Global Atmosphere Watch's logo

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. Image File history File links GAWlogo. ... Image File history File links GAWlogo. ... The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 187 Member States and Territories. ... United Nations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Layers of Atmosphere (NOAA) Air redirects here. ... The outrageously crowded Woodstock festival epitomized the popular antiwar movement of the 60s. ...

GAW's mission

The Global Atmosphere Watch's mission is quite straightforward, consisting of three concise points:

1. To make reliable, comprehensive observations of the chemical composition and selected physical characteristics of the atmosphere on global and regional scales;

2. To provide the scientific community with the means to predict future atmospheric states;

3. To organize assessments in support of formulating environmental policy.

GAW's goals

The GAW programme 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 coöperation between all GAW components and with the scientific community;
• To identify and clarify changing rôles 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. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a standardized index of the air quality in a given location, given in parts per billion. ...

GAW's genesis

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. The 1950s were the decade that spanned the years 1950 through 1959, although some sources say from 1951 through 1960. ... This power plant in New Mexico releases sulfur dioxide and particulate matter into the air. ... Satellite image of Hurricane Hugo with a polar low visible at the top of the image. ... For other uses, see Ozone (disambiguation). ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The International Geophysical Year or IGY was an international scientific effort that lasted from July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958. ...

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: 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... Stockholm panorama from the City Hall is the capital of Sweden, located on the south east coast of Sweden. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1972 calendar). ...

• 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. For other uses, see CFC (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A forest is an area with a high density of trees (or, historically, a wooded function as carbon dioxide sinks, animal habitats, hydrologic flow modulators, and soil conservers, constituting one of the most important aspects of the Earths biosphere. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... World map showing Europe Political map Europe is one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one, leading to various perspectives about Europes borders. ... Acid rain occurs when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are emitted into the atmosphere, undergo chemical transformations and are absorbed by water droplets in clouds. ... Global mean surface temperatures 1856 to 2005 Mean surface temperature anomalies during the period 1995 to 2004 with respect to the average temperatures from 1940 to 1980 Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earths atmosphere and oceans in recent decades. ... Greenhouse gases are gaseous components of the atmosphere that contribute to the greenhouse effect. ...

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. 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Ozone (disambiguation). ... Ultraviolet (UV) light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than soft X-rays. ...

GAW's organization

The GAW consists of a coördinated system of various components, prominent among which are:

• measurement stations;
• calibration and data quality centres;
• data centres;
• external scientific groups.

Measurement stations

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. A satellite is any object that orbits another object (which is known as its primary). ...

Calibration and data quality centres

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. A developing country is a country with low average income compared to the world average. ...

Data centres

The Global Atmosphere Watch currently has five 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.

External scientific groups

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.

External link

• Global Atmosphere Watch official site