IGBP Global-Change Conference in 2012 16.3.2010
The UK has successfully bid to host the IGBP open science conference: Planet Under Pressure: new Knowledge, new solutions. The four-day conference will bring together natural, physical and social scientists with economists. More information.

WCRP-JSC letter in support of IPCC 8.3.2010

The members of the WMO/ICSU/IOC Joint Scientific Committee for WCRP issued a letter to its sponsors in support of IPCC Fouth Assessment Report. WCRP is confident that the IPCC process will continue to provide accurate and unbiased assessment of climate change. Read the letter.

SOLAS Project Officer: position open 3.3.2010

The SOLAS IPO is seeking to fill the post of Project Officer. The post is located at the School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK. The closing date for completed application is 26th March 2010. Read more information.

ESSP projects at the DW Global Media Forum, June 2010 3.3.2010

The Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum 2010 will take place in Bonn, Germany, under the banner: The Heat is On – Climate Change and the Media. The forum’s programme will feature a workshop hosted by WCRP, IHDP, IGBP, DIVERSITAS and ESSP that will debate the effective use of media to creating societal awareness of climate change. Read more.

WCRP and WMO Commission for Climatology: enhancing the use of climate information 3.3.2010

The World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and the WMO Commission for Climatology (CCl) have adopted a plan to use climate information for emerging social needs relating to adaptation and risk management. At their joint meeting in Antalya, Turkey (18 February 2010), they agreed on a statement that elaborates the implementation plan. The issues being addressed are in line with establishing the Global Framework for Climate Services, decided at World Climate Conference-3. Read the joint statement.

Book published: Field Techniques for Sea-Ice Research 2.3.2010

Cco-sponsored and supported by WCRP/CliC, the book is a global look at the changes in sea ice and the tools and techniques used to measure and record those changes. The first comprehensive research done on sea-ice field techniques, this volume will be indispensable for the study of northern sea ice and a must-have for scientists in the field of climate change research. It can be ordered at The University of Chicago Press.

WCRP Open Science Conference 2011 - First Announcement 11.2.2010

The WCRP Open Science Conference will take place in Denver, CO, USA, 24-28 October 2011. This represents an exclusive opportunity to assemble the international scientific community working to advance understanding and prediction of variability and change of the Earth's physical climate system on all space and time scales. Download and circulate the first announcement.

Applications for ICPO Director position 11.2.2010

WCRP and the UK's National Oceanography Centre in Southampton invite applications for the position of Director of the International Project Office. The closing date for completed applications is 29th March 2010. For more information please read the announcement. 

World Meteorological Day 2010, 23 March 2010 9.2.2010

Each year on 23 March, the World Meteorological Organization, its 188 Members and the worldwide meteorological community celebrate World Meteorological Day around a chosen theme. This day commemorates the entry into force, on that date in 1950, of the WMO Convention creating the Organization. Subsequently, in 1951, WMO was designated a specialized agency of the United Nations System. This year, the theme is “60 years of service for your safety and well-being”. For more information visit the webpage.

IOC celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2010 9.2.2010

Beginning with the International Indian Ocean Expedition in 1960 the IOC has worked tirelessly for fifty years to promote international cooperation in researching and protecting the ocean. The IOC 50th Anniversary Web Page is now posted. Learn more about Fifty years of IOC history and the many IOC 50th Anniversary events which will be held around the world on the anniversary webpage. 

WCRP Global Sea-Level Rise Update 5.2.2010

WCRP and WMO jointly issued an update on Global sea-level rise in the occasion of the COP-15 meeting in Copenhagen last December 2009. The short document presents some recent observations and analysis suggesting that the IPCC AR4 conclusions concerning the rate of future change in the global mean sea level may be on the conservative side. Read the document.

EUMETSAT approves the Optional Jason 3 Altimetry Programme 5.2.2010

EUMETSAT Member States approved the European part of the EUMETSAT Optional Jason 3 Altimetry Programme enabling this entry into force. Developed in close partnership with CNES, NOAA and NASA, it will ensure continuation of the series of measurements made by the Jason-2 satellite and its predecessors in support of meteorology, operational oceanography and in particular the monitoring of the sea level trend, a key indicator of climate change. This result is a major contribution to the CEOS OST Constellation. Read the Press Release.

Job Announcement: Director of Climate and Environmental Sciences 4.1.2010
Candidates are sought for the position of Director of the Climate and Environmental Sciences Division in the Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER) within the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Science. For more information please contact Anna Palmisano by 20 January 2010.  Read more information on the post.

Temporary post: Part-time consultant in WCRP 14.12.09

WCRP is looking for a temporary, part-time consultant to work on the World Bank/GFDRR Project “Climate Observations and Regional Modelling in Support of Climate Risk Management and Sustainable Development”. Deadline for applications is 15 January 2010. Read more about the post.

Post announcement: Executive Director of the IRDR programme 9.12.09

The International Council for Science (ICSU), the International Social Science Council (ISSC) and the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) invite applications for the important post of Executive Director of the new Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) programme. Read more about the post.

