Space Architecture for Climate Monitoring
--Opening Remark: 1,2,3
Wenjian ZHANG
Director
Observing and Information Systems Department
World Meteorological Organization
W. ZHANG, Workshop on Space Architecture on Climate Monitoring, Geneva, 13-14 Jan.2011
One common focus: Climate Change
Climate change is one of the most important global environmental problems facing
the world today. It amplifies the effects of other environmental and socioeconomic
changes and problems, and is one of the greatest challenges for all WMO Members
Hot & cold spells
Climate Change
Tropical cyclones
Dust storms
Hail&Lightning
Flash floods
Avalanches
Tornadoes
Storm (winds)
Wildland fires
& haze
Mud & landslides
River basin flooding
Heavy precipitations
(rain or snow)
Storm surges
Ice Storms
Droughts
Increasing Risks under a
Changing Climate
Energy
Water Resource
Management
Food
security
Transport
Strong Wind
Intensity
Health
Coastal Marine Hazards
Tropical Cyclones
Hazards’ intensity
and frequency
are increasing
Urban areas
Heavy rainfall / Flood
Heatwaves
CCl Management Group meeting, Geneva 18-21 May 2010
Industry
Frequency
Exposure is increasing !
Need improved Climate
Monitoring and Prediction
for
Better climate risk
management
Two background initiatives
I.
Global Framework for Climate
Services (GFCS)
II.
WMO Integrated Global Observing
System (WIGOS)
CCl Management Group meeting, Geneva 18-21 May 2010
World Climate Conference-3
Aug 31 – Sept 4, 2009, GENEVA
CCl Management Group meeting, Geneva 18-21 May 2010
WCC-3 High-level Declaration
(approved on 3 September 2009)
DO 1 We, Heads of State and Government, Ministers and Heads of Delegation present at the High-level Segment of the
World Climate Conference-3 (WCC-3) in Geneva, noting the findings of the Expert Segment of the Conference;
OP 1 Decide to establish a Global Framework for Climate Services (hereafter referred to as “the Framework”) to
strengthen production, availability, delivery and application of science-based climate prediction and services;
OP 2 Request the Secretary-General of WMO to convene within four months of the adoption of the Declaration an
intergovernmental meeting of member states of the WMO to approve the terms of reference and to endorse the composition
of a task force of high-level, independent advisors to be appointed by the Secretary-General of the WMO with due
consideration to expertise, geographical and gender balance;
Decide to establish a
Global Framework for Climate Services
OP 3 Decide that the task force will, after wide consultation with governments, partner organizations and relevant
stakeholders, prepare a report, including recommendations on proposed elements of the Framework, to the SecretaryGeneral of WMO within 12 months of the task force being set up. The report should contain findings and proposed next
steps for developing and implementing a Framework. In the development of their report, the taskforce will take into
account the concepts outlined in the annexed Brief Note;
OP 4 Decide further that the report of the task force shall be circulated by the Secretary-General of WMO to Member
States of the WMO for consideration at the next WMO Congress in 2011, with a view to the adoption of a Framework and a
plan for its implementation; and
OP 5 Invite the Secretary-General of WMO to provide the report to relevant organizations, including the UN SecretaryGeneral.
CCl Management Group meeting, Geneva 18-21 May 2010
What are climate services ?
(Slides from Jan Egeland, Co-chair of the High-Level Taskforce for the GFCS)
The development and provision of data, information products
and advice relating to climate to assist in decision-making.
7
What benefits?
Strengthened climate services will lead to improved decisions and
i.a. socioeconomic development, reduced disaster risk and climate
change adaptation.
Global death and death
rates due to extreme
events 1900-2006.
8
Components of the Framework
9
 WIGOS-WMO Cg-15
Initiative
 Space Architecture is
the key component of
WIGOS
Overview of Weather and Climate Models and the
Required Observations
Mid-1970s
Atmosphere
Mid-1980s
Early 1990s
Late 1990s
Present Day
Early 2000s?
Atmosphere
Atmosphere
Atmosphere
Atmosphere
Atmosphere
Weather
Land Surface
Land Surface
Land Surface
Land Surface
Land Surface
Climate
Variability
Ocean & Sea IceOcean & Sea Ice Ocean & Sea IceOcean & Sea Ice
Sulphate
Aerosol
Sulphate
Aerosol
Sulphate
Aerosol
Non-sulphate
Aerosol
Non-sulphate
Aerosol
Carbon Cycle
Carbon Cycle
Dynamic
Vegetation
Atmospheric
Chemistry
Climate
Change
Need an Integrated Global
Observing System meet all
requirements
Three key words
I.
Monitoring
II.
SPACE
III. Architecture
CCl Management Group meeting, Geneva 18-21 May 2010
Monitoring: closely check how it is changing or progressing
Q/A? how to meet both operational & broader GFCS needs
Understanding
Analysis
Observations
Consequences
Monitoring
Assimilation
Validation
Models
Initialization
Predictions
Extreme events, new observations strongly motivates advances in understanding,
prediction, and application.
Questionnaire:
Which climate services do you need but are currently
unable to obtain ?
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Climate data Seasonal
predictions
Climate
outlooks
Scenarios of Training for
possible
climate
regional
service
impacts
providers
from climate
change over
the next 10
to 50 years
Training of
climate
service
users
Climate
research
Other
13
Space=Op+R&D+Surface ?
14
Global Framework for Climate Services
Space=Op+R&D+Surface ?
15
Architecture = Structure + Design
Q/A: How to echo the structure of Climate services information system
Regional Climate Outlook Forums
Regional Users
National COF
National Sectoral Users
Regional Climate Centres
National Climate
Centres
Global Users
Global climate centres
16
Global Framework for Climate Services
Thanks for your great
contribution !
CCl Management Group meeting, Geneva 18-21 May 2010