ESA hosts new international office in the UK to coordinate global climate modelling push

Climate models are used for understanding past climate and provide projections of potential changes. For addressing global warming, environmental changes and the resulting risks, there is an increased need and demand for further research and development in the field of climate modeling, together with the need for international collaboration. In this context, the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) will open a new international office in the United Kingdom, starting in March 2022, to coordinate the programme’s Climate Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP).

The new office will be hosted alongside ESA’s Climate Office at its European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) facility in the United Kingdom and will take the lead in coordinating scientific and technical planning, as well as stakeholder engagement.

Earth observation data has great value in providing datasets that can be used for model evaluation and improvements, and the CMIP International Project Office will work closely with WCRP partners, including ESA, to provide seamless integration of model and observation information. The accurate spatial and temporal view provided by satellites helps to reduce uncertainties in climate models, gives greater confidence in their results and ultimately supports nations to deliver effective climate action and fulfil their pledges under the Paris Agreement.

Image: CMIP6 – Mean temperature (T) Change deg C – Medium Term (2041-2060) SSP5-8.5 (rel. to 1850-1900) – Annual (34 models). http://interactive-atlas.ipcc.ch/.png