WORLD CLIMATE RESEARCH PROGRAMME WCRP Data Advisory Council Jean-Noël Thépaut WDAC co-chair Date 28/09/2017 GCOS-SC Hangzhou

WCRP’s mission…. ... is to facilitate analysis and prediction of Earth system variability and change for use in an increasing range of practical applications of direct relevance, benefit and value to society. The two overarching objectives of WCRP are: to determine the predictability of climate to determine the effect of human activities on climate

Role of WCRP

Role of WCRP

WCRP Structure CLOUDS, CIRCULATION AND CLIMATE SENSITIVITY NEAR-TERM CLIMATE PREDICTION REGIONAL SEA-LEVEL CHANGE AND COASTAL IMPACTS MELTING ICE AND GLOBAL CONSEQUENCES CARBON FEEDBACKS IN THE CLIMATE SYSTEM WATER FOR THE FOOD BASKETS OF THE WORLD UNDERSTANDING AND PREDICTING WEATHER AND CLIMATE EXTREMES

WDAC WCRP Data Advisory Council To serve as a focal point for all observational and data matters across the programme Promote open data policies, protocols and standards across the programme Recommend best practices for ECV data set development and assessments Coordinate reanalysis intercomparison efforts Promote and publish observational and reanalysis data sets to support climate modeling Coordinate flux research and promote development of associated data sets Review adequacy of observations and data assimilation techniques Sponsor International Data Prize

WDAC WDAC Current Activities WCRP Data Advisory Council obs4MIPs Reanalysis Surface Fluxes Dataset Assessments Polar Challenge WCRP – GCOS collaborations Currently 6 foci….important to note that all these activities are supported through national or philanthropic means… Will discuss these foci in the following slides.

WDAC – obs4MIPS Complete (~125*) In Progress* (~15) https://www.earthsystemcog.org/projects/obs4mips/ Target Quantities Model Output A project for identifying, documenting and disseminating observations for climate model evaluation in WCRP model intercomparisons, notably CMIP. Data accessible with the distributed CMIP model output, adhering to same conventions Guided by the WCRP Data Advisory Council obs4MIPS Task Team Gridded datasets Complete (~125*) In Progress* (~15) Proposals from Data Call (~90)

WDAC – obs4MIPS Some recent highlights An updated version of the obs4MIPs data specifications has recently been released. It is closely integrated with the CMIP6 data standards, and will enable a greatly expanded searching capability via the ESGF distributed system The framework is being expanded to enable supplementary data to be attached to the obs4MIPs best estimates, e.g., to enable data providers to include uncertainty information and other useful data and metadata A set of indicators has been established to gauge the suitability of each data product for climate model evaluation

WDAC – obs4MIPS obs4MIPS Progress WDAC obs4MIPS Task Team Data call: >90 new gridded datasets proposed, Task Team encouraging most to go forward Data proposal submission form automated Current holdings (>80) span across 6 ESGF nodes, complete listing generated daily 6 Task Team telecons, multiple presentations at scientific meetings Two manuscripts in-prep (#1 strategy, #2 data description governance) CMIP6 data conventions released (December 2016) – a critical juncture CMIP6-Obs4MIPs data convention integration, nearly complete Software (CMOR) revised for preparing obs data released, examples being documented Development of a strategy to expand the project scope Initially to accommodate more classes of gridded data (e.g., part synthetic, LAI) Exploring new approaches to include in situ non gridded data Many thanks to the government agencies which have supported these activities…principally CEOS, but also includes a number of others.

WDAC – Reanalyses WDAC TIRA Task Team WCRP Task Team for Intercomparison of Reanalyses (TIRA) – 4 virtual meetings to date; developing a reanalysis intercomparison project…Michael Bosilovich is leading this effort Common infrastructure, protocols, standards and tools for reanalysis comparisons and analyses, e.g., S-RIP, ORA-IP Workshop on ocean reanalyses and inter-comparisons (Toulouse) 29-30 June 2017 (Andrea Storto) 5th International Reanalysis Conference (Rome) 13-17 November, 2017 (Jean-Noël Thépaut, Michael Bosilovich) Details at https://climate.copernicus.eu/events/5th-international-conference-reanalysis

Main Objectives of TIRA WDAC – Reanalyses Main Objectives of TIRA The primary charge to the TIRA is to develop a reanalysis intercomparison project plan that will attain the following objectives. To foster understanding and estimation of uncertainties in reanalysis data by  intercomparison and other means To communicate new developments and best practices among the reanalyses producing centers To enhance the understanding of data and assimilation issues and their impact on uncertainties, leading to improved reanalyses for climate assessment To communicate the strengths and weaknesses of reanalyses, their fitness for purpose, and best practices in the use of reanalysis datasets by the scientific community