The Copenhagen Diagnosis: Climate Science Report 8.12.09

This report is the synthesis of the most policy-relevant climate science published since the close-off of material for the last  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Report (AR4). The 26 researchers, most of whom are authors of published IPCC reports and serves in WCRP working groups and panels, conclude that several important aspects of climate change are occurring at the high end or even beyond the expectations of only a few years ago.  Without significant mitigation, the report says global mean warming could reach as high as 7 degrees Celsius by 2100. Read more.

SCAR REPORT: Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment 8.12.09

The first comprehensive review of the state of Antarctica’s climate and its relationship to the global climate system was recently published by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). The review - Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment – presents the latest research from the icy continent, identifies areas for future scientific research, and addresses the urgent questions that policy makers have about Antarctic melting, sea-level rise and biodiversity. More on the report.

CCMAP: Integrating Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation into Development
Planning project 25.11.09

The WMO, IPCC, UNEP, and START recently initiated an effort to promote communication at the science-policy interface on issues of climate change risks, adaptation, and mitigation through a collaborative effort with the Bangladesh Centre for Advances Studies, the University of Ghana and the University of Dar es Salaam. The project engages science and policy communities in West Africa, East Africa and South Asia through a series of national science-policy dialogues, training workshops and knowledge assessments at local to regional scales. Support for this project is provided by the European Commission with co-funding from UNEP. Read more.

Milutin Milankovic Medal awarded to WGCM former Co-chair Pascale Braconnot 19.11.09

The 2009 Milutin Milankovic Medal is awarded to Pascale Braconnot for her original work on understanding the relative roles of obliquity and precession during the last interglacial period and, in particular, for her major involvement in the Paleoclimate Modeling Intercomparison Project for the Mid-Holocene (PMIP). Read more.


Award to the CMIP3 team at PCMDI 12.11.09

The American Meteorological Society has made a Special Award to the CMIP-3 team at PCMDI for their outstanding efforts in archiving and making available the CMIP3 multi-model dataset.  The award will be presented at the AMS Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, in January 2010. This is a well-deserved tribute to PCMDI for their support of WGCM model intercomparison initiatives over the years, culminating in the CMIP3 effort. WCRP looks forward to continue collaboration for CMIP5.

Capacity Building: The 2010 Southwestern Hemisphere Workshop Series on Climate Change: CO2, the Biosphere and Climate 6.11.09

The workshop, co-sponsored by ICTP, GFDL/NOAA, Princeton University and the FCEyN/University of Buenos Aires, will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 15-26 March 2010. It is mainly intended for young researchers and PhD students working in the areas of Physics, Chemistry, Atmospheric Physics and Dynamics, Climatology and Oceanography, from Central and South America countries that are members of the United Nations, UNESCO or IAEA. The workshop sessions include: 1) Earth history of climate change, 2) The present and future of greenhouse gases and climate forcing, 3) Characteristics of the new earth system model and 4) The quality of climate prediction.  Applications should be submitted online no later than 15 December 2009.

Mathematical and Statistical Approaches to Climate Modelling and Prediction: 11 August-22 December 2010 2.11.09

A six-month research programme to be held in Cambridge, UK, will bring together world-leading researchers in climate modelling, mathematics and statistics in order to make progress in solving some of the major issues facing climate prediction. Many uncertainties remain in predictions derived from climate models, yet governments are increasingly reliant on model predictions to inform mitigation and adaptation strategies. This programme will focus on themes that require the close collaboration of mathematicians, statisticians and climate scientists in order to improve climate models and the interpretation of their output. Read more about the programme.

Vacancy Annoucement: Director of CLIVAR IPO 26.10.09

The World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and the UK’s National Oceanography Centre in Southampton  (NOCS) invite applications for the position of Director of the International CLIVAR Project Office (ICPO), located at NOCS, Southampton, UK. The role consists of overseeing and managing the implementation of the plans and activities of each of the project elements of CLIVAR in support of the overall mission and strategy of WCRP. Read more information about the post.

Professorship and Prize for Dr Tim Palmer 23.10.09

The WCRP community wishes to congratulate Tim Palmer (WCRP/CLIVAR Co-chair 2003-2009) for his successful application for a Royal Society professorship at Oxford University. Tim, who is currently Head of Predictability and Diagnostics Section at ECMWF, will take up his new position at the Oxford's Department of Physics on 1 January 2010. Tim has also been awarded the 2010 Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal by the American Meteorological Society. The Rossby Prize is presented to individuals on the basis of outstanding contributions to the understanding of the structure or behaviour of the atmosphere. It represents the highest honour that the AMS can bestow upon an atmospheric scientist.

UNEP Climate Change Science Compendium 2009 06.10.09

This is a review of 400 major scientific contributions to our understanding of Earth Systems and climate since the close of research for consideration by the IPCC AR4. It discusses findings from the International Polar Year and from new technologies that enhance our abilities to see the Earth's Systems in new ways. Evidence of unexpected rates of change in Arctic sea ice extent, ocean acidification, and species loss emphasizes the urgency needed to develop management strategies for addressing climate change.  Download and read the document.

