Thorne, Peter and Allan, Rob J. and Ashcroft, L. and Brohan, Philip and Dunn, R.J.H. and Menne, M.J. and Pearce, P.R. and Picas, J. and Willett, K.M. and Benoy, M. and Brönnimann, S. and Canziani, P.O. and Coll, John and Crouthamel, R. and Compo, G.P. and Cuppett, D. and Curley, M. and Duffy, C. and Gillespie, I. and Guijarro, J. and Jourdain, S. and Kent, E.C. and Kubota, H. and Legg, T.P. and Matsumoto, J. and Murphy, Conor and Rayner, N.A. and Rennie, J.J. and Rustemeier, E. and Slivinsk, L.C. and Slonosky, V. and Squintu, A. and Tinz, B. and Valente, M.A. and Walsh, S. and Wang, X.L. and Westcott, N. and Wood, K. and Woodruff, S.D. and Worley, S.J. (2017) Towards an integrated set of surface meteorological observations for climate science and applications. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. ISSN 1520-0477

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Abstract

Observations are the foundation for understanding the climate system. Yet, currently available land meteorological data are highly fractured into various global, regional and national holdings for different variables and timescales, from a variety of sources, and in a mixture of formats. Added to this, many data are still inaccessible for analysis and usage. To meet modern scientific and societal demands as well as emerging needs such as the provision of climate services, it is essential that we improve the management and curation of available land-based meteorological holdings. We need a comprehensive global set of data holdings, of known provenance, that is truly integrated both across Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) and across timescales to meet the broad range of stakeholder needs. These holdings must be easily discoverable, made available in accessible formats, and backed up by multi-tiered user support. The present paper provides a high level overview, based upon broad community input, of the steps that are required to bring about this integration. The significant challenge is to find a sustained means to realize this vision. This requires a long-term international program. The database that results will transform our collective ability to provide societally relevant research, analysis and predictions in many weather and climate related application areas across much of the globe.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	integrated set; surface meteorological observations; climate science; applications;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Geography Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Institutes > Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units, ICARUS
Item ID:	8882
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1175/BAM S-D-16-0165.1
Depositing User:	Conor Murphy
Date Deposited:	11 Oct 2017 13:15
Journal or Publication Title:	Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
Publisher:	American Meteorological Society
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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