The Swiss NBCN and international climate reference networks
The following international climate reference network stations are also part of the Swiss NBCN:
- GSN: The GCOS Surface Network (GSN) undertakes global climate monitoring and incorporates 980 stations around the world. The stations for this network were selected in 1997 for the World Meteorological Organization's Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) programme. In Switzerland, the Säntis and Grosser St. Bernhard stations are both part of the GSN.
- RBCN: The Regional Basic Climatological Network (RBCN) incorporates around 2,600 ground-based monitoring stations in six WMO regions world-wide, and is concerned with continental climate monitoring. Eight of the Swiss NBCN stations are members of the RBCN network: Basel, Zurich/Fluntern, Geneva-Cointrin, Sion, Lugano, Payerne, Säntis and Grosser St. Bernhard. GSN stations also belong to the RBCN network by definition.
When it comes to regional climatological questions with particular reference to the Alps, these eight GSN and RBCN stations are not sufficient. In this sense, the Swiss NBCN can be considered as complementing the GSN and RBCN at national level.