A successful GEWEX-iLEAPS joint conference on Water in a Changing Climate 25.09.09
The Sixth International Scientific Conference on the Global Energy and Water Cycle and the Second Integrated Land Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (iLEAPS) Science Conference were held in conjunction in Melbourne, Australia on 24-28 August 2009. The conference provided the opportunity for cross-fertilization between the sciences represented by both WCRP-GEWEX and IGBP-iLEAPS in addressing present and future climate and global change challenges. The parallel conferences featured three joint sessions that broadly cover the following themes: 1) Land in the climate system; 2) Aerosol, cloud, precipitation, climate interactions; and 3) Future generation of integrated observation and modelling systems. The conferences keynote talks, oral and poster presentations are available at the conference website.

OceanObs09: Final Draft Conference Statement 25.09.09
The final draft of the Conference statement was negotiated by session and community fora chairs and the Programme Committee and presented to the 600 participants of the conference on Friday 25th September 2009. The document is open for comment at the OceanObs09 website.

CINDY2011 and DYNAMO: The two process studies received the CLIVAR endorsement 18.09.09
The CINDY2011 and the U.S. project DYNAMO are the field campaigns with special emphasis on the tight relationship with numerical studies. The campaign is designed to improve our knowledge on the intraseasonal variability in the tropical Indian Ocean with focus on the initiation process of convection in the Madden-Julian Oscillation, and its field experiment is planned to take place in and around the Indian Ocean from October 2011 through January 2012. Read more on CINDY2011 and DYNAMO.

Press Release: Major new initiative on climate change and agriculture 18.09.09

The Challenge Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) is a new 10-year research programme that will explore new ways of helping vulnerable rural communities adjust to global changes. CCAFS is an initiative of the Consultive Group on International Agricultural Research and the Earth system Science Partnership. Read more.

ESSP article: The Earth System Science Partnership (ESSP) Strategy paper 18.09.09

The inaugural issue of the new ELSEVIER journal "Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability" will feature the strategy paper on "Developing a common strategy for integrative global environmental change research and outreach: Earth System Science Partnership (ESSP)". The paper is a collective response of the recent review of ESSP. Read the article.

WCRP News: WCRP Implementation Plan 2010-2015 now published 9.09.09

This Plan describes the major research activities and initiatives that WCRP will promote and undertake during the next several years. The Plan has been compiled over the last six months with input from all the WCRP projects, working groups and panels, taking into account outcomes of the WCRP Review and deliberations of the JSC. Download and Read the electronic version of the report.

GEWEX: 6th International GEWEX Conference just took place in Melbourne 8.09.09

The Sixth International Scientific Conference on GEWEX and the Second iLEAPS Science Conference were held in conjunction in Melbourne, Australia, 24-28 August 2009. These sessions provided the opportunity for cross-fertilization between the sciences represented by both GEWEX, as part of WCRP, and iLEAPS, as part of IGBP, in addressing present and future climate and global change challenges. Read more.

WCC-3 News: Conference Statement and Declaration 7.09.09

The third World Climate Conference held in Geneva from 31 Aug. to 4 Sept. ended with strong support on the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) by the Heads of State and Government, Ministers and Heads of Delegations present at the High-level Segment. The concept of GFCS outlined at the Expert Segment, and considered at the High-level Segment, calls for major strengthening of WCRP among other elements. Indeed the outcome of WCC-3 put in evidence the achievements of the climate science that WCRP has been promoted in the last 30 years. Read more.

New WCRP Report: The WCRP Achievements: Scientific knowledge for climate adaptation, mitigation and risk management 7.09.09

The new WCRP Achievements Report has been published. It highlights selected activities that were sponsored, coordinated and carried out by the WCRP core projects and working groups during the past five years. We hope you will find this report useful and welcome your feedback and suggestions for a more effective ways of communication among WCRP sponsors, supporters and participants. Download and Read the electronic version of the report.

OceanObs09: Update 7.09.09

More than ninety Community White Papers are now available for download from the OceanObs'09 website. Many of them have now been revised in response to public review and comments.  Additional feedback to the authors is welcomed. Download and comment on Community White Papers.

EEA Report: Key conclusions of the European Environmental agency meeting on environmental monitoring 7.09.09

Europe is setting its strategy to increase the sustainability, coordination, quality, extent and operational capabilities of today's global observing, monitoring and forecasting systems. At their recent meeting in Copenhagen in May 2009, the EEA discussed "A Global Setting for European Environmental Monitoring" to explore concrete ideas for building an observing capacity that would effectively meet the growing demand for environmental information. Read the key conclusions of the meeting.

IndOOS: Indian Ocean Observing System Resources Forum update 27.08.09

Following the recommendation to establish an Indian Ocean Resources Forum (IRF) at the 5th meeting of the Indian Ocean GOOS (Global Ocean Observing System) in December 2008, the CLIVAR/GOOS Indian Ocean Panel (IOP), was tasked to draw up a business plan for an IRF. This was addressed at the recent IOP panel meeting in June 2009 in La Reunion. Read more.

