IMPLEMENTATION OF GFCS ELEMENTS IN WMO REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

1. IMPLEMENTATION OF GFCS ELEMENTS IN WMO REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS Peer Hechler, Rupa Kumar Kolli WMO

2. AIM OF TALK To provide key examples of GFCS elements at regional level and to facilitate a common understanding of relevant implementation aspects Topics of the talk: -> WMO Regional Climate Centres (RCC), -> Regional Climate Outlook Forums (RCOFs), -> WMO Regional Climate Watch Systems

3. INTRODUCTION GFCS to address needs at 3 spatial scales – Examples of (potential) elements 3

4. INTRODUCTION -> … by building on observations and monitoring, -> … by liaising closely with the research community, -> … by generating services as part of CSIS, -> … by facilitatingand promoting user liaison, and -> … by providing capacity building. Activities of WMO Regional Climate Centres, Regional Climate Outlook Forums and Regional Climate Watch Systems address all 5 GFCS components… Fig.: GFCS components 4

5. GFCS ELEMENT: WMO REGIONAL CLIMATE CENTRES WMO RCCs are Centres of Excellence that create regional climate products in support of regional and national climate activities and thereby strengthen capacity of WMO Members in a given region to deliver better climate services to national users A WMO RCC serves primarily the NMHSs in the region! WMO RCC responsibilities shall be regional in nature and shall not duplicate or replace national responsibilities WMO RCC: A multifunctional centre that fulfils all the required functions of an RCC WMO RCC-Network: A group of centres performing climate-related activities that collectively fulfil all the required functions of an RCC

6. GFCS ELEMENT: WMO REGIONAL CLIMATE CENTRES WMO RCCs perform mandatory operational regional-scale climate functions in the domains of long-range forecasting, climate monitoring, dataservicesandtraining WMO RCCs are strongly encouraged to perform highly recommended functions comprising extended services in the above mentioned domains as well as functions in the domains of climate projections, co-ordination, capacity buildingand R&D WMO RCC Services: Mandatory product list (examples): Assessment of LRF products from GPCs Regional/sub-regional seasonal outlooks Consensus outlook statements (e.g. RCOFs) Verification datasets Climate diagnostic bulletins Reference climatologies Implementation of Climate Watches Regional climate datasets Training, feedback mechanisms, information portals 6

7. GFCS ELEMENT: WMO REGIONAL CLIMATE CENTRES RA VI Pilot RCC-Network: Station density of regional climate dataset (left) and reference climatology (May, 1961-90) for sunshine duration (right) 7

8. GFCS ELEMENT: WMO REGIONAL CLIMATE CENTRES How to establish and run a WMO Regional Climate Centre [principle overview; for details see WCASP-80 (WMO/TD-1534)] Identification of target region … usually done by WMO Regional Association Requirements survey … usually done by regional WMO Working Group Expression of intent … by candidate; usually done in regional agreement Demonstration phase … pre-operational production of all mandatory products and services as well as of as many highly-recommended functions as possible Formal designation … through defined WMO process involving RAs, CCl, CBS Operations… including performance assessments, requirement reviews and further product and service development. 8

9. GFCS ELEMENT: WMO REGIONAL CLIMATE CENTRES WMO RCC Implementation Status worldwide: RA I Africa initiated RCC implementation by identifying six RCCs (North African RCC-Network, ECOWAS RCC, IGAD RCC, CEMAC RCC, SADC RCC, African RCC); Demonstration phases formally initiated by ICPAC and ACMADin Spring 2011 RA II Beijing and Tokyo designated as WMO RCCs in June 2009; North Eurasian Climate Centre (Russia) commenced RCC pilot phase in December 2010; India preparing for the pilot phase; Iran and Saudi Arabia expressed interest to host RCCs

10. GFCS ELEMENT: WMO REGIONAL CLIMATE CENTRES RA III South America decided to establish 3 RCCs (CIIFEN to host Western SA RCC, Brazil + French Guyana to host Northern SA RCC, Argentina + Brazil to host Southern SA RCC); RA III WGCS is developing the implementation plan RA IV Discussions underway; CIMH informally expressed interest RA V Discussions underway, RA V WG CLS is planning a capability survey RA VI Pilot phase of RA VI RCC-Network successfully concluded in summer 2011, Network ready for designation. Polar RCCs under consideration

11. Overview of WMO RCCs implementation worldwide (as of December 2011) Regional Climate Centres (RCCs) (* Pilot phase) RCC Network Nodes (Pilot) De Bilt* Offenbach* Moscow* Beijing Tokyo Toulouse* ACMAD* ICPAC* RCC candidates 11

