The Concept of Essential Climate Variables in Support of Climate Research, Applications, and Policy

Bojinski, Stephan; Verstraete, M. M.; Peterson, Thomas C.; Richter, Carolin; Simmons, A. J.; Zemp, Michael

doi:10.1175/bams-d-13-00047.1

Cited by 762 publications

(547 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…When any change to observing practice takes place, it is always recommended that parallel measurements are made [see the GCOS Monitoring Principles in Bojinski et al (2014)]. This doesn't always happen, and even if it did in the 19th century, the comparison measurements have probably not survived.…”

Section: Exposure Of Thermometersmentioning

confidence: 99%

The reliability of global and hemispheric surface temperature records

Jones

2016

Adv. Atmos. Sci.

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The purpose of this review article is to discuss the development and associated estimation of uncertainties in the global and hemispheric surface temperature records. The review begins by detailing the groups that produce surface temperature datasets. After discussing the reasons for similarities and differences between the various products, the main issues that must be addressed when deriving accurate estimates, particularly for hemispheric and global averages, are then considered. These issues are discussed in the order of their importance for temperature records at these spatial scales: biases in SST data, particularly before the 1940s; the exposure of land-based thermometers before the development of louvred screens in the late 19th century; and urbanization effects in some regions in recent decades. The homogeneity of land-based records is also discussed; however, at these large scales it is relatively unimportant. The article concludes by illustrating hemispheric and global temperature records from the four groups that produce series in near-real time.

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Section: Exposure Of Thermometersmentioning

confidence: 99%

The reliability of global and hemispheric surface temperature records

Jones

2016

Adv. Atmos. Sci.

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“…Especially in the climate and biodiversity areas, environmental users of satellite Earth observation data have made progress in coordinating their interactions with data providers. An important example features the 50 Essential Climate Variables (ECVs), each with its desired requirements for accuracy and spatial and temporal resolution, defined by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) in close interaction with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (Bojinski et al 2014). These ECVs are also applicable to a range of adjacent environmental issues, such as air quality monitoring and forecasting as well as water resource management (Tan 2014).…”

Section: Informationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating Earth Observation Systems and International Environmental Regimes

Stokke

Young

2017

Satellite Earth Observations and Their Impact on Society and Policy

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“…The challenge is how to make sense of such a mosaic of capabilities in order to properly inform data users of the most appropriate subset of measurements for their specific applications (e.g. Bojinski et al, 2014), which, in many cases, were not foreseen when undertaking the original measurements. Here, we develop a system-of-systems framework approach to address this challenge and use as an illustrative case study identification of suitable non-satellite atmospheric observational series, which may be used to characterise satellite observations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this paper, we outline the approach adopted by GAIA-CLIM and the results of its application to a restricted set of observations, covering a subset of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) atmospheric Essential Climate Variables (ECVs; Bojinski et al, 2014). Besides explicit reference to a system-of-systems approach in the peer-reviewed literature by Seidel et al (2009) andBodeker et al (2016), such a concept is also present in the grey literature, e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Making better sense of the mosaic of environmental measurement networks: a system-of-systems approach and quantitative assessment

Thorne

Madonna

Schulz

et al. 2017

Geosci. Instrum. Method. Data Syst.

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Abstract. There are numerous networks and initiatives concerned with the non-satellite-observing segment of Earth observation. These are owned and operated by various entities and organisations often with different practices, norms, data policies, etc. The Horizon 2020 project GAIA-CLIM is working to improve our collective ability to use an appropriate subset of these observations to rigorously characterise satellite observations. The first fundamental question is which observations from the mosaic of non-satellite observational capabilities are appropriate for such an application. This requires an assessment of the relevant, quantifiable aspects of the measurement series which are available. While fundamentally poor or incorrect measurements can be relatively easily identified, it is metrologically impossible to be sure that a measurement series is "correct". Certain assessable aspects of the measurement series can, however, build confidence in their scientific maturity and appropriateness for given applications. These are aspects such as that it is well documented, well understood, representative, updated, publicly available and maintains rich metadata. Entities such as the Global Climate Observing System have suggested a hierarchy of networks whereby different subsets of the observational capabilities are assigned to different layers based on such assessable aspects. Herein, we make a first attempt to formalise both such a system-of-systems networks concept and a means by which to, as objectively as possible, assess where in this framework different networks may reside. In this study, we concentrate on networks measuring primarily a subset of the atmospheric Essential Climate Variables of interest to GAIA-CLIM activities. We show assessment results from our application of the guidance and how we plan to use this in downstream example applications of the GAIA-CLIM project. However, the approach laid out should be more widely applicable across a broad range of application areas. If broadly adopted, the system-of-systems approach will have potential benefits in guiding users to the most appropriate set of observations for their needs and in highlighting to network owners and operators areas for potential improvement.

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The Concept of Essential Climate Variables in Support of Climate Research, Applications, and Policy

Abstract: Observing System for a range of applications, as well as to provide an empirical basis for understanding past, current, and possible future climate variability and change.

Cited by 762 publications

References 48 publications

The reliability of global and hemispheric surface temperature records

The reliability of global and hemispheric surface temperature records

Integrating Earth Observation Systems and International Environmental Regimes

Making better sense of the mosaic of environmental measurement networks: a system-of-systems approach and quantitative assessment

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