Introduction
The Global Terrestrial Observing System fulfils
its mission through a number of complementary activities.
It facilitates communication and cooperation between existing
initiatives and promotes the harmonization of measurement
methods and data processing.
The four main GTOS panels are the: Coastal GTOS (C-GTOS),
the Terrestrial Observation Panel on Climate (TOPC),
the Terrestrial Carbon Observation panel (TCO)
and the Global Observation of Forest and Land Cover Dynamics
panel (GOFC-GOLD).
These expert groups are aimed at promoting regional and
global datasets and facilitating the synthesis of globally
consistent data. The panels have also contributed to the
identification of key variables for the Terrestrial Ecosystem
Monitoring Sites (TEMS)
database and towards the establishment of regional networks.
The Net Primary Productivity (NPP)
demonstration project uses ground measurements for validating
the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)
remote sensing products that are related to ecosystem structure
and carbon and water balance. The project shows the benefits
of cooperation between different science communities.
The Global Terrestrial Observing Network (GT-Net)
link existing terrestrial research networks together that
have similar efforts for a particular theme, habitat type
or region. GT-Net serves as a framework for network managers
to explore areas of common interest, harmonize research
efforts, share data, information and experience and allow
complete and coherent data sets to be generated.
In addition
GTOS undertakes and collaborates in a number of international
activities, including:
1. the coordination
of the development of the land theme (IGOL)
of the Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS);
2. the participation
in the development of the Global
Earth Observation System of Systems including leading
and contribution to the implementation of the identified
tasks;
3. the development
of an international biodiversity initiative (B-GTOS),
and
4. the technical
support achieving the objectives of numerous international
Conventions and treaties.
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