Implementing FAIR Principles in the IPCC Assessment Process

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Juckes ◽  
Anna Pirani ◽  
Charlotte Pascoe ◽  
Robin Matthews ◽  
Martina Stockhause ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Objective Assessment ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
Fair Principles ◽  
Socioeconomic Data ◽  
Assessment Reports

<p>The Assessment Reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have provided the scientific basis underpinning far reaching policy decisions.The reports also have a huge influence on public debate about climate change. The IPCC is not responsible either for the evaluation of climate data and related emissions and socioeconomic data and scenarios or for the provision of advice on policy (reports must be “neutral, policy-relevant but not policy-prescriptive”). These omissions may appear unreasonable at first sight, but they are part of the well-tested structure which enables the creation of authoritative reports on the complex and sensitive subject of climate change. The responsibility for evaluation of climate data and related emissions and socioeconomic data and scenarios remains with the global scientific community. The IPCC has the task of undertaking an expert, objective assessment of the state of scientific knowledge as expressed in the scientific literature. The exclusion of responsibility for providing policy advice from the IPCC remit allows the IPCC to stay clear of discussions of political priorities. </p><p>These distinctions and limitations influence the way in which the findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) data principles are applied to the work of the IPCC Assessment. There are hundreds of figures in the IPCC Assessment Reports, showing line graphs, global or regional maps, and many other displays of data and information. These figures are put together by the authors using data resources which are described in the scientific literature that is being assessed. The figures are there to illustrate or clarify points raised in the text of the assessment. Increasingly, the figures also provide quantitative information which is of critical importance for many individuals and organisations which are seeking to exploit IPCC knowledge. </p><p>This presentation will discuss the process of implementing the FAIR data principles within the IPCC assessment process. It will also review both the value of the FAIR principles to the IPCC authors and the IPCC process and the value of the FAIR data products that the process is expected to generate.</p>

Advances in the data rescue and digitization of historical wind speed observations in Sweden: the WINDGUST project

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Engström ◽  
Cesar Azorin-Molina ◽  
Lennart Wern ◽  
Sverker Hellström ◽  
Christophe Sturm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Wind Speed ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
The 1960S

<p>Here we present the progress of the first work package (WP1) of the project “Assessing centennial wind speed variability from a historical weather data rescue project in Sweden” (WINDGUST), funded by FORMAS – A Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development (ref. 2019-00509); previously introduced in EGU2019-17792-1 and EGU2020-3491. In a global climate change, one of the major uncertainties on the causes driving the climate variability of winds (i.e., the “stilling” phenomenon and the recent “recovery” since the 2010s) is mainly due to short availability (i.e., since the 1960s) and low quality of observed wind records as stated by the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).</p><p>The WINDGUST is a joint initiative between the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) and the University of Gothenburg aimed at filling the key gap of short availability and low quality of wind datasets, and improve the limited knowledge on the causes driving wind speed variability in a changing climate across Sweden.</p><p>During 2020, we worked in WP1 to rescue historical wind speed series available in the old weather archives at SMHI for the 1920s-1930s. In the process we followed the “Guidelines on Best Practices for Climate Data Rescue” of the World Meteorological Organization. Our protocol consisted on: (i) designing a template for digitization; (ii) digitizing papers by an imaging process based on scanning and photographs; and (iii) typing numbers of wind speed data into the template. We will report the advances and current status, challenges and experiences learned during the development of WP1. Until new year 2020/2021 eight out of thirteen selected stations spanning over the years 1925 to 1948 have been scanned and digitized by three staff members of SMHI during 1,660 manhours.</p>

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Scientific “Consensus” on Global Warming

1996 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 333-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick J. Michaels ◽  
Paul C. Knappenberger
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Sulfate Aerosols ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Consensus Process ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Extreme Scenario

Climate data support the “moderate” prediction of climate change (l-1.5°C) rather than the more extreme scenario (4°C or more). The moderate point of view was originally marginalized in the IPCC “consensus” process in both the 1990 First Assessment on Climate Change and in the 1992 Update prepared specifically for the Earth Summit and to provide backing for the Rio Framework Convention on Climate Change. It is now accepted, based on ground-based data, that the errors in those models are currently between 160% and 360%. If one compares them to the satellite data combined with the land record, the error rises to a maximum of 720%. In some recognition of this massive error, the 1995 IPCC “consensus” is that warming has been mitigated by sulfate aerosols. However, when that hypothesis is specifically tested, it fails. Further, data required to test the validity of the sulfate enhanced greenhouse models was withheld by the IPCC. despite repeated requests.

scholarly journals Simulation of future climate scenarios and the impact on the water availability in southern Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. e56026
Author(s):  
Gabriela Leite Neves ◽  
Jorim Sousa das Virgens Filho ◽  
Maysa de Lima Leite ◽  
Frederico Fabio Mauad
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Balance ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Future Climate ◽  
Climate Scenarios ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
The Impact

