eum/sir/vwg/11/012 wp 2000: climate sba 9 october 2011 wp 2000: climate societal benefit area robert...

EUM/SIR/VWG/11/012WP 2000: Climate SBA 9 October 2011

WP 2000: Climate Societal Benefit Area

Robert Husband (EUMETSAT)

Contents

Context

Main Activities

Outcomes

Thoughts on the Future


Context – GEO Climate Strategic Target


Before 2015, GEO aims to: Achieve effective and sustained operation of the global climate observing system and reliable delivery of climate information of a quality needed for predicting, mitigating and adapting to climate variability and change, including for better understanding of the global carbon cycle.

Context – Requirements Basis


The Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) defined by the Global Climate Climate Observing System (GCOS) were used as the requirement reference point

Consensus view from the international scientific community on a priority list of indispensable climate data sets

Extensively reviewed and revised by the science community through open review, and dedicated workshops with the IPCC

Embedded in the GEO Climate Strategic Target

The GCOS ECVs were the benchmark against which European Capacity and Capabilities were measured during the EUGENE Project

Main Activities


The EUGENE project was charged with determining the Status Quo in three main areas

Space data

In situ data

Modelling

For space data heavy reliance was placed on the 2009 JRC Report: European Capacity for Monitoring and Assimilating Space-based Climate Change Observations – Status and Prospects

For in situ data and modelling questionnaires were used to determine the status quo

Main Activities


Questionnaires were sent out to

15 centres involved in climate modelling (14 responses received)

3 centres/organisations concerned with in situ data provision (2 responses received)

Based on these responses a Status Quo Report was produced and then reviewed by a climate experts workshop in April 2010

Outcomes - Documents


The main outcomes are documented in:

- The EUGENE Climate Status Quo Report (Final)

- The EUGENE Climate Workshop Report (Final)

- Climate Strategic Issues Document (Draft)

EUGENE Climate Status Quo Report provides a fairly comprehensive snapshot of Europe‘s climate capabilities (space, in situ and modelling)

http://www.eugene-fp7.eu/documents.htm

Outcomes – Strategic Findings

Europe is very well positioned in the international context at a European level with active participation of ESA, EUMETSAT, ECMWF, EC and national agencies in key frameworks (e.g. IPCC, GCOS, CEOS, CGMS, GSICS, SCOPE-CM, WCRP….).

Strong National contributions to international frameworks (in situ data centres, meteorological services, oceanographic services, modelling centres)

Strong "political will“ within Europe to address climate issues Provides a solid backdrop to exploit Europe's considerable

strengths in climate which are often "world class".


Outcomes – Strategic Recommendations

Overall European contribution to the GEO Climate SBA could be strengthened by targeting some specific activities with secure, long-term, funding.

The importance of long-term funding was repeatedly stressed in order to ensure sustainability.

Debate about need to introduce a sustained framework to cover such activities

Concluded that such a framework should only be introduced if it:

a) adds value;b) is compatible with existing frameworks.

Future GMES Climate Service obvious candidate



Strengthening Europe’s contribution – examples

- In-situ networks

- Access to In-situ Data

- Creation of long time-series CDRs - Data Rescue and Homogenisation

- Unfulfilled Requirements for CDRs- Construction of long time-series of ECVs based on satellite data - Creation of Metadata

- Reanalysis

- Activities relating to the building of GEOSS (e.g. contributions to the GEOSS Common Infrastructure)



Leveraging GEO’s Political Profile

More benefit should be taken from the political profile of GEO for addressing the gaps/opportunities within Europe

Access to in situ data is a big issue across Europe and GEO could provide an appropriate political context to address the problem



Role of Member States

Member States need to be more active in coordinating the relevant major European actors (e.g. ESA, EUMETSAT, ECMWF, EUMETNET, EC....)

Could result in more benefit from the funding of these institutions



Increasing Global focus on establishing a Reference Architecture for the Global Climate Observing System

WMO has initiated an activity in this area Debate as to whether/where it fits within the GEO task

context For the time-being activity will be “badgeless” and

jointly undertaken by WMO, CEOS and CGMS - with GEO, GCOS and WCRP reviewing the outcome

Europe taking a very active role in this area (EUGENE work provides a good foundation)



Increasing emphasis on the information flow between Observations => Applications => Policy-Making

Likely to take benefit from the climate observations reference architecture initiative

Could provide a tool for matching funding decisions to Policy-making requirements (i.a.)



Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS)

Launched at WCC-3

Nature of these services still to be clarified – could have an impact on the climate observations architecture


Thank you for your attention!


eum/sir/vwg/11/012 wp 2000: climate sba 9 october 2011 wp 2000: climate societal benefit area robert...

Documents

global climate climate

climate sba23

climate modelling

climate variability

climate experts workshop

situ data centres

situ data provision

main outcomes