Co-sponsored Activities

The Atmospheric Observation Panel for Climate (AOPC) is co-sponsored by WCRP and by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS). It was established in recognition of the need for specific scientific and technical input concerning atmospheric observations for climate.

The Ocean Observations Panel for Climate (OOPC) is co-sponsored by WCRP, GCOS, and the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). It is a scientific expert advisory group charged with making recommendations for a sustained global ocean observing system for climate in support of the goals of its sponsors.

The Terrestrial Observation Panel for Climate is co-sponsored by WCRP and GCOS. It was set up to develop a balanced and integrated system of in situ, air- and spaceborne observations of the terrestrial system. The Panel focuses on the identification of terrestrial observation requirements, assisting the establishment of observing networks for climate, providing guidance on observation standards and norms, facilitating access to ECV and climate data and information and its assimiliation, and promoting climate studies and assessments.

START promotes research-driven capacity building to advance knowledge on global environmental change in Africa and Asia-Pacific. This is accomplished through research grants and fellowships, knowledge assessments and syntheses, curricula development, advanced training institutes, multi-stakeholder dialogues, and place-based strategic planning. WCRP is one of START’s key strategic partners.

Endorsed Activities

The Young Earth System Scientists (YESS) community unifies early career researchers in an influential network and communication platform to promote local and global exchange across multiple disciplines related to Earth system sciences.

The Year of the Maritime Continent (YMC) (April 2017 - October 2018) is an international framework for international collaboration on field observations and modeling to better understand the role of the Maritime Continent on the global weather-climate continuum.

The mission of the Year of Polar Prediction (YOPP) (mid-2017 to mid-2019) is to enable a significant improvement in environmental prediction capabilities for the polar regions and beyond, by coordinating a period of intensive observing, modelling, verification, user-engagement and education activities. It is one of the key elements of the Polar Prediction Project.