Terrestrial essential climate variables (ECVs) at a glance
Scientific Investigations Map
3155
By: Susan Stitt, John Dwyer, Dennis Dye, and Edward Josberger
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Abstract
The Global Terrestrial Observing System, Global Climate Observing System, World Meteorological Organization, and Committee on Earth Observation Satellites all support consistent global land observations and measurements. To accomplish this goal, the Global Terrestrial Observing System defined 'essential climate variables' as measurements of atmosphere, oceans, and land that are technically and economically feasible for systematic observation and that are needed to meet the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and requirements of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The following are the climate variables defined by the Global Terrestrial Observing System that relate to terrestrial measurements. Several of them are currently measured most appropriately by in-place observations, whereas others are suitable for measurement by remote sensing technologies. The U.S. Geological Survey is the steward of the Landsat archive, satellite imagery collected from 1972 to the present, that provides a potential basis for deriving long-term, global-scale, accurate, timely and consistent measurements of many of these essential climate variables.
Suggested Citation
Stitt, S., Dwyer, J., Dye, D., Josberger, E., 2011, Terrestrial essential climate variables (ECVs) at a glance: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3155, 60.0 x 55.0 inches, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3155.
ISSN: 2329-132X (online)
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Terrestrial essential climate variables (ECVs) at a glance |
| Series title | Scientific Investigations Map |
| Series number | 3155 |
| DOI | 10.3133/sim3155 |
| Year Published | 2011 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston, VA |
| Contributing office(s) | Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, Rocky Mountain Geographic Science Center |
| Description | 60.0 x 55.0 inches |
| Online Only (Y/N) | Y |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |