scholarly journals A rescued dataset of sub-daily meteorological observations for Europe and the southern Mediterranean region, 1877–2012

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linden Ashcroft ◽  
Joan Ramon Coll ◽  
Alba Gilabert ◽  
Peter Domonkos ◽  
Enric Aguilar ◽  
...  

Abstract. Sub-daily meteorological observations are needed for input to and assessment of high-resolution reanalysis products to improve understanding of weather and climate variability. While there are millions such weather observations that have been collected by various organizations, many are yet to be transcribed into a useable format. Under the auspices of the European Union funded Uncertainties in Ensembles of Regional ReAnalysis (UERRA) project, we describe the compilation and development of a digital dataset of 8.8 million meteorological observations rescued across the European and southern Mediterranean region, many of them Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) as defined by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS). By presenting the entire chain of data preparation, from the identification of regions lacking in digitized sub-daily data and the locating of original sources, through the digitization of the observations to the quality control procedures applied, we provide a rescued dataset that is as traceable as possible for use by the research community. Data from 127 stations and of 15 climate variables in the northern Africa and European sectors have been prepared for the period 1877 to 2012. Quality control of the data using a two-step semi-automatic statistical approach identified 3.5 % of observations that required correction or removal, on par with previous data rescue efforts. In addition to providing a new sub-daily meteorological dataset for the research community, our experience in the development of this UERRA sub-daily dataset gives us an opportunity to share guidance on future data rescue projects. All data are available on PANGAEA: doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.886511.

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 1613-1635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linden Ashcroft ◽  
Joan Ramon Coll ◽  
Alba Gilabert ◽  
Peter Domonkos ◽  
Manola Brunet ◽  
...  

Abstract. Sub-daily meteorological observations are needed for input to and assessment of high-resolution reanalysis products to improve understanding of weather and climate variability. While there are millions of such weather observations that have been collected by various organisations, many are yet to be transcribed into a useable format.Under the auspices of the Uncertainties in Ensembles of Regional ReAnalyses (UERRA) project, we describe the compilation and development of a digital dataset of 8.8 million meteorological observations of essential climate variables (ECVs) rescued across the European and southern Mediterranean region. By presenting the entire chain of data preparation, from the identification of regions lacking in digitised sub-daily data and the location of original sources, through the digitisation of the observations to the quality control procedures applied, we provide a rescued dataset that is as traceable as possible for use by the research community.Data from 127 stations and of 15 climate variables in the northern African and European sectors have been prepared for the period 1877 to 2012. Quality control of the data using a two-step semi-automatic statistical approach identified 3.5 % of observations that required correction or removal, on par with previous data rescue efforts.In addition to providing a new sub-daily meteorological dataset for the research community, our experience in the development of this sub-daily dataset gives us an opportunity to share some suggestions for future data rescue projects.All versions of the dataset, from the raw digitised data to data that have been quality controlled and converted to standard units, are available on PANGAEA: https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.886511 (Ashcroft et al., 2018).


Author(s):  
Oladeinde Stephen Olufemi ◽  
Magaji I. Joshua ◽  
Ekpo Abraham Salamatu

Changing global climate has emerged as one of the greatest environmental problems of mankind in the 21st century. However, there is still a dearth of information regarding the trends and patterns of climate variables at local and specific levels. It is against this background that this paper assessed climate variability trends in Nasarawa State, Nigeria over 21 years’ period (1997 – 2017). Daily data on climate variables for the State was obtained from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and analysed using the linear trend function in Microsoft Excel. Pattern and course of the variables’ trend were determined using the trend/slope line and the trend equation. Out of the six investigated climatic parameters; maximum temperature, minimum temperature, total annual rainfall and dew points experienced the greatest fluctuation in Nasarawa State during the 21 years’ period (1997 – 2017). Also, while maximum and minimum temperature generally assumed an increasing trend, annual total rainfall and dew points alongside relative humidity and wind speed were generally decreasing. Policymakers in the various earth’s supporting systems such as agriculture, land and water, should employ the key findings of this study for advising some suitable adaptation and mitigation policies to cope with climate variability and change.


1991 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toke Jayachandran ◽  
Richard Franke

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1347
Author(s):  
Kyriakos Maniatis ◽  
David Chiaramonti ◽  
Eric van den Heuvel

The present work considers the dramatic changes the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the global economy, with particular emphasis on energy. Focusing on the European Union, the article discusses the opportunities policy makers can implement to reduce the climate impacts and achieve the Paris Agreement 2050 targets. The analysis specifically looks at the fossil fuels industry and the future of the fossil sector post COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis first revises the fossil fuel sector, and then considers the need for a shift of the global climate change policy from promoting the deployment of renewable energy sources to curtailing the use of fossil fuels. This will be a change to the current global approach, from a relative passive one to a strategically dynamic and proactive one. Such a curtailment should be based on actual volumes of fossil fuels used and not on percentages. Finally, conclusions are preliminary applied to the European Union policies for net zero by 2050 based on a two-fold strategy: continuing and reinforcing the implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive to 2035, while adopting a new directive for fixed and over time increasing curtailment of fossils as of 2025 until 2050.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Ricard ◽  
Philippe Lucas-Picher ◽  
François Anctil

