4 th WCRP WOAP Meeting, 29-31 March 2010, KlimaCampus, Uni Hamburg p. 1 The Climate Service Center Guy P. Brasseur Irene Fischer-Bruns Climate Service

4th WCRP WOAP Meeting, 29-31 March 2010, KlimaCampus, Uni Hamburgp. 1

TheThe

Climate Service CenterClimate Service Center

Guy P. BrasseurIrene Fischer-Bruns

Climate Service Center - Germany Hamburg


Weather Prediction compared with Satellite Observations

ECMWF predictions and Meteosat observations

The First Grand Challenge: Numerical Weather Prediction


A1B is a typical “business as usual” scenario (2090-2099):

(2090-2099)(2090-2099)

The Second Grand Challenge: Predicting Climate Change


Courtesy of Julia Slingo

The Third Grand Challenge: Understanding the Earth as a

Complex Nonlinear Interactive System


“International framework for climate services that links

science-based climate predictions & information

with the management of climate-related risks & opportunities

in support of adaptation to climate variability & change

in both developed & developing countries”

WCC-3 Vision

To develop an


Climate projections

Global modelsdownscaling

Climate IndicatorsHeat waves, drought/floods

Impact studiesSocio-economy, Ecosystems,

HealthDevelop Interdisciplinarity

Decision support toolsDedicated analyses

Interactions with users/stakeholders

Support Innovation : eg EIT

Energy supplyThreshold diurnal

amplitude

Maize yield change

Heat index (ENSEMBLES FP6)

Climate Observations

From: Sylvie Joussaume


There are many economic sectors that will benefit from and contribute to Climate Services …

Users of climate information


Energy sector, especially renewable energies




Energy sector, especially renewable energies Financial services and insurances



Energy sector, especially renewable energies Financial services and insurances Transport, infrastructure; trade and commerce



Energy sector, especially renewable energies Financial services and insurances Transport, infrastructure; trade and commerce Regional and urban planning; construction



Energy sector, especially renewable energies Financial services and insurances Transport, infrastructure; trade and commerce Regional and urban planning; construction Agriculture; food availability



Energy sector, especially renewable energies Financial services and insurances Transport, infrastructure; trade and commerce Regional and and urban planning; construction Agriculture; food availability Water management



Energy sector, especially renewable energies Financial services and insurances Transport, infrastructure; trade and commerce Regional and and urban planning; construction Agriculture; food availability Water management Coastal management; fisheries



Energy sector, especially renewable energies Financial services and insurances Transport, infrastructure; trade and commerce Regional and and urban planning; construction Agriculture; food availability Water management Coastal management; fisheries Forestry; land management;

landscape protection



Energy sector, especially renewable energies Financial services and insurances Transport, infrastructure; trade and commerce Regional and and urban planning; construction Agriculture; food availability Water management Coastal management, fisheries Forestry; land management;

landscape protection Civil protection; environmental security; human health



Energy sector, especially renewable energies Financial services and insurances Transport, infrastructure; trade and commerce Regional and and urban planning; construction Agriculture; food availability Water management Coastal management; fisheries Forestry; land management; landscape protection Civil protection; environmental security; human health Tourism and leisure industry


The Climate Service Center (CSC) was established in Hamburg by the German Federal Government as part of their “High-Tech” strategy to reduce vulnerability to climate change impacts.

Climate Service Center

CSC is a federal institution administered by GKSS. It will include 20 staff members (base funding from BMBF) and additional staff supported by external projects (EU, BMBF, states, industry, financial sector, etc.)


Immediate Goals

Coordination and dissemination of user-friendly climate information produced by German institutions

Improved transfer of information from the research to users and initiation of research activity to address users’ requirements

Production of concrete climate-related information to fulfill the stated needs of the users/customers

Synthesis and evaluation of latest outcome of climate and environmental research

Transfer of requests from users to the network of German research institutions


Longer-term Goals

Developing prediction systems for global, regional, and local prediction of climate change and their impacts on ecosystems, hydrological system, air quality, health in Germany and elsewhere

Development of effective strategies towards reduction and adaption to climate impacts

Contribution to the development of other Climate Services, e.g. in Africa, with emphasis on issues like drought, food availability, forest management, etc.


