GLOSS

 

The study and monitoring of recent climate changes and the current sea level are organized worldwide by the GLOSS programme of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. This programme principally relies on a world network of some 300 coastal tide stations around which the denser regional networks revolve. The GLOSS stations are typically grouped according to three poles of scientific interest:

•  GLOSS-LTT, for studying long-term sea level trends
•  GLOSS-ALT, for "calibrating" satellite mounted radar altimeters
•  GLOSS-OC, for monitoring overall circulation in the oceans

 

GLOSS: global coordination based on the voluntary participation of nations

GLOSS does not have its own resources to develop such a network of tidal observatories. However, it is a network that should be densified to better understand the mesoscale structures of the ocean, as well as the complex processes in the littoral zone. The GLOSS programme acts on a worldwide scale as regards coordination of resources and efforts. Its success relies on the voluntary participation of countries and national organizations. This is the level where concrete resources need mobilizing.

 

France's involvement in GLOSS

Through its Overseas Territories, France has the second largest maritime area worldwide. Accordingly, 15 tidal stations are deployed on the territory. The stations are detailed in the table below. The RONIM and ROSAME networks are the French contributors. Note that one sea level observatory does not have a permanent tide station (Clipperton Island)

 

 

 

To find out more:

• GLOSS Internet portal
• GLOSS presentation hosted at the PSMSL website

 

Références

• UNESCO (2012). The Global Sea Level Observing System Implementation plan 2012. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. Technical Series 100 (en).

Every two years, a review of tidal observatories is officially recorded in the national reports, the most recent of which for France are listed below:

• Voineson G., Pouvreau N., L. Testut, A. Coulomb, J-P. Barriot, G. Wöppelmann  (2011). National Report of France to the XIIth GLOSS Group of Expert Meeting. UNESCO, Paris, 09-11 November 2011. 10pp.
• Barriot J.-P., L. Sichoix (2009). National Report of French Polynesia (south central Pacific Ocean) to the XIth GLOSS Group of Expert Meeting. UNESCO, Paris, 13-15 May 2009. 4pp.
• Wöppelmann G., R. Créach, L. Testut (2009). National Report of France to the XIth GLOSS Group of Expert Meeting. UNESCO, Paris, 13-15 May 2009. 5pp.
• Wöppelmann G., R. Créach, L. Testut (2007). National Report of France to the Xth GLOSS Group of Expert Meeting. UNESCO, Paris, 5-8 June 2007. 8pp.
• Wöppelmann G., T. Aarup, T. Schöne (2007). An inventory of collocated and nearly-collocated CGPS stations at tide gauges. Progress report (as of July 25, 2007) on the survey carried out under the GLOSS program of IOC/UNESCO. The HTML version of this report provides the links to the text file tables of the report.
• Calmant S., R. Leroy, L. Testut and G. Wöppelmann (2005). National Report of France to the IXth GLOSS Group of Expert Meeting. 3pp.
• Le Provost C., R. Leroy (2001). National Report of France. 3pp.

 

 

Last uupdated: 12/28/2012