CMIP: CMIP5 website now public 3.08.09

CMIP5 is meant to provide a framework for coordinated climate change experiments for the next five years and thus includes simulations for assessment in the IPCC 5th Assessment Report as well as others that extend beyond the AR5. Read more on the redesigned website.

New WCRP Initiative: CORDEX: A Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment 17.07.09

CORDEX is a new initiative of WCRP to improve coordination of international efforts in Regional Climate Downscaling (RCD), both by dynamical and statistical methods. CORDEX will define a common set of Regional Climate Model (RCM) domains and a standard set of variables, frequency and format for output and archival at a number of CORDEX data centres. Read more on the webpage.

START Announcement: 2009/2010 START Grants for Global Environmental Change Research in Africa 14.07.09

START is pleased to announce a Call for Proposals for research and assessments of global environmental change (GEC) in Africa in the context of the Joint Projects of the Earth System Science Partnership (ESSP). Read more about the Proposal and the Application Form.

SCAR Announcement: Call for Nominations for Muse Prize 6.07.09

The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research is pleased to  announce the Call for Nominations for the "Martha T. Muse Prize for Science and Policy in Antarctica". This is a US$ 100,000 unrestricted prize, awarded by the Tinker Foundation, and presented to an individual in the fields of Antarctic science or policy that has demonstrated potential for sustained and significant contributions that will enhance the understanding and/or preservation of Antarctica. Inspired by Martha T. Muse's passion for Antarctica, it is intended to be a legacy of the International Polar Year 2007-2008. Read more.

Vacancy Announcement: Looking for Theme Leaders 30.06.09

The CGIAR Challenge Program "Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security" is a major collaborative endeavour between the international agricultural (CGIAR1) and global environmental change (ESSP2) research communities, and their respective partners. This new Program is now seeking well qualified candidates for the six positions of Theme Leader. Read more about these positions.

Special Announcement: SOLAS International Project Officer 22.06.09

The SOLAS International Project Office has a vacancy for the position of International Project Officer. The Project Officer will be involved in assisting the SSC, liaising with the sponsors and other relevant organisations, setting up and servicing working groups and task teams. The postholder will represent the project at international meetings and interact with SOLAS national committees and groups. Read more about the position.

New report: Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States 17.06.09

A new report "Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States" was just released by the US Global Change Research Program. The report summarizes the science and the impacts of climate change in the United States, now and in the future. It focuses on climate change impacts in different regions of the U.S. and on various aspects of society and the economy such as energy, water, agriculture, and health. Read the report.

International Journal of Climatology: Special Issue: African Climate and Applications 17.06.09

This special issue of the International Journal of Climatology mainly arose from a Young African Scientist's Day that was organised by the CLIVAR Variability in the African Climate System (VACS) panel as part of the 28th session of the Joint Scientific Committee of the World Climate Research Programme held during 26-30 March 2007 in Zanzibar, East Africa. See the articles.

WCRP staff news: Dr Boscolo has been appointed as the WCRP Communication/Scientific Officer 14.05.09

Dr Boscolo has a Degree in theoretical physics and a Master in physical oceanography. She started working for the WOCE IPO in 1996 and then for the CLIVAR IPO from 2001. She coordinated the activities of several panels and working groups within CLIVAR, especially the ocean basins panels, but has also been involved in editing newsletters, preparing outreach material, developing webpages and giving presentations at international fora. She initiated new projects, like MedCLIVAR (www.medclivar.eu) which is now an ESF networking program and was involved in the Arctic-Subarctic Ocean Fluxes Study (asof.npolar.no ) which is now part of IPY-iAOOS.

Workshop report: Developing observational protocols on arctic sea ice 14.05.09

Arctic sea ice undergoes large changes due to the warming of global climate. As the environment changes, new opportunities arise for marine transportation and resource extraction. To develop a robust observational protocol of arctic sea ice and describe the current state of the ice cover as well as future changes, a group of 32 researchers from 13 countries met at a WCRP-CliC sponsored workshop in Tromso, Norway, 26-27 January 2009. Workshop achievements include: (i) identification of key sea ice parameters; (ii) development of observational protocols; (iii) implementation of these protocols during field activities in 2009/10; (iv) improvements of  international collaboration. Read report submitted to EOS transactions.

MESA: Improving predictability of the South American monsoon systems 5.05.09

The annual cycle of precipitation over tropical South America features distinct wet and dry seasons between the equator and 25°S. Many areas within that region receive more than half of their annual rain during the austral summer, the 'monsoon season'. The Monsoon Experiment in South America (MESA), a component of the WCRP-CLIVAR/GEWEX programme on monsoon research, will focus on understanding the main characteristics and variability of the South American monsoon systems to improve its predictability on timescales spanning from diurnal to interannual and longer. See MESA Science and Implementation Plan.

Nature: Greenhouse-gas emission targets for limiting global warming to 2°C 5.05.09

In the April 30 Issue of the journal Nature on The Coming Climate Crunch, Prof. Malte Meinshausen and his colleagues present results from a coupled climate-carbon cycle model that explores the effects of different emission pathways for carbon dioxide and the other major greenhouse gases. For the period 2000 to 2050, they find that the world would have to limit emissions of all greenhouse gases to the equivalent of 400 gigatonnes of carbon in order to stand a 75% chance of avoiding more than 2°C of warming. Find Nature article.