It is promoting partnerships to focus on

interactions between science and society the integration of climate research & application needsPAGE 21

Network & Partnerships (1)

The CSC was established as a national,

research-based service facility in a

strong network of partner institutions


Partnerships (2)

CSC develops interactions with stakeholders

who can benefit from the knowledge provided

by the network

It develops decision-making processes to help

ensure effective applications of

science to societal needs


The CSC is building up partnerships with

- Decision makers in business and industry

- Non-governmental organizations

- Local, national & internat. governmental agencies

It will work together closely with

- Universities

- National and international research institutions

- Environmental research & assessment programs

Partnerships (3)

4th WCRP WOAP Meeting, 29-31 March 2010, KlimaCampus, Uni Hamburgp. 24PAGE 24

The National Context (in Germany)

CSC is coordinating and promoting efforts conducted by

a large network of institutions:

1) Ministries (Research, Environment, Transport)

2) Research Institutions (Max Planck, Helmholtz, Universities…)

3) Regional Climate Offices of HGF

4) Meteorological Service (DWD)

5) Private Sector (energy, insurance, finances…)

4th WCRP WOAP Meeting, 29-31 March 2010, KlimaCampus, Uni Hamburgp. 25PAGE 25

The International Context

USANational Climate Services (NOAA)Climate Central, Princeton

CanadaOURANOS, MontrealPacific Institute for Climate

Solutions (PICS),Victoria

UKHadley CentreWalker Institute

GermanyClimate Service Center, HamburgRegional Climate Offices

The World Climate Conference-3Geneva, 2009


Planned Organization

PAGE 26

Director Executive Assistant (General Coordination) Strategy Development, Management of BMBF Project & Budget Organization of Workshops / other professional events Project Management, Elaboration and distribution of CSC Products Network Management & Customer Service


Planned Organization

Data analysis and processing

of climate projections

(multi-model ensembles)

Project DevelopmentTranslation of knowlegde for the needs of

different sectors

Support of studies by groups of experts

Website, Media-

Development

External contacts

(sectors, press)

Organization of interdisciplinary courses and

events

Processing of individual requests


• Networking, initiation of cooperations & partnerships

• Website, PR and media presence• Processing of individual customer requests• Publications, newsletters & annual CSC

conferences• Realization of expert workshops• Provide specialized lecturers• Initiation of practice- and customer-

oriented projects• Participation in the (inter)national climate

debate

Products and Services


Preliminary discussions for extension of CSC network

(PIK, GFZ, UFZ, AWI, “Regional Climate Offices”, UBA etc) Visit to several Bundesländer (Niedersachsen, Sachsen,

South German Länder, etc.) Participation Brasseur in the visit of Prof. Dr. Mrs. Schavan,

Minister of Science, in Washington (workshop at NSF) Session at the Summer AGU Assembly (Brazil)

on Climate Services (Convenor: Brasseur)

Recent Achievements (1)


A cooperation agreement with the Shanghai

Meteorological Bureau (SMB) focusing on climate services A series of workshops with GDV (Feb 2010, April 2010, …) Meeting of the European Global Change Forum

(industry, NGO) at CSC in March 2010

Recent Achievements (2)


Study of the trends in the global temperature records

by an international group of experts, and publication

of a study report

Workshop on „What after Copenhagen?“

Development of a research project on the prediction

of convective events and the related damages in

Europe (follow-up of symposium with insurance

companies)

Possible Initiatives


Conclusions (1)

Climate variability and change have considerable

consequences on the Earth’s ecosystems and on

human societies

Climate science has made major advances during

the last two decades. However, the knowledge has

to be translated into user-friendly climate information

Climate Service Centers build bridges between

climate science and societal /applicational needs


We need an integrated system with:

Coherent observations, data systems, and shared

standards that allow easy exchanges of data

Reliable prediction models on seasonal, interannual,

decadal variability of extreme regional weather events

Sufficient computer resources to develop and implement

the required high-resolution global physical climate models

Human resources that conduct innovative research

Climate Services that deliver science-based information

to society


PAGE 34

Thank you.Thank you.


Management (External Bodies)

Not yet decided by BMBF…. But probably:

Steering Committee with representatives of Ministries and Helmholtz Association

Partner Forum (DWD, MPI-M, Kompass, etc.)

Advisory Panel (ad hoc for specific problems)

4th WCRP WOAP Meeting, 29-31 March 2010, KlimaCampus, Uni Hamburgp. 36 Climate Services in Germany

reduce vulnerability to climate change impacts

maintain or enhance adaptability of natural, societal, and economic systems

German Adaptation Strategy

Sustainable planning and acting requires to widen the knowledge base create transparency and participation support stakeholders by providing the basis for decision-making raise awareness and provide information through broad public relations develop strategies to deal with uncertainties

The German Adaptation Strategy aims toThe German Adaptation Strategy aims to

Documents

4 th WCRP WOAP Meeting, 29-31 March 2010, KlimaCampus, Uni Hamburg p. 1 The Climate Service Center Guy P. Brasseur Irene Fischer-Bruns Climate Service