Climate services – the focal theme of this conference - must be based on a sound knowledge of the climate system. The latter requires sustained long term monitoring.

This session on the monitoring of the climate system invites contribution on the following topics and aspects:

• Consequences of the recent update of the GCOS Implementation Plan
• National Implementation Plans
• Support for improved observations in developing countries
• Progress in implementations in Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean
• The role of observations for climate services
• New methods of observation (land, sea and upper air)
• Assimilation of data from new instruments and technologies
• GCOS climate monitoring principles; application and problems
• Transition towards sustained operation
• Presentation of monitoring results in Integrated Climate Information Systems