Review: Sponsors review WCRP achievements and strategy 5.05.09

In 2008, a review of the WCRP was carried out by a Review Panel which was appointed by its sponsors, ICSU, WMO and the IOC of UNESCO, and the International Group of Funding Agencies (IGFA). In its final report, the Review Panel recognizes the many important achievements of this international scientific research programme and concludes that WCRP can play a significant role in helping society meet the challenges of global climate change.

Special Report: Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters 28.04.09

At its 30th session held 21-23 April in Antalya, Turkey, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) decided to prepare a Special Report on 'Managing the risks of extreme events and disasters to advance climate change adaptation'. The WCRP scientific community is very active in assessing trends in the frequency, intensity and duration of climate extremes. Find IPCC media release; see also documents prepared for the session relevant to the WCRP community.

WMO fact sheet: Weather, water and climate information help to save lives 23.04.09

Every year, disasters related to meteorological, hydrological and climate hazards cause significant losses of life. Although natural hazards cannot be prevented, early warning of the impending events can significantly reduce the death and destruction associated with them. WCRP research provides the basis for  understanding and predicting processes in the Earth's climate system. Read WMO fact sheet on early warning systems.

Research highlight: Water levels dropping in some major rivers as global climate changes 22.04.09

Rivers in some of the world's most populous regions are losing water, according to a new comprehensive study of global stream flow. "As climate change inevitably continues in coming decades, we are likely to see greater impacts on many rivers and water resources that society has come to rely on," says Dr Kevin Trenberth, WCRP-WOAP Chair and co-author of the study which will be published in the May 15 issue of the Journal of Climate. More at NCAR, at BBC news.

JSC-30: WCRP Joint Scientific Committee discussed progress and future directions 14.04.09
At its thirtieth session, the Joint Scientific Committee of WCRP, together with representatives of its sponsors and partners, discussed recent accomplishments in global climate research and identified opportunities and challenges in advancing climate prediction and our understanding of human impact on climate. In addition, ideas were presented for a new post-2013 structure for WCRP. More. See presentation on WCRP accomplishments.

SOLAS-OSC: Surface Ocean - Lower Atmosphere Study invites researchers to 'connect horizons' 14.04.09

The WCRP co-sponsored Surface Ocean - Lower Atmosphere Study (SOLAS) is organizing the 2009 SOLAS Open Science Conference to be held in Barcelona, Spain, 16-19 November, which will bring together over 300 participants to present their findings on biogeochemical and physical feedbacks between the ocean and the atmosphere and to therefore: connect horizons. Registration is open now. More.

JSC-30: WCRP Joint Scientific Committee meets in Maryland 2.04.09

From 4-9 April, the Joint Scientific Committee of WCRP will meet at the University of Maryland, MD, USA, to discuss recent achievements and progress in implementing its strategic framework for the years 2005-2015 and to determine future directions beyond this period. More.

US guide: Climate Literacy - The Essential Principles of Climate Sciences 1.04.09

According to the U.S. Climate Change Science Programme climate science literacy is "an understanding of your influence on climate and climate's influence on you and society".  USCCSP has put together a set of Guiding Principles to help decision makers take actions to reduce climate change and its impacts - a guide for all human beings. More.

BAMS: Developing Know-how on Regional Climate Change Research 24.03.09

Appropriate responses to climate change require a worldwide capability to assess and properly interpret scientific findings. WCRP and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) organized a training workshop to teach participants around the world how to use WCRP's CMIP-3 database to gain regional climate understanding in the context of state-of-the-science simulations of climate change. Read BAMS publication.

World Climate Conference 3: Climate Prediction for Decision-Making 24.03.09

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is organizing World Climate Conference 3 (WCC-3) with the aim to establish an international framework to guide the development of climate services which will link science-based climate predictions and information with climate-risk management and adaptation to climate variability and change throughout the world. WCC-3 will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, 31 August - 4 September. More.

World Meteorological Day: Weather, Climate and the Air We Breathe 23.03.09

On the occasion of World Meteorological Day 2009 on 23 March, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is calling attention to the interaction of weather patterns, climate and air quality. Gases and particles emitted to the atmosphere affect people's health, as well as weather and climate - a research field WCRP is addressing through its SPARC project and its Atmospheric Chemistry & Climate (AC&C) initiative. More.

Open Science Conference: DIVERSITAS-OSC, October 2009 18.03.09

The Second DIVERSITAS Open Science Conference on Biodiversity and Society: Understanding Connections, Adapting to Change is entirely dedicated to biodiversity science and its connections to human sciences. The Conference will be held from 13-16 October 2009 in Cape Town, SA. Abstract submission deadline is 31 March. More.

Report 2008: Arctic Ocean Observing System 10.03.09

The integrated Arctic Ocean Observing System (iAOOS) is designed to optimize the cohesion and coverage of Arctic ocean science during the International Polar Year (IPY) and beyond. iAOOS' main concern is with Arctic change, including all aspects of the role of the Northen Seas in climate. WCRP, through its Climate and Cryosphere (CliC) project, established the basis for an Arctic Ocean Observing System and sustained Arctic observing networks. Find report.

