International Council for Science - World Data Center System

Appendix B
WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION DATA CENTERS

[WOUDC] [WDCGG] [Aerosols] [WRDC] [Aerosol Optical Depth] [Precipitation Chemistry] [Global Runoff] [Global Precipitation Climatology]

Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW)

This program is summarized in GAW Report 99/WMO Technical Document 636, Status of the WMO Global Atmosphere Watch Programme as at 31 December 1993. The major components of GAW are the network of observing stations (about 400 in December 1993), the related chemical laboratories, the WMO World Data Centers, the Data Quality Assurance/Science Activity Centers and the Instrument Calibration Centers.

The functions of the WMO World Data Centers under the GAW Programme are to collect and archive data on the background chemical composition and related physical characteristics of the atmosphere from all parts of the globe, to manage the resulting data base, to distribute the collected data and the products and information derived from them, to provide services to the users, in collaboration with the stations and laboratories submitting the data, other GAW and nonGAW Centers and the WMO Secretariat.

WMO World Data Centers are established and operated on behalf of the organization by the member countries concerned. Those currently in operation or in preparation are described in the following pages:

WMO World Data Center for Ozone and Ultraviolet Radiation

(WOUDC) (Downsview, Canada)

WMO World Data Center for Greenhouse Gases (WDCGG) (Tokyo, Japan)

WMO World Data Center for Aerosols (WDCA) (Ispra, Italy)

WMO World Radiation Center (WRDC) (St Petersburg, Russia)

WMO World Data Center for Aerosol Optical Depth (Asheville, U.S.A.)

WMO World Data Center for Precipitation Chemistry (Asheville, U.S.A.)

WMO Global Runoff Data Center (Koblenz, Germany) (not GAW)

Note from Editor: Prospective users should contact the Centers for information on user services. WMO data Centers are not part of the ICSU World Data Center System and are not bound by the "WDC Principles and Responsibilities" listed in Chapter 2 of this Guide. WMO puts no restrictions on the exchange of data for research and educational purposes. For commercial purposes, users should ascertain from the Centers the terms on which data are supplied.

[Appendix A] [Appendix B] [Appendix C] [Appendix D] [Appendix E]

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