OBSERVATIONS PROGRAMME AREA

OBSERVATIONS PROGRAMME AREA

The Observations Programme Area is primarily responsible for the development, coordination and maintenance of moored buoy, drifting buoy, ship-based and space-based observational networks and related telecommunications facilities. It also monitors the efficiency of the overall observing system and, as necessary, recommends and coordinates changes designed to improve it. It has inherited lead responsibility for a number of important and well-established observational programs, which are managed by bodies that now report through JCOMM

ACTIVITIES - | SOT | VOS | ASAP | SOOP | DBCP | GOOS | Argo | GLOSS | JCOMMOPS |

ASAP - The Automated Shipboard Aerological Programme
The ASAP in its present form began in the mid-1980s. It involves the generation of upper air profile data from data sparse ocean areas using automated sounding systems carried on board merchant ships plying regular ocean routes. The profile data are all made available in real time on the GTS, for use by operational centres. ASAP is of vital importance to both the WWW and GCOS. Several National Meteorological Services operate ASAP units, and the programme is coordinated through the ASAP Panel, a component of the JCOMM Ship Observations Team. Most of the soundings are presently from the North Atlantic and North West Pacific Oceans, but the programme is also expanding into other ocean basins, most notably through a new, cooperative Worldwide Recurring ASAP Project (WRAP). The ASAP Panel publishes an Annual Report, giving programme status and statistics on data return and data quality.	ASAP   Focal Points
SOOP - Ship-of-Opportunity Programme
The JCOMM Ship-of-Opportunity Programme also makes use of volunteer merchant ships which routinely transit strategic shipping routes. Ships' officers are trained to deploy Expendable Bathythermographs (XBTs) at predetermined sampling intervals to acquire temperature profiles in the open ocean. Selected data which accurately represent the entire data profile are transmitted by satellites to shore centres, for insertion and exchange on the GTS, and assimilation into operational ocean models. System performance is monitored continuously and sampling strategies are adjusted in the light of new scientific understanding, evolving requirements, in particular those of GOOS and GCOS, and new technologies and systems, most notably Argo. The SOOP data are vital in particular to seasonal to interannual climate prediction. The programme is managed by the SOOP Implementation Panel (SOOPIP), also a part of the JCOMM Ship Observations Team, and supported by a technical coordinator. The SOOP coordinator maintains a dedicated SOOP website.	Focal Points
DBCP - The Data Buoy Cooperation Panel
The DBCP, was established in 1985 as a joint WMO/IOC initiative. It was originally concerned only with drifting ocean data buoys, but in 1995 expanded its activities to also encompass moored data buoys on the open ocean. It addresses the requirements and needs for real-time or archival data from buoys, both drifting and moored, coordinates buoy deployments worldwide, and provides a forum for the exchange of technical and related information on buoy technology, communications systems and the applications of buoy data, to both operations and research. It coordinates its activities with other programmes such as the WWW, GOOS and GCOS. The implementation of buoy deployments is coordinated at the regional level through various Action Groups. The panel is supported by a full-time technical coordinator, and maintains its own DBCP web site.	Focal Points Info on vandalism

GLOSS - Global Sea Level Observing System

The Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS) oversees the operation of, and collection and management of data from a global network of tide gauge stations, in support of a variety of operational activities in Members/Member States and also of global climate studies. The system is coordinated by the GLOSS Group of Experts, which is now a component body of JCOMM. Amongst other things, GLOSS operates a GLOSS Core Network (GCN) as well as regional GLOSS networks; it provides tide gauges for ongoing altimeter calibration (GLOSS-ALT); provides data and information to international scientific study groups such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); and prepares materials for training, outreach and research. GLOSS information, publications and data can be accessed through a GLOSS website.

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