Call for Abstracts: GEWEX/iLEAPS parallel Science Conferences on energy and water cycle research 10.03.09

The IGBP integrated Land Ecosystem-Atmospheric Processes Study (iLEAPS) and the WCRP Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) are organizing parallel Science Conferences with joint sessions (24-28 August 2009, Melbourne, Australia) preceded by an Early Career Scientist Workshop (20-22 August). Submit your abstract and register before 15 March.

Joint IPCC-WCRP-IGBP Workshop: New Science Directions and Activities Relevant to IPCC AR5 9.03.09

Over 150 leading scientists from within the IPCC, WCRP and IGBP communities gathered in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, on 3-6 March to discuss the latest developments and prospects in climate change science. Read Media Statement.

WCRP Chair of the Joint Scientific Committee elected AGU Fellow 9.03.09

Each year no more than 0.1% of the AGU membership may be elected Fellows. Among this year's 2009 electees is Professor Anthony 'Tony' Busalacchi (ESSIC, University of Maryland, USA). Already last year three WCRP scientists were elected AGU Fellows: Professors V. Ramaswamy, J. Shukla and U. Lohmann. Congratulations, Tony! More.

Announcement of Opportunity: Atmospheric Sciences Workshop for early career researchers 9.03.09

The UK Polar Network is delighted to announce that due to an increase in funding, additional places at the UKPN Atmospheric Sciences Workshop, to be held at the British Antarctic Survey from 29 April through 1 May, are now available. The extended registration deadline is Friday, 13 March 2009. More.

WCRP e-zine No. 13 5.03.09

Science highlights in the WCRP March newsletter include: First WCRP Regional Climate Projections Workshop held in Toulouse, France; WMO-ICSU International Polar Year ceremony; CLIVAR Spain network discusses Climate in Spain: Past, Present and Future; IOC-UNESCO declaration and report on Ocean Acidification. Download WCRP e-zine No. 13.

SPARC Report: The Role of Halogen Chemistry in Polar Stratospheric Ozone Depletion 5.03.09
There is a strong scientific link between the emissions of organic chlorine and bromine containing compounds and the catalytic loss of ozone over polar regions in the late winter and spring of each year since the 1970s. An initiative of the WCRP project on Stratospheric Processes and their Role in Climate (SPARC) created in 2007 focuses on halogen chemistry and in particular, on the chlorine monoxide (ClO) dimer photolysis rate and its role in stratospheric ozone depletion. Read report of the June 2008 Cambridge, UK Workshop.

CLIVAR-Vamos Exchanges: February 2009 5.03.09

The WCRP project on Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) and its Variability of the American Monsoons Systems panel (VAMOS) have published a joint newsletter with feature articles including The Horn of Africa Regional Climate Model Inter-comparison Project; VAMOS Activities on Anthropogenic Climate Change; Variability of the American Monsoon Systems and Extremes. Download Exchanges No. 48.

Journal of Climatology - Special Issue: Climate Extremes - Progress and Future Directions 5.03.09

CLIVAR-scientist Dr Lisa Alexander and colleagues have issued a compilation of articles related to climate extremes (International Journal of Climatology: Vol. 29, No. 3). The WCRP Task Force on Climate Extremes focuses on understanding the occurrence, evolution and role of extreme events within the Earth's climate system and their representation in climate prediction models. More.

EOS transactions: Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions During Cyclone Nargis 3.03.09

Cyclone Nargis made landfall in Myanmar on 2 May 2008 during a time, when the international community was implementing a sustained Indian Ocean Observing System (IndOOS), an initiative coordinated by the WCRP-CLIVAR/GOOS Indian Ocean Panel. Read EOS transactions article by Dr McPhaden and colleagues (open access to supplementary material, AGU password required for access to full article).

BAMS publication: Revolution in Climate Prediction is both Necessary and Possible 26.02.09

The need for a quantum leap in advancing climate modelling and tackling its challenges was the background of the historical World Modelling Summit for Climate Prediction, held in Reading, UK, May 2008. BAMS recently issued the Summit Declaration prepared by Prof. Jagadish Shukla and colleagues. BAMS; WCRP report No. 131.

Workshop update: Regional Climate Downscaling 26.02.09

From 11-13 February, a WCRP workshop on Evaluating and Improving Regional Climate Projections was held in Toulouse, France, to discuss the way forward in producing climate information on regional - in addition to global - scales. Dr Filippo Giorgi, Co-Chair of the WCRP Task Force on Regional Downscaling (TF-RCD) is very pleased with the outcomes of the workshop. Read feature article; more on the workshop.

Workshop update: Climate in Spain 25.02.09

The WCRP-CLIVAR Spain research network held a workshop on Climate in Spain: Past, Present and Future on 11-13 February 2009 in Madrid, Spain. Special sessions included (i) ocean variability and sea level; (ii) natural variability and trends; (iii) palaeoclimate; (iv) teleconnections; and (v) regional climate projections. Read feature article; more on the workshop.