Water is an essential natural resource that is being impacted by climate change. Thus, knowledge of future water availability conditions around the globe becomes necessary. Based on that, this study aimed to simulate future climate scenarios and evaluate the impact on water balance in southern Brazil. Daily data of rainfall and air temperature (maximum and minimum) were used. The meteorological data were collected in 28 locations over 30 years (1980-2009). For the data simulation, we used the climate data stochastic generator PGECLIMA_R. It was considered two scenarios of the fifth report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and a scenario with the historical data trend. The water balance estimates were performed for the current data and the simulated data, through the methodology of Thornthwaite and Mather (1955). The moisture indexes were spatialized by the kriging method. These indexes were chosen as the parameters to represent the water conditions in different situations. The region assessed presented a high variability in water availability among locations; however, it did not present high water deficiency values, even with climate change. Overall, it was observed a reduction of moisture index in most sites and in all scenarios assessed, especially in the northern region when compared to the other regions. The second scenario of the IPCC (the worst situation) promoting higher reductions and dry conditions for the 2099 year. The impacts of climate change on water availability, identified in this study, can affect the general society, therefore, they must be considered in the planning and management of water resources, especially in the regional context

Agro-ecological field vulnerability evaluation and climate change impacts in Souma area (Iran), using MicroLEIS DSS

Biologia ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Farzin Shahbazi ◽  
Ali Jafarzadeh ◽  
Mohammad Shahbazi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Heavy Metal Contamination ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
North West ◽  
Evaluation Approach

AbstractSoil erosion and contamination are two main desertification indices or land degradation agents in agricultural areas. Global climate change consequence is a priority to predict global environmental change impacts on these degradation risks. This agro-ecological approach can be especially useful when formulating soil specific agricultural practices based on the spatial variability of soils and related resources to reverse environmental degradation. Raizal and Pantanal models within the new MicroLEIS framework, the Ero&Con package, are database/expert system evaluation approach for assessing limitations to land use, or vulnerability of the land to specified agricultural degradation risks. This study was performed in Souma area with approximately 4100 ha extension in the North-West of Iran (west Azarbaijan). Based on 35 sampling soils, Typic Xerofluvents, Typic Calcixerepts, Fluventic Haploxerepts and Fluventic Endaquepts were classified as main subgroups. Climatological data, referred to temperature and precipitation of more than 36 consecutive years were collected from Urmieh station reports and stored in monthly Climate Database CDBm, as a major component of MicroLEIS DSS (CDBm) program. Climate data for a hypothetical future scenario were collected from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports for the 2080s period. The evaluation approach predicts that attainable water erosion vulnerability classes were none (V1) very low (V2) and moderately low (V4) in the total of 72%, 13% and 15% of the Souma area, respectively and they will not affected by climate change. On contrary, attainable wind erosion vulnerability classes will increase. Also, phosphorous and heavy metal contamination vulnerability risks will not differ in two compared scenarios while nitrogen and pesticides vulnerability classes will be improved.

scholarly journals Evolution of the ESA CCI Soil Moisture climate data records and their underlying merging methodology

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 717-739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Gruber ◽  
Tracy Scanlon ◽  
Robin van der Schalie ◽  
Wolfgang Wagner ◽  
Wouter Dorigo
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Passive Microwave ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Regular Grid ◽  
Change Initiative ◽  
Merging Algorithm ◽  
Merging Algorithms

Abstract. The European Space Agency's Climate Change Initiative for Soil Moisture (ESA CCI SM) merging algorithm generates consistent quality-controlled long-term (1978–2018) climate data records for soil moisture, which serves thousands of scientists and data users worldwide. It harmonises and merges soil moisture retrievals from multiple satellites into (i) an active-microwave-based-only product, (ii) a passive-microwave-based-only product and (iii) a combined active–passive product, which are sampled to daily global images on a 0.25∘ regular grid. Since its first release in 2012 the algorithm has undergone substantial improvements which have so far not been thoroughly reported in the scientific literature. This paper fills this gap by reviewing and discussing the science behind the three major ESA CCI SM merging algorithms, versions 2 (https://doi.org/10.5285/3729b3fbbb434930bf65d82f9b00111c; Wagner et al., 2018), 3 (https://doi.org/10.5285/b810601740bd4848b0d7965e6d83d26c; Dorigo et al., 2018) and 4 (https://doi.org/10.5285/dce27a397eaf47e797050c220972ca0e; Dorigo et al., 2019), and provides an outlook on the expected improvements planned for the next algorithm, version 5.

