ESA Climate Change Initiative

Climate Modelling User Group

CMUG

www.cci-cmug.org

Roger Saunders (UKMO) and Serge Planton (MF/CNRM)

Overview

• The ESA climate change initiative is now

being set up

• Total of 75M€ committed

• Initially 11 ECVs will be funded

• The CMUG’s role is to provide an

integrated view of the ECVs and provide

the link to the climate modelling

community

CMUG consortium

Met Office Hadley Centre

Climate Modelling

NWP

ECMWF

Reanalyses

NWP

MPI-Hamburg

Climate Modelling

MeteoFrance

Climate Modelling

NWP

Climate

Modellers

Reanalyses

Greenhouse Gases

Aerosols

Ozone

Cloud properties

Fire disturbance

Land Cover

Glaciers and ice caps

Ocean Colour

Sea surface temperature

Sea-level

Sea-Ice

ESA CCI projects

Definition of terms

• Essential Climate Variables are defined as

geophysical variables required to characterise the state of the

atmosphere and surface and its variability over decadal and longer

time periods.

• Climate Data Records are a long time series dataset e.g.

from several consecutive satellite instruments, where the same

processing has been applied to all the data and overlap periods

have been used to remove any biases so it can be used for climate

monitoring. Note also FCDRs (level 1b) and TCDRs (products).

• Global Satellite Data Product is used for any generic

satellite product that is already available (e.g. for NWP assimilation)

but has not been reprocessed with climate applications in mind.

ECVs in phase 1 of CCI

Oceanic Domain

O.1 Sea-Ice

O.2 Sea-Level

O.3 Sea-Surface Temperature

O.4 Ocean Colour

Terrestrial Domain

T.1 Glaciers & Ice caps

T.2 Land Cover

T.3 Fire Disturbance

Atmospheric Domain

A.1 Cloud Properties

A.2 Ozone

A.3 Aerosol Properties

A.4 Greenhouse Gases

The individual consortium

proposals for each ECV

are now being assessed

by ESA to start work in

the summer of 2010.

It will be important to

ensure that different

ECVs are consistent

with others (e.g. clouds

and aerosols) and the

satellite datasets

produced are of use to

climate modellers.

Main Activities of CMUG

1. Refining of requirements from GCOS tables

for climate modellers.

2. Look specifically at required consistencies across

ECVs from a user viewpoint.

3. Assess the global satellite climate data records

(CDRs) produced from the 11 CCI consortia

4. Promote and report on the use of the CCI

datasets (presentations, workshops,..)

5. Interact with related climate modelling initiatives.

Related Activities

1. GCOS and GSICS

2. EU (ENES, EUGENE, ..)

3. EUMETSAT (CM-SAF) and SCOPE-CM

4. NOAA-NASA initiatives (e.g. JPL CMIP5)

5. WCRP Observation and Assimilation Panel

6. ECMWF (ERACLIM, MACC) + EURO4M

7. Coupled Model Intercomparison Project and follow-on activities

8. Studies using CCI datasets for IPCC and input to AR6

Uses of satellite data for climate

• To ascertain decadal and longer term changes in the climate

• Detection & attribution of observed variations to natural and anthropogenic forcings

• Evaluate the physical processes most relevant to reducing uncertainty in climate prediction

• To develop, constrain and validate climate models thus gaining confidence in projections of future change

• Input to reanalyses (e.g. ERA-CLIM, EURO4M)

• Seasonal and decadal model initialisation (ocean, land surface, stratosphere)

• Coupled ocean-atmosphere data assimilation

• To identify biases in current and past in situ measurements (e.g. radiosondes, buoys)

Climate Trends from Microwave Sounders

Piecewise renormalisation is challenging !

Different groups can produce defensible,

but statistically inconsistent estimates of temperature trends

Total cloud cover (January)

GCOS ECVs

Precipitation

Earth Radiation Budget

Upper-air Temperature

Upper-air Wind

Surface Wind Speed and Direction

Water Vapour

Cloud Properties

Carbon Dioxide

Methane

Other GHGs

Ozone (tropospheric)

Ozone (stratospheric)

Aerosol Properties

Snow Cover (Extent, Snow Water Equivalent)

Glaciers and Ice Caps

Permafrost and seasonally -frozen ground

River Discharge

Lake levels

Albedo

Land Cover

fAPAR

Leaf Area Index

Biomass

Fire Disturbance

Soil Moisture (surface and root zone)

Sea-Surface Temperature

Sea Level

Sea Ice

Sea State

Ocean Salinity

Ocean Colour

Atmosphere OceanLand

ESA CCI-CMUG Questionnaire

• Detailed requirements for CCI ECVs:

Tables 1 to 3 give the GCOS requirements for the 11 ECVs beingaddressed in phase 1 of the CCI project. Please make any commentsyou think should be made to the values in these tables. Detailedrequirements for CCI ECVs.

GCOS Requirements - Terrestrial ECVsEach requirement is expressed in terms of Horizontal Resolution, Vertical Resolution, Observing Cycle, Delay of Availability and Accuracy

with each parameter described in terms of Goal, Breakthrough (B/T) and Threshold (T/H).

Horizontal

Resolution

Observing

Cycle Accