The GLOSS Implementation Plans provide background information on the programme.

The most recent Implementation Plan is from 2012. The focus of the GLOSS Implementation Plan 2012 remains the GLOSS Core Network (GCN) and the datasets that result from this network. This plan calls for two significant upgrades to the GCN motivated by scientific and operational requirements: (i) report of data from all GCN stations in near-real time; and (ii) continuous global navigation satellite system (GNSS) measurements in the vicinity of the tide gauge benchmark (TGBM) for all GCN stations.

The first proposals for GLOSS were developed during the mid-1980’s by an IOC Task Team of interested scientists led by Dr. David Pugh and Prof. Klaus Wyrtki. This resulted in the First GLOSS Implementation Plan which established the GLOSS Core Network (GCN) of about 300 tide gauges distributed around the world, technical standards for GLOSS tide gauge stations, as well as the basic terms and obligations for Member States participating in GLOSS.

In 1997, the requirements for GLOSS, in particular with regard to the interactions with new technologies such as satellite radar altimetry, the Global Positioning System and absolute gravity, were re-assessed in the GLOSS Implementation Plan 1997 which was presented for approval to the IOC Assembly in July 1997. This Plan also outlined updated mechanisms for global tide gauge data flow in order to make sea level data more accessible to the community.

 

Documents download (pdf)

2012 GLOSS Implementation Plan

Reference:
IOC, 2012 Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS) Implementation Plan – 2012. UNESCO/IOC, 41pp. 2012. IOC Technical Series No.100. GOOS Report No.194, JCOMM Technical Report No.66. (English).

1997 GLOSS Implementation Plan

Reference:
IOC. 1997. Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS) implementation plan -1997. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, Technical Series, No. 50, 91pp. & Annexes. (10.5 MB).

1990 GLOSS Implementation Plan

Reference:
IOC. 1990. Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS) implementation plan. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, Technical Series, No. 35, 90pp.