Sceptic priors and climate consensus

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant McDermott
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Sensitivity ◽  
Bayesian Model ◽  
Bayesian Learning ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Necessary Conditions ◽  
Social Phenomenon ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Consensus Formation ◽  
The Face

Abstract How much evidence would it take to convince sceptics that they are wrong about climate change? I explore this question within a Bayesian framework. I consider a group of stylised sceptics and examine how these individuals update their beliefs in the face of current and continuing climate change. I find that available evidence in the form of instrumental climate data tends to overwhelm all but the most extreme priors. Most sceptics form up dated beliefs about climate sensitivity that correspond closely to estimates from the scientific literature. However, belief convergence is a non-linear function of prior strength. It thus becomes increasingly difficult to convince the remaining pool of sceptics. I discuss necessary conditions for consensus formation under Bayesian learning and show how apparent deviations from the Bayesian ideal still be accommodated within the same conceptual framework. I argue that a generalized Bayesian model thus provides a bridge between competing theories of climate scepticism as a social phenomenon.

Australian Participation in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
John W. Zillman
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
United Nations Environment Programme ◽  
Scientific Integrity ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
Response Options ◽  
Climate Change Issue ◽  
The Us ◽  
Working Groups

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1988 to provide an authoritative assessment of the state of knowledge of climate change science and impacts and to develop realistic strategies for management of the climate change issue. Following the establishment of a separate United Nations Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Framework Convention on Climate Change and the subsequent signing and entry into force of the Convention, the IPCC reverted to the role of providing policy-neutral but policy-relevant assessments of the contemporary state of knowledge, as contained in the published literature, of the science, impacts and response options for climate change. Australian Government representatives and Australian climate scientists played a major part in the establishment of the IPCC and its operation over the past twenty years including key roles in the preparation of virtually all of its reports. Australia chaired the committee which proposed the structure and membership of the initial IPCC Working Groups, served as Vice-Chair of the Impacts Working Group for the IPCC's First Assessment Report, engaged more national experts in the review of its first assessment of the science of climate change than any other country except the US, has provided almost one hundred Lead Authors and several hundred reviewers for its four major assessments and has served continuously on its coordinating Bureau since its inception. Australian delegations have participated in every formal intergovernmental session of the Panel and its Working Groups and have made a significant contribution to the scientific integrity of the IPCC assessment process.

scholarly journals Evolution of the ESA CCI Soil Moisture Climate Data Records and their underlying merging methodology

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Gruber ◽  
Tracy Scanlon ◽  
Robin van der Schalie ◽  
Wolfgang Wagner ◽  
Wouter Dorigo
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Passive Microwave ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Regular Grid ◽  
Change Initiative ◽  
Merging Algorithm

Abstract. The European Space Agency's Climate Change Initiative for Soil Moisture (ESA CCI SM) merging algorithm generates consistent quality-controlled long-term (1978–2018) Climate Data Records for soil moisture which serves thousands of scientists and data users worldwide. It harmonises and merges soil moisture retrievals from multiple satellites into (i) an active-microwave-based only, (ii) a passive-microwave-based only, and a combined active-passive product, which are sampled to daily global images on a 0.25 degree regular grid. Since its first release in 2012 the algorithm has undergone substantial improvements which have so far not been thoroughly reported in the scientific literature. This paper fills this gap by reviewing and discussing the science behind the three major ESA CCI SM merging algorithm versions 2 (https://doi.org/10.5285/3729b3fbbb434930bf65d82f9b00111c; Wagner et al., 2018), 3 (https://doi.org/10.5285/b810601740bd4848b0d7965e6d83d26c; Dorigo et al., 2018a), and 4 (https://doi.org/10.5285/3a8a94c3fa464d68b6d70df291afd457; Dorigo et al., 2018b) and provides an outlook to the expected improvements planned for the next algorithm version 5.

IPCC Data Distribution Centre: FAIR data from Climate Research to Mitigation Policy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Juckes ◽  
Martina Stockhause ◽  
Robert S Chen ◽  
Xiaoshi Xing
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Data Distribution ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Mitigation Policy ◽  
Intergovernmental Panel ◽  
Distribution Centre ◽  
Data Products ◽  
Working Groups ◽  
Clear Description

<p>The Data Distribution Centre (DDC) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change provides a range of services to support the IPCC Assessment Process. The role of the DDC has evolved considerably since it was established in 1997, responding to the expanding range and complexity of the data products involved in the IPCC assessment process. The role of the IPCC assessments has also evolved from considering whether anthropomorphic climate change might have unwelcome consequences and how those consequences would vary under different socio-economic scenarios to reporting on the likely outcome of different global policy options.</p><p>The DDC works both with datasets which underpin the key conclusions from the assessment and, increasingly, with data products generated by the scientists engaged in the assessment.</p><p>Applying FAIR data principles to data products being produced in the highly constrained context of the assessment process brings many challenges. Working with the Technical Support Units of the IPCC Working Groups and the IPCC Task Group, the IPCC DDC has helped to create a process that not only captures information needed to document data products but supports the consistent and clear description of figures and tables within the report.</p>

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