Deadline Extension of the CryoSat-2 Data Announcement of Opportunity 25.02.09

The European Space Agency (ESA) announces an extended deadline for the CryoSat-2 Data Announcement of Opportunity. The new deadline for submission of proposals is Tuesday, 31 March. The opportunity aims at promoting the use of CryoSat-2 data. More.

IHDP Open Meeting 2009: Social Challenges of Global Change 25.02.09

From 26-30 April 2009, the International Human Dimensions Programme (IHDP) will hold an open meeting on Social Challenges of Global Change for social and Earth system sciences in Bonn, Germany. Besides 650 presentations, the conference will offer to around 1'000 delegates dozens of side events and meetings, book and project launches and specialised formats addressing science-policy interactions. Registration is open now. More.

TV broadcast: WCRP on Climate Change and Natural Disasters 19.02.09

WCRP Secretariat staff member Valery Detemmerman was interviewed at the programme Géopolitis on Climate Change and Natural Disasters. The programme will be broadcasted on Swiss television (TSR - TV5 Monde) on Monday, 23 February, 10:30 pm CET, and is available online.

Call for abstracts: OceanObs'09, Venice, 21-25 September 2009 17.02.09

The OceanObs'99 symposium was a landmark in consolidating plans for global systematic observations of the physical environment of the oceans. These observations have now become available to support ocean sciences and enable a wide range of societal benefits including improved climate prediction. Today, the greatest challenge is to sustain the present system and further develop it by including the biogeochemical state of the ocean and the status of marine ecosystems. More; submit your abstract.

Irreversible climate change due to carbon dioxide emissions 17.02.09

The severity of damaging human-induced climate change depends not only on the magnitude of the change but also on the potential for irreversibility. A study led by the former IPCC Working Group I Co-chair Dr Susan Solomon shows that the climate change that takes place due to increases in carbon dioxide concentration is largely irreversibly for 1,000 years after emissions stop. The study was published by PNAS.

Acting on Climate Change: The UN System Delivering as One 17.02.09

Under the leadership of the Secretary-General of the United Nations a process was initiated in 2007 to achieve a coordinated action-oriented approach to the global and multifaceted challenge of climate change. The objective is to intensify the implementation of existing intergovernmental mandates and build on the experience gained in doing so to support the process for a global agreement for the post-2012 period within the UNFCCC. Report; Gateway to the UN System's Work on Climate Change.

SPARC news: January 2009 17.02.09

The WCRP project on Stratospheric Processes and their Role in Climate (SPARC) has issued an update on its activities including feature articles on the SPARC Dynamics and Variability Project (DynVar); the SPARC Perspective on the World Modelling Summit (WCRP report No. 131); and the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change. Download SPARC newsletter No. 32.

Regional Climate Downscaling: A new challenge 10.02.09

From 11-13 February, a WCRP workshop on Evaluating and Improving Regional Climate Projections is being held in Toulouse, France, to discuss the way forward in producing climate information on regional - in addition to global - scales. The task is challenging as there is a variety of dynamical and statistical approaches and a new generation of high-resolution climate change projections over regions worldwide is needed urgently. Information on the workshop; more.

Climate in Spain: Past, Present and Future 10.02.09

The WCRP-CLIVAR Spain research network is organizing a workshop on Climate in Spain: Past, Present and Future on 11-13 February 2009 in Madrid, Spain. Special sessions include (i) ocean variability and sea level; (ii) natural variability and trends; (iii) palaeoclimate; (iv) teleconnections; and (v) regional climate projections. A publication on the physical aspects of climate change on the Iberian Peninsula will result from this workshop. More.

Year of Tropical Convection: Data base of high-resolution forecasts available 9.02.09

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) has made the data base of high-resolution forecasts from the Year of Tropical Convection (YOTC), a joint World Weather Reaserch Programme-WCRP initiative, available to the research community. YOTC Data Portal.

WMO World Climate News - January 2009 9.02.09

The January issue of World Climate News highlights World Climate Conference 3 (WCC3) and features articles on 'observational needs for climate prediction and adaptation' and 'improving early warning systems and emergency procedures'. Download WCN No. 34.

JAXA Global Change Observation Mission - Research Announcement 9.02.09

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) released a first research announcement for the Global Change Observation Mission-Climate (GCOM-C1) with a focus on: development of retrieval algorithms for geophysical products; data acquisition and validation preparation; application research connected to GCOM-C1 data. Deadline is 31 March 2009. More.

WMO Bulletin - January 2009 issue 9.02.09

The first 2009 issue of the WMO Bulletin is dedicated to this year's theme of the World Meteorological Day - weather, climate and the air we breathe - with articles on 'climate change and air quality'; 'air pollution, dust- and sandstorms and the Indian monsoon'; 'WMO research and development activities to benefit Africa'; 'carbonaceous aerosol'; 'atmospheric deposition to the ocean'; 'greenhouse gases and urban pollution' and many more. Download Bulletin Vol. 58(1).