12. GFCS ELEMENT: WMO REGIONAL CLIMATE CENTRES Existing WMO RCC arrangements 12

13. GFCS ELEMENT: REGIONAL CLIMATE OUTLOOK FORUMS RCOFs bring together national, regional and international climate experts, on a regular basis, to produce regional climate outlooks based on input from global and regional producers of climate information as well as from NMHSs of the region concerned by: ---> addressing regions of common climate characteristics ---> ensuring consistency in access to, and interpretation of, climate information ---> facilitating close user interactionto jointly assess the likely implications of the outlooks ---> providing training on long-range forecasting, communication etc. 13

14. GFCS ELEMENT: REGIONAL CLIMATE OUTLOOK FORUMS Existing RCOFs worldwide (as of August 2011) Under consideration: Polar-COFs, PRESANORD/MedCOF, SEACOF, Indian Ocean Islands COF East-Asian Winter Monsoon Joint Meeting NEACOF SASCOF 14

15. GFCS ELEMENT: REGIONAL CLIMATE OUTLOOK FORUMS IGAD Pilot RCC: Greater Horn of Africa Consensus Climate Outlook for July to September 2011 July to September constitutes a major rainfall season over much of the northern sector as well as the western parts of the equatorial sector of the GHA . Zone I:          Increased likelihood of above normal rainfall over Central Sudan and western Ethiopia. Zone II:         Increased likelihood of above to near normal rainfall over Eritrea; Djibouti: Uganda; Rwanda; northern Burundi; north-western Tanzania; Western Kenya; extreme north-western Somalia; south-western, central and north-eastern Ethiopia as well as southern and parts of north-eastern Sudan. The rest of the GHA region is likely to remain generally dry. 15

16. GFCS ELEMENT: WMO CLIMATE WATCH SYSTEMS WMO Climate Watch Systems… … enable delivery of national climate advisories on occurring and expected climate anomalies with potential negative impacts on societies … are part of the mandatory RCC functions. NMHSs will receive guidance information from regional entities and mechanisms, such as RCCs and RCOFs … might be initiated in a Region/sub-region through a WMO Climate Monitoring and Climate Watch Implementation Workshop (held so far in RA III, RA II and RA VI). GOALS: - To monitor and predict climate anomalies and related extremes - To produce and disseminate climate advisories (climate alert bulletins) on significant ongoing or foreseen climate anomalies - To heighten awareness among relevant users to initiate preparedness measures - To interact with the users prior, during and after the Alert episode 16

17. GFCS ELEMENT: WMO CLIMATE WATCH SYSTEMS The heading incl. name of issuing entity Name of warning, Area affected, Date and time issued, Period of validity Text (Alert) Large-scale climate situation Information on update advice, NMS contact details List of attachments Expert Meeting on Scoping Global Seasonal Climate Update, Geneva 12-14 October 2010

18. GFCS ELEMENTS: IMPLEMENTATION ASPECTS Prerequisites for establishing WMO RCCs (main technical aspects): Clear mandate; appropriate infrastructure, such as office space, IT (hard- and software), communication systems (incl. broadband internet access); appropriate human resources, incl. administration staff, technical support staff, data- and climate specialists; appropriate level of collaboration with global, regional and national entities; sustainability Prerequisites forinitiating RCOF processes (main technical aspects) (Sub-) regional agreement, meeting facilities incl. appropriate Internet access, (external) resource persons and trainers familiar with RCOF processes, close liaison with a WMO RCC or equivalent entity, appropriate user contacts, plans for sustaining the process 18

19. GFCS ELEMENTS: IMPLEMENTATION ASPECTS Prerequisites forimplementing regional Climate Watch systems (main technical aspects) (Sub-)regional agreement, Climate Watch workshop (recommended), close liaison with a WMO RCC or equivalent entity, NMHSs capable of generating and communicating Climate Watch advisories, sustainability In all cases appropriate observing systems and database management, lively exchange of information, research links and user contacts are required at regional and national levels!! 19

20. GFCS ELEMENTS: IMPLEMENTATION ASPECTS Implementation of WMO RCCs, RCOFs and Climate Watch to be initiated by the Regions based on Members’ requirements WMO is ready to act as partner of relevant initiatives and offers advice on technical and formal matters as well as assistance in co-ordination and resource mobilisation activities Members might wish to discuss an additional partnership/ mentoring approach where experienced RCC and/or RCOF hosts collaborate with a potential RCC and/or RCOF host to facilitate successful implementation! 20

21. Thank you Merci Спасибо Gracias شكرا 谢 谢