Lead Centres for GCOS have been designated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Commission for Observation, Infrastructure, and Information Systems (INFCOM) as being responsible for monitoring the performance of GCOS networks, in particular of the GCOS Surface and Upper Air Networks (GSN, GUAN), and to support any follow-up action in designated areas of responsibility (for all WMO Regional Associations and Antarctica).
Terms of Reference of the Lead Centres for GCOS are:
- Diagnose problems in the GSN and GUAN by using the monitoring reports produced for the GCOS Networks.
- Liaise with the nominated National Focal Points for GCOS Networks, and other responsible officials, to improve data & metadata availability and quality, and to provide capacity development.
- In collaboration with the Regional WIGOS Centres (RWC), support the incident management process for the GCOS Network Issues, applying the WIGOS Data Quality Management functions and using relevant WIGOS Tools.
- Co-ordinate activities with other WMO centres and Expert Teams, including the collection of related climatological data.
- Monitor and report to INFCOM and GCOS on actions taken, progress achieved, concerns and recommendations.
- Assist GCOS Panel AOPC in the revisions of GSN and GUAN stations.
- Assist the WMO Secretariat in maintaining the list of National Focal Points for GCOS Networks.
Reports from the Lead Centres Meetings
| WMO Regional Association (RA) | WMO Member/ Host Institution of Lead Centre |
Lead Centre Contact | Responsible for GSN and GUAN stations in: (Map) | Latest Report |
| RA I (Africa) | Morocco (DMN) | Rachid Sebbari | Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros Islands, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Equatorial, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Mauritania, Morocco, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia | 2016, 2013, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 |
| A I (Africa) | Mozambique (INM) | Jose Sequeira | Angola, Botswana , Burundi, Canary Island, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, the Ocean Islands (St. Helena Island, Ascension Island, Martin de Vivies, Iles Crozet, Iles Kerguelen), Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe | 2013 |
| RA II (Asia), RA VI (Europe) | Iran (IRIMO) | Mina Jabbari | Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, India, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen | 2014, 2013, 2011 |
| RA II (Asia) |
Japan (JMA) |
Hiroshi Nakamigawa | Brunei, Cambodia, China, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam | 2023, 2022, 2021, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 |
| RA III (South America) | Chile (DMC) | Gaston Torres | All of RA III (South America) | 2022, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2010 |
| RA IV (North and Central America, Caribbean) | USA (NOAA NCEI) | Jay Lawrimore | Most of RA IV (North and Central America, and the Caribbean) and Hawaii | 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2011, 2010 |
| RA V (South-West Pacific) | Australia (BOM) | Dean Lockett | Most of RA V, except those areas noted for Japan and Hawaii | 2011 |
| RA VI (Europe) | Germany (DWD) | Axel Andersson | Most of RA VI (Europe), except those countries noted for Iran | 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 2011, 2010 |
| Antarctica | UK (BAS) | Steve Colwell | All of Antarctica | 2022, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 2012, 2011, 2010 |