WDAC – Reanalyses Telecons 8 Nov 16 21 Dec 2017 30 Jan 2017 6 Mar 2017 Introductions/Status Mission 21 Dec 2017 Intro cont. AGU and ICR5 30 Jan 2017 Intercomparison Tools (WRIT/CREATE) Reanalysis.org 6 Mar 2017 S-RIP and Ocean Reanalysis Workshop Reviews Apr 2017 EUMETSAT and CMA overviews and introductions 3 Jul 2017 CERATE Ensemble of reanalysis discussion; Intercomparison discussion

TIRA: Intecomparison Project Development WDAC – Reanalyses TIRA: Intecomparison Project Development There is tremendous need in the reanalysis user community and developers for central coordination of reanalysis information (e.g. reanalysis.org) As in CMIP, the systems are many and evolving (consider Earth system component reanalyses) TIRA aims to have an intercomparison project plan within the year

Surface Flux Task Team: Terms of Reference WDAC – Surflux Surface Flux Task Team: Terms of Reference 1. Provide a single point-of-contact for surface flux observations and analysis in the WCRP. Communicate with other relevant entities regarding WCRP surface flux activities through work on committees, a website, and other published articles and information. 2. Establish and encourage the publication and use of data, metadata, and documentation standards for global surface flux (ocean, land, or ice and atmosphere) data sets that are consistent with standards and infrastructure used in major climate model intercomparison efforts (e.g., CMIP, ESGF, and Obs4MIPs), thereby facilitating intercomparison of the data sets and their use in evaluation of Earth System models and their components. 3. Establish conventions for intercomparisons of global datasets, and for assessment of the global datasets with available in situ data, making use of established assessments for other components of the Earth system from GEWEX and other WCRP entities. 4. Report to the WDAC and WCRP Core Projects (e.g., GEWEX/GDAP and CLIVAR) on progress, status, and plans for activities overseen by the Task Team.

Surface Flux Task Team Activities WDAC – Surflux Surface Flux Task Team Activities Whitepaper: draft which will be submitted to BAMS by the end of 2017 OBS4MIPS: Motivation to inject non-gridded in-situ flux datasets into the Obs4MIPS project Telecons: Monthly telecons have been consistently ongoing and has helped with bringing together the SurFlux members Outreach: Colleagues from wider surface flux community to present at our monthly telecons; representatives at GEWEX, CLIVAR, SOLAS, and other meetings Webpage: A webpage dedicated to SurFlux has been established on the CoG: https://www.earthsystemcog.org/projects/surflux/

WDAC – Dataset Assessments Climate Data Intercomparison Project Discussed the proposed “Climate Data Intercomparison Project” at WDAC6… There are several data assessment activities completed or underway by the WCRP Core Projects (e.g. SPARC S-RIP initiative, CLIVAR ORA-IP, etc.) The Core Projects (led by GEWEX/GDAP) prepared and vetted a “best practices” document (see below), which was recently published - (https://www.wcrp-climate.org/WDAC/documents/WDAC_Report_DataSetQualityAssessments.pdf) Other initiatives exist (e.g Copernicus Climate Change Service), where focus is put on “climate quality” datasets, including also continuity, sustainability, operational production Need clarity about criteria to assess, should we engage in such a venture

WDAC – Polar Challenge 500K € Competition is open, Polar Challenge Rules have been relaxed to allow for a broader set of missions and technologies, and partial prize awards in recognition of any major achievements. Rules can still be amended until the first competitor registers formally. A few teams are actively mobilizing resources to make an attempt to the challenge.

WDAC – GCOS WDAC<->GCOS Requirements How does Council improve communications about observing needs between GCOS (panels), WCRP Core Projects, Grand Challenges and Working Groups? GCOS oversees the observing networks for the WCRP, thus it is critically important for the WCRP Core Projects, Working Groups and Grand Challenges to provide the GCOS panels with their observing requirements as research evolves. While the WDAC is a facilitator in this process and has representation from the Core Projects and the GCOS panels, it cannot address the totality of WCRP needs. How do we improve direct communication between the respective entities?

JSC-38 Recommended Actions WDAC JSC Actions JSC-38 Recommended Actions Discuss approaches to improve linkages between GCOS observing panels and all WCRP elements (Working Groups, Core Projects, Grand Challenges) Continuing concerns about the fragility of in situ networks BSRN ARGO ISMN (soil moisture) ozonesondes (GAW more generally) Emergent satellite mission gaps e.g. limb missions, active lidar missions – remains a concern Should WDAC be THE “advocate” for observations and observing systems within the WCRP?

Other discussion and information points WCRP is currently under review. Outcome of the review is expected this Autumn. A new strategic plan (~10 years) is under preparation (involving chairs and directors), and will take stock of recommendations from Review. WDAC advocacy role: suggested way forward would be to use the joint GCOS-WCRP panels to play that role, subject to GCOS SC approval. A joint approach is recommended as a single GCOS-WCRP voice on promoting sustained observing systems. It is also suggested to engage more closely WCRP experts on the respective panels to that effect. OceanObs19 (www.oceanobs19.net): WCRP recommends a more formal engagement of WCRP in such a major event. WDAC is willing to contribute to and engage in the 2019 edition.

Thank You www.wcrp-climate.org