Abstract. Statistical post-processing of climate model outputs is a common hydroclimatic modelling practice aiming to produce climate scenarios that better fit in-situ observations and to produce reliable stream flows forcing calibrated hydrologic models. Such practice is however criticized for disrupting the physical consistency between simulated climate variables and affecting the trends in climate change signals imbedded within raw climate simulations. It also requires abundant good-quality meteorological observations, which are not available for many regions in the world. A simplified hydroclimatic modelling workflow is proposed to quantify the impact of climate change on water discharge without resorting to meteorological observations, nor for statistical post-processing of climate model outputs, nor for calibrating hydrologic models. By combining asynchronous hydroclimatic modelling, an alternative framework designed to construct hydrologic scenarios without resorting to meteorological observations, and quantile perturbation applied to streamflow observations, the proposed workflow produces sound and plausible hydrologic scenarios considering: (1) they preserve trends and physical consistency between simulated climate variables, (2) are implemented from a modelling cascades despite observation scarcity, and (3) support the participation of end-users in producing and interpreting climate change impacts on water resources. The proposed modelling workflow is implemented over four subcatchments of the Chaudière River, Canada, using 9 North American CORDEX simulations and a pool of lumped conceptual hydrologic models. Forced with raw climate model outputs, hydrologic models are calibrated over the reference period according to a calibration metric designed to function with temporally uncorrelated observed and simulated streamflow values. Perturbation factors are defined by relating each simulated streamflow quantiles over both reference and future periods. Hydrologic scenarios are finally produced by applying perturbation factors to available streamflow observations.


2016 ◽  
Vol 03 (03) ◽  
pp. 89-109
Author(s):  
Carlos Fco. Molina del Pozo ◽  
Pablo Cristobal Molina del Pozo Martin

Why is it important to reconsider the elements related to climate change? Is the European Union indeed a major player? What kind of role do civil society and the European citizens have in this difficult situation of constant changes? Could we consider the fight against climate change as a possible link to the future creation of a federal union in Europe? These questions and comments are just a few of the numerous questions that we will try to respond in this paper. We will provide a comprehensive overview of the current framework which is mainly based on the Treaties and the international agreements that have been adopted over time. With this paper we wish to alert our readers and raise their awareness on the issue, not by proving something that is already happening, as innumerable scientists suggest, i.e. global climate change, but by focusing on the role the European Union could play as a leader that is able to achieve the clear objectives and major goals of sustainable development. We will also present an overview concerning the context of civil society in which we will present various opinions showing the approach of the EESC on the issue. Furthermore, we will address some key areas outlining the underlying concepts and highlighting the importance of citizen participation in this vast and important topic in order to ensure that, thanks to the cooperation of all stakeholders, a global climate agreement can become more feasible. The purpose of this paper is to provide positive elements and possible solutions to the major issue of climate change by reaching conclusions for the future situation with a broad perspective.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 208
Author(s):  
Mor Peleg ◽  
Amnon Reichman ◽  
Sivan Shachar ◽  
Tamir Gadot ◽  
Meytal Avgil Tsadok ◽  
...  

Triggered by the COVID-19 crisis, Israel’s Ministry of Health (MoH) held a virtual datathon based on deidentified governmental data. Organized by a multidisciplinary committee, Israel’s research community was invited to offer insights to help solve COVID-19 policy challenges. The Datathon was designed to develop operationalizable data-driven models to address COVID-19 health policy challenges. Specific relevant challenges were defined and diverse, reliable, up-to-date, deidentified governmental datasets were extracted and tested. Secure remote-access research environments were established. Registration was open to all citizens. Around a third of the applicants were accepted, and they were teamed to balance areas of expertise and represent all sectors of the community. Anonymous surveys for participants and mentors were distributed to assess usefulness and points for improvement and retention for future datathons. The Datathon included 18 multidisciplinary teams, mentored by 20 data scientists, 6 epidemiologists, 5 presentation mentors, and 12 judges. The insights developed by the three winning teams are currently considered by the MoH as potential data science methods relevant for national policies. Based on participants’ feedback, the process for future data-driven regulatory responses for health crises was improved. Participants expressed increased trust in the MoH and readiness to work with the government on these or future projects.


2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 115-132
Author(s):  
Tomasz Kamiński

Although climate policy is formulated at national and supranational levels (for example, the European Union, the United Nations), cities are responsible for its practical implementation. As a consequence, actions taken by local authorities are becoming an important factor in the success of global climate policy. One of the cities’ activities is sharing environmental knowledge within international city networks. This form of international cooperation is also becoming increasingly popular in Southeast Asia.This article analyses the participation of Asian cities in the three most important networks dealing with the exchange of ecological knowledge: C40, City Net and ICLEI. Based on interviews with representatives of all surveyed networks and the city officials of Quezon City, Philippines, I present the characteristics of cities functioning in networks, in particular the knowledge flow model, which has a certain postcolonial feature but also promotes social dialogue and cooperation with local partners.


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