World Meteorological Organization Working together in weather, climate and water WMO OMM WMO Developing a Space-based Architecture for Climate Monitoring Lars Peter Riishojgaard, Chair, OPAG-IOS WMO CG-XVI Side Event, Geneva, May 18, 2011

WMO OMM Background Request from CGMS to WMO: Convene Contingency Planning Workshop for new missions to be implemented in Response to Vision for GOS in 2025 –Build on existing contingency plans weather missions –Special emphasis on climate aspects, especially concerning areas in which requirements differ from those adopted for the weather missions Workshop on Architecture and Continuity Requirements for Climate Monitoring, Geneva, Jan 13-14, 2011, co-sponsored by WMO and GCOS Climate Architecture, CG-XVI Side Event

WMO OMM Items discussed at Workshop Implementation Approach Focus on ECVs (Essential Climate Variables) that are: Observable from space At risk What contingency planning steps are needed to ensure continuity of these ECVs? What would a failure response look like? Architecture Implications Implications for an overall architecture and component functions Sustainability – R2O transitions represent a risk for continuity How could a new R&O paradigm mitigate these risks and ensure sustainability? Climate Architecture, CG-XVI Side Event

WMO OMM Climate monitoring and weather monitoring Many ECVs already covered by weather observations, e.g. wind, temperature. –Climate applications carries more stringent requirements on continuity of records, absolute calibration, etc. –Cost-effective solution: Modify weather observing system to meet climate needs Some ECVs have no weather parallels and are therefore at risk –Consequences of not maintaining weather observing systems can be dramatic and immediate; political willingness to sustain observing systems therefore high –Not necessarily true for pure climate observations Climate Architecture, CG-XVI Side Event

WMO OMM Workshop Outcome Agreement that Strategy to develop Climate Architecture was needed Writing group identified to draft strategy for developing the architecture (due August 31, 2011) –Representation from CEOS, CGM, and WMO Secretariat –Chair: Mark Dowell, EC – Review group will include representation from GEO Secretariat, GCOS, WCRP Climate Architecture, CG-XVI Side Event