The Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS) has been strengthened with the formation of the IGOS Partnership. The original concepts for an IGOS originated from several sources including the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) and international research programs such as the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program (IGBP) and encouraged by the International Group of Funding Agencies for Global Change Research (IGFA). The IGOS Partnership recognizes the contributions of the space, science and operational user agencies towards a coordinated observation program for land, ocean and climate monitoring. Among the IGOS partners are:

• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
• Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC)
• International Council for Science (ICSU)
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
• United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP)
• World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

 IGOS 'Themes' Concept - Terrestrial Carbon 

The IGOS Partnership has endorsed the concept of coordinated 'Themes' to structure the activities contributing to IGOS. The Themes approach is intended to provide a greater degree of integration between IGOS activities, to better address observation issues arising from international conventions, and to help set priorities. From an initial list of 10-12 proposed themes, GOFC-GOLD is expected to contribute significantly to the development of one on Terrestrial Carbon in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and GCOS/GTOS.

FIRE M3 Website 

An example of operational fire detection and monitoring from satellite is viewable on the Canadian Forest Service Fire M3 (Monitoring, Mapping, and Modelling) Website. Fire M3 automatically detects, monitors and maps large forest fires on a daily basis using NOAA AVHRR satellite data. These data are processed and automated image analysis processes are used to detect active fires and format these data for use in spatially based fire behavior models. Fire weather and behavior outputs from the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System (CWFIS) are incorporated to produce quantitative estimates of fire behavior for each active fire. Daily maps and summary reports of fuel consumption, fire intensity and fire type are produced. The full Fire M3 site may be visited at: http://www.atmos.umd.edu/~zli/fire_m3/fire_m3.html. Look under 'Maps' to view actual products from the system.

 JERS-1 Global Rain Forest Mapping Project - Africa Data Set 

The Africa data set of the JERS-1 Global Rain Forest Mapping Project is available through the GOFC-GOLD Project Office. The data is made available for scientific and educational puposes only, and maybe obtained on written request to GOFC-GOLD.

FAO ©   ···   GOFC-GOLD  ···   last updated: 20 January 2004