The GAW program is a worldwide network of measurement stations and related facilities coordi-nated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The purpose of GAW is to describe and to interpret the physical state and the chemical composition of the atmosphere. Therefore, the back-ground level of atmospheric pollutants and other trace substances are measured, to determine long-term environmental trends in global climate systems. The goal of GAW is to supply the scien-tific community with the means to predict future atmospheric states as well as to provide reliable scientific high quality data and information for national and international policy makers.

For more information visit: https://community.wmo.int/activity-areas/gaw

The aim of GAW is to take high-quality measurements of the chemical composition of the atmos-phere, aerosols, and physical parameters. The collected data are widely available to the scientific community and are used to improve the scientific understanding of the changes of the chemical and physical state of the atmosphere in respect to climate change, to research atmospheric trends, improve forecast models, for the near surface calibration of satellite measurements and for consul-tation purposes of mitigation policies and evaluation of climate policy programmes (e.g, Montreal Protocol or Kyoto Protocol). And last not least Global Atmosphere Watch is the essential measure-ment program for the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) of the UN/WMO.

Currently (2020) the GAW network consists of 31 Global, more than 400 Regional and 100 Contrib-uting Stations. The Station Information System GAWSiS, developed and maintained by the Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss in collaboration with the WMO GAW Secretariat, the GAW World Data Centres and other GAW representatives, is the official catalogue of GAW stations and contributing networks and offers an up-to-date and searchable data base.

For more information visit: https://gawsis.meteoswiss.ch/GAWSIS/#/

The main purpose of quality assurance at GAW is to enable comparability of measurement data over several decades and to grant the fulfillment of the GAW data quality objectives at the same time. This is the only way to derive meaningful data on chemicals such as carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide that are identified in the Kyoto Protocol.

Scientific Advisory Groups (SAGs) define data quality objectives (DQOs) and develop Standard Op-erating Procedures (SOPs) which incorporate the guidelines and recommendations that govern all issues in the area of quality assurance. These recommendations are published in GAW Reports.

The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has managed one of the five QA/SAC (Quality Assurance / Science Activity Centres) worldwide since 2000. Other QA/SAC have been established in the United States of America, Japan, Switzerland and China. In addition to the central laboratories, these cen-tres are crucial to the quality assurance activities of GAW.

The UBA is responsible for implementation of the quality assurance measures relevant to atmos-pheric measurements in three topic areas:

• Aerosols (physical properties)
• nitrous oxide (dinitrogen oxide, N2O)
• Volatile Organic Compounds, VOC.

Special centralized institutions known as World Calibration Centres (WCC) have been set up under GAW which handle these topic areas. They are funded by QA/SAC Germany. The WCC conduct round-robin tests in their own laboratories and global monitoring activities at selected measuring stations.

The WCC Aerosols is managed by the Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) Leipzig.  The WCC-N2O and WCC-VOC were established at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), (Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research Atmospheric Environmental Research – IMK-IFU) in Garmisch-Partenkirchen:

• World Calibration Centre for Physical Aerosols (WCCAP)
• World Calibration Centre for Volatile Organic Compounds (WCC-VOC)
• World Calibration Centre for Nitrous Oxide (WCC-N2O)

Global Atmosphere Watch Training & Education Centre (GAWTEC) is part of GAW Quality Assur-ance/Science Activity Centre (QA/SAC) Germany and responsible for training and education of sta-tion personnel from global and regional GAW stations by teaching measurement techniques and data analysis.

GAWTEC, operated through funds from the German Federal Environment Agency ("Umweltbundesamt", UBA) and the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection, is based at the Environmental Research Station Schneefernerhaus ("Umweltforschungsstation Schneefernerhaus", UFS), which accommodates the high-alpine platform of the GAW Global Sta-tion "Zugspitze/Hohenpeissenberg".

Courses consist of lab courses, measurement techniques, data evaluation and theoretical back-ground of atmospheric physics and chemistry. Each course deals with two or three major topics, covering all relevant parameters in the GAW measurement program.

▸ Physical Properties of Aerosols & Aerosol Optical Depth

▸ UV radiation

▸ Reactive Gases (CO, surface O3, VOCs, NOx, NOy, SO2)

▸ Precipitation chemistry

▸ Greenhouse Gases

▸ Data evaluation & Quality Control

GAWTEC offers its courses twice a year and is meant only for technicians and junior scientists who work at stations with instruments and data - not for senior scientists and managers. Courses consist of up to 12 participants. 

Lessons are given by experts of

▸ the German Weather Service

▸ the German Environment Agency

▸ the GAW World Calibration Centres (WCC) for NO2, VOC and Aerosol Physics

▸ the Swiss EMPA

▸ For special topics, lecturers from national and international Universities and other institutes are invited

Lessons take place at The Environmental Research Station Schneefernerhaus is a high alpine station located at 2650 m.a.s.l on Germany's highest mountain: Zugspitze. 

The Schneefernerhaus is situated in a steep flank just below the summit (2962 m.a.s.l.). The station is reachable by its own cable car from the skiing resort at the slopes of the Zugspitz-Platt. Most of the time trainees are accommodated in the UFS (double rooms with shower/WC). Due to climate and weather at UFS (elevation 2650 m), clothing must be adequate to the high-alpine environment; formal clothing is not required. Trainees must be in good health condition to avoid high altitude related effects; people with heart and circulatory problems are not allowed to participate.

The Schneefernerhaus (engl. the house at the snowy glacier) was built in 1930 as a hotel and turned into a research station in 1999. It houses a GAW global station and since 2001 the GAW Training and Education Centre.

GAWTEC courses are held exclusively in English. Trainees must therefore have good English language skills to follow lectures, instrument instructions and discussions.

There are no costs for trainees, air fares are paid by the WMO, all other expenses are covered by the German Environment Agency and the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Con-sumer Protection. Travel costs to/from Munich Airport are covered by the WMO. As these travel funds are ­limited, the participants are encouraged (if possible) to seek for travel support in their institutions. Lecturers are funded by their scientific organizations.

Applications should be made via online application at the GAWTEC webpage at www.gawtec.de. Also consider the tips for your application posted on this site. 

Upcoming courses will also be announced on this webpage.

Participants for GAWTEC courses are chosen in coordination with WMO experts and the stakeholders from Umweltbundesamt. Preferably technicians and junior scientists who work at stations with instruments and data are selected. 

GAWTEC courses are normally held twice a year. Upcoming courses will be announced on the official website www.gawtec.de. Also visit our social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. Furthermore, information will be share on WMOs Website. 

You can contact us via E-Mail: gawtec@schneefernerhaus.de