Regional Climate Centres

Presentation by Leslie Malone

WMO/WCP & WCASP/CLIPS

13th GHACOF

25-27 February, 2004

Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Climate Prediction and Application Centre (ICPAC)

Nairobi, Kenya

The CCl

The WCP

Introduction

WMO Commission for Climatology (CCl)

Open Programme AreaGroups (OPAGs)

Climate Data and Data Management

Climate Applications, Information, and

Prediction Services

Monitoring and Analysis of Climate Variability and Change

WMO/OMM

CAgMCCl

WCDMPWorld Climate Data

and Monitoring Programme

AgMPAgricultural Meteorology

Programme

WCASPWorld Climate Applications and Services Programme

& CLIPS

Goalsimprove databases & data management

improve climate system monitoring efforts & awareness

develop new data techniques for rescue

Goalsdevelop climate services

increase awareness of benefitsdevelop practical product methodsincrease utilization of information

& predictions

Goalsto assist members in the provision

of meteorological and climate servicesfor agriculture

to assist in sustainable development & economically viable agricultural systems

WCPWorld Climate Programme

WORLD CLIMATE PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

“Linking climate prediction and science to users”

WCASP and CLIPS aim to:• Support application of climate information to sectors such as

health and energy,

• Encourage research into and application of Seasonal to Interannual Prediction (SIP),

• Build capacity in NMHSs for SIP and climate services,

• Build linkages between climate scientists and users,

• Facilitate implementation of RCCs.

Climate matters

Source: OFDA/CRED

The Need for Climate Services

• Effective SIP and climate services help alleviate the hardship, suffering and risk associated with climate variability and extreme weather and climate events.

• Climate variability and change are key factors in management and profitability of economic sectors such as agriculture, water resources, health, tourism, energy, transportation, and communications.

Source: IFRC

Actions to develop the concept

Guidelines Regional

activities

WMO Regional Climate Centres

RCCs – Development of the concept

1999, May Cg-XIII

1999, July CCl questionnaire

2000, May EC-LII

2001, April 1st ICTT meeting

2001, June EC-LIII

2002, March 2nd ICTT meeting

2002, June EC-LIV

2003, February Workshop, LRF Producers

2003, May Cg-XIV

2003, November Meeting on RCC Guidelines

• Requirements, responsibilities

• Leading role of NMHSs

• Structures and RCC components

• Designation

• Steps to follow to Implement an RCC

RCCs – Issues

RCC role for climate services, support

The requirements for RCC services and support will vary from region to region, depending on the needs of the Members. Categories of possible RCC functions being considered are:

• Operational production of SIP and climate products,

• Coordination and communications support,

• Data management services,

• Training and capacity building, and

• Research and development activities.

(See handout, Annex 2, WCASP No. 52)

Guidelines for Establishment of Regional Climate

Centres

November, 2003

RCCs - Statement of Purpose

• RCCs will complement, support the NMHSs

• Products and services will be:– regional in nature– those the NMHSs cannot produce

themselves– Defined, distributed by NMHSs

• NMHSs only issue Warnings and Watches

• RCCs will adhere to WMO resolutions 40, 25.

Determination of requirements

Process to establish requirements for RCCs :

– P/RA to inform PRs on RCC concept and process;

– P/RA to issue questionnaire to PRs to complete;

– P/RA to consolidate responses and return to PRs, with invitation to commit to host functions;

Determination of requirements

A WG or TT should then:– review requirements & offered capabilities;

– ID priorities, deficiencies & remedial activities;

– propose a structure;

– ID actions to ensure access to GPC products; and

P/RA may ask the WG/TT to help organize operational pilot/demonstration.

Gain approval of requirements

• P/RA will present WG results to PRs and invite final suggestions;

• Regional Members will adopt the proposal (at RA regular session, or by correspondence);

• P/RA to send requirements/commitments to WMO/WCP and CCl and CBS.

The RA must indicate for each centre proposed if official designation is desired.

Assess RCC capability

• The capability of the proposed RCC(s) to produce the required products and services in a timely, accurate manner, must be established.

• This can take place through pilot projects or demonstrations.

• Regular questionnaires should be sent to users (NMHSs) to ID strengths, weaknesses.

• CLIPS FPs can be helpful

RCC structure

• Each RA will select a structure to meet the needs determined by its Members.

• RCC Systems need to be cost-effective, inclusive and allow for overlap and coordination between the regions as needed.

• RCC systems need to include the role of the GPCs.

Options for RCC structure

• Single, multi-functional RCC • Distributed RCC (several centres, unique focus)• Multiple RCCs (several multi-functional centres)• Virtual RCC (several nodes, managed virtually)

Some services may be provided by Universities or other scientific organizations. Some regions may choose to contract some work to private sector.

RA IV Virtual RCC

CIMH CRRH

UWI UCR

- RCC Node

- NMHS

- Other

- Global producer

- Coordinator

Designation Process

Manual on the Global Data-Processing Systems (WMO No. 485):

– Part I covers formal designation via CBS. • CBS and CCl to ensure all RCC functions are

covered and consistently described throughout the manual.

– Part II covers regional aspects. • Responsibility for developing and approving the

requirements falls entirely to the RA.

Designation Process

• The RA decides if its RCC(s) are to be designated.

• If yes, the proposal will be submitted to CBS, CCl who will evaluate whether the proposal meets the regions’ needs and institutional framework.

• The TCs will require demonstration that the proposed centres can do the job (rigorous process).

• If requirements are met, formal recommendation will be made to Congress for approval. In the interim, pilot phase can proceed.

Work plan

• Action Plans, formal commitments, ensure GPC support for each proposed centre;

• Steering Committees to coordinate commitments, the activities of the centres, and evolving needs.

• Regional Implementation Plan, based on the various action plans;

• P/RA to approve the Implementation plan;

• P/RA to coordinate steps for designation, as described in the Manual for GDPS.

Some regions have made good progress in discussing development of RCCs, others have not held formal talks.

Nonetheless, significant progress in provision of RCC-related activities is proceeding in all regions.

CLIPS website holds info on meetings such as:– RA VI Task Team on Provision of Seasonal to Interannual

Forecasts and RCC Services (Reading, April 2003)– Training Workshop on CLIPS for RA VI (Erfurt, Germany,

June 2003)

Actions in the Regions

RCC-related activity in Africa

• RA I capability to provide RCC functions has been discussed:– IRI Workshop on advancing regional plans, New York, 2002– ACMAD Workshop on eval. of PRESA process, Niamey, 2002– RA I mtg. On Operational NWP, Pretoria, 2002

• Climate prediction and products are already provided by:– ACMAD, DMC-Harare, ICPAC-Nairobi– And in countries including: Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco,

Réunion Island, Tunisia, and South Africa.

• Operational programmes for climate observations, prediction and services are not consistently available in all parts of RA I

• NMHSs promote RCC implementation;

• Involve CLIPS Focal Points in completing the RCC questionnaire;

• CLIPS Focal Points please send in annual reports on CLIPS activities for 2003;

• Visit the CLIPS website at:

http://www.wmo.ch/web/wcp/clips2001/html/index.html

Requests