG hosted by the Japan Meteorological Agency The World Data Centre for Aerosols WDCA hosted by the Norwegian Institute for Air Research NILU The World Radiation Data Centre WRDC hosted by the Voeikov Main Geophysical Observatory St Petersburg The World Data Centre for Precipitation Chemistry WDCPC hosted by the Illinois State Water Survey The World Data Centre for Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere WDC RSAT hosted by the German Aerospace Centre DLR External scientific groups Edit Scientific Advisory Groups SAGs have the job of managing and implementing the GAW programme This includes establishing data quality objectives and standard operating procedures and also providing guidelines and recommendations for achieving these things Measurement methods and procedures also fall within the SAGs domain They are also charged with promoting twinning and training in developing countries References Edit St Fleur Nicholas 10 November 2015 Atmospheric Greenhouse Gas Levels Hit Record Report Says New York Times Retrieved 11 November 2015 Ritter Karl 9 November 2015 UK In 1st global temps average could be 1 degree C higher AP News Retrieved 11 November 2015 Cole Steve Gray Ellen 14 December 2015 New NASA Satellite Maps Show Human Fingerprint on Global Air Quality NASA Retrieved 14 December 2015 External links EditOfficial website nbsp GAW Station Information System Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Global Atmosphere Watch amp oldid 1054311418, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
