The temperature dependence of the Co2p and O 1s XPS spectra for the cobalt-oxygen system was studied in an oxygen atmosphere of 1 x 10(-3) Pa. The reversible transition between CoO and Co3O4 was observed between 373 and 973 K. Although bulk thermodynamics predicts a transition temperature of 806 K, the transition occurred at about 620 K. This means that surface compositions or phases of the Co-O system are ruled by surface thermodynamics different from that of the bulk.