Professor Le Treut is new Director of IPSL 9.02.09

Professor Hervé Le Treut has been appointed as the new Director of the Institut Pierre Simon Laplace (IPSL) des Sciences de l'Environnement in Paris, France. Hervé is a member of the WCRP Joint Scientific Committee (JSC) and leads the Anthropogenic Climate Change (ACC) cross-cutting activity. Congratulations!

Welcome to the new members of the WCRP steering groups 29.01.09

WCRP offers a warm welcome to the six new members of its Joint Scientific Committee (JSC), and to the new leaders and members of its International Projects' Scientific Steering Groups, Working Groups and Panels. Thank you all for offering your experience, time and energy to guide the development of the WCRP scientific strategy and implementation of its activities (feature article).

World Modelling Summit for Climate Prediction 26.01.09

The need for a quantum leap in advancing climate modelling and tackling its challenges was the background of the historical World Modelling Summit for Climate Prediction, held in Reading, UK, May 2008. The Summit brought together, perhaps for the first time, a diverse set of experts from the weather, climate and environment community (now online: WCRP report No. 131).

U.S. assessments on climate change impacts on coasts and the high latitudes 26.01.09

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has released a report that discusses the impacts of sea-level rise on coasts and coastal communities (more). A second report prepared by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program highlights the rapid climate changes in the Arctic and at high latitudes (more).

Evidence of warming of the Antarcic ice-sheet surface 22.01.09

Earlier assessments of Antarctic temperature change have emphasized the contrast between strong warming of the Antarctic Peninsula and slight cooling of the Antarctic continental interior in recent decades. A recent study led by Dr Eric Steig from the University of Washington, Seattle, now reveals that significant warming extends well beyond the Antarctic Peninsula to cover most of West Antarctica, an area warming much larger than previously reported. The study was published in Nature.

Aerosol research key to improving climate predictions 20.01.09

Atmospheric Aerosol Properties and Climate Impacts is the latest in a series of U.S. Climate Change Science Program reports, which calls for an improved representation of aerosols in climate models (report). Aerosols originate from natural and anthropogenic sources and can produce changes in cloud properties and hence, Earth's radiation and precipitation. The WCRP-GEWEX Global Aerosol Climatology Project (GACP) performs advanced global and regional modelling studies of aerosol formation and transport since 1998; see also: 2006 SPARC aerosol assessment report ('ASAP').

2009 AMS Sverdrup Gold Medal for Dr Fairall 20.01.09

Dr Christopher Fairall, former Chair of the WCRP Working Group on Surface Fluxes (WGSF), received this year's American Meteorological Society (AMS) Sverdrup Gold Medal. He currently leads NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL). Dr Fairall was a member of the U.S. CLIVAR Executive Committee for Pan American Climate Studies (PACS) and its EPIC project (Eastern Pacific Investigations of Climate Processes in the Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere System). Congratulations! More.

Reminder: ESA's Changing Earth Science Network - an opportunity for young scientists 13.01.09

The European Space Agency (ESA) invites all interested research institutions, universities and technical centres from ESA member countries to submit research proposals for The Changing Earth Science Network, a dedicated mechanism to support the new generation of scientists. Closing date is 16 January 2009. More.

SPARC expert receives 2008 Hillebrand Prize 13.01.09

Dr Michael Kurylo, ex-officio member of the Scientific Steering Group of WCRP's project on Stratospheric Processes and their Role in Climate (SPARC), was awarded the 2008 Hillebrand Prize of the Chemical Society of Washington, the Washington Chapter of the American Chemical Society. Dr Kurylo is a Program Scientist in Atmospheric Composition in the Earth Science Division of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, and leader of the Chlorine Chemistry Activity for SPARC. Congratulations, Mike!

Special Issue: Hydrologic Effect of a Shrinking Cryosphere 13.01.09

The WCRP Climate and Cryosphere (CliC) project and the Water and Climate Impacts Research Centre (W-CIRC) have joined expertise to prepare a special issue on the Hydrologic Effect of a Shrinking Cryosphere. The publication edited by Terry Prowse, member of the CliC Scientific Steering Group, contains comprehensive review articles on the response of the world's glaciers and ice sheets, snowpack and permafrost to global warming and their effects on river run-off, water quality and geomorphology. More.

Former JSC Chair appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada 6.01.09

Professor Gordon McBean, Chair of the WCRP Joint Scientific Committee from 1988 to 1994, has been appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada. The Order recognizes Professor McBean's lifetime contributions to the advancement of climate and atmospheric sciences in Canada, and his leadership in national and international scientific organizations. More.

Pacific continues to influence climate 5.01.09

2009 is expected to be one of the top-five warmest years on record, despite continued cooling of huge areas of the tropical Pacific Ocean, a phenomenon known as La Niña. According to climate scientists at the UK Met Office and the University of East Anglia the global temperature is forecast to be more than 0.4°C above the long-term average. More.

WMO MeteoWorld: December 2008 issue 5.01.09

No. 6 of WMO MeteoWorld includes feature articles on: Managing the risks and opportunities of climate variability and change; Climate predictions and seasonal forecasts; Mitigating the impacts of natural hazards; Improving early warning systems; The state of the ozone layer in 2008. More.