GCOS GOOS WCRP/OOPC IX/3 

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The  Observations  Programme  Area  of  JCOMM  is  proposing  to  produce  summaries 

that show the degree to which global observations meet the targets set by OOPC for climate 

measurements.  These  summaries  will  be  produced  by  different  centres  but  with  a  common 

form. The first ones will be prepared for the last quarter of 2004 and will be made available 

early in 2005. 

The data system for Argo is progressing well. This year it is expected that the delayed 

mode  data  will  become  available  at  the  global  data  centres.  In  addition,  it  is  expected  that 

regional  data  centres  will  begin  limited  operations.  There  will  be  some  common  statistics 

produced  by  the  data  system  that  will  allow  a  composite  performance  of floats  to  be  made. 

Some proposals are under consideration now. 

Keeley  described  the  implementation  of  a  technique  for  the  unique  identification  of 

original XBT profiles and records delivered in real time. This has started in April with all of 

the data coming through the US SEAS system. The Australians have part of their software in 

place  to  contribute  and  they  hope  to  come  on line  in  a  few  months.  An  analysis  of  the 

effectiveness of this procedure will be presented to both JCOMM and IODE next year. 

Keeley showed sample data collected using CTDs that had been mounted on marine 

mammals.  When  the  mammals  come  to  the  surface,  the  data  are  sent  through  the  ARGOS 

system. Some of these mammals dive to 1000 m and the resulting profiles are typically 10 20 

points.  Some  of  these  data  are  collected  from  regions  close  to  or  even  within  ice infested 

waters. There is a growing interest by the PIs in making these data available even in real time. 

8. 

ADEQUACY, NEXT STEPS, AND STATUS 

8.1 Observing System Evaluation  

This item was introduced by the Chair, and a presentation is available on the meeting 

website.  The  OOPC  has  proposed  an  initial  evaluation  strategy  based  on  estimating  the 

uncertainty in ocean climate indices, but questions remain on how to move forward with this. 

How  will  the  indices  be  selected?  Should  they  be  computed  from  products  or  from  data 

alone? These indices have not been routinely calculated for the subsurface ocean, partly due 

to a lack of data. Who can we get interested in this problem?  

An  alternative  strategy  would  be  to  decide  a  priori  on  the  necessary  space  and  time 

accuracy, and try to estimate the local uncertainty of analyses, the approach taken with SST. 

However, the poor sampling of the subsurface ocean makes this difficult since there is a lack 

of statistical information. With assumed correlation functions and amplitudes, much could be 

done from the perspective of optimal interpolation. 

The  estimation  of  uncertainties  in  existing  ocean  climatologies  is  another  critical 

evaluation  strategy.  If  rigorous  comparisons  between  the  various  global  and  regional 

climatologies  have  not  been  made  and  documented,  how  can  we  encourage  this  work  to  go 

further?  

The contribution of different observing elements to the overall system also needs to be 

addressed. The tropical upper Pacific, with the moored arrays, XBT lines, Argo, VOS, repeat 

hydrographic sections, altimeter, vector satellite winds, and microwave SST has been cited as 

a region meriting such a study. The forecasting community is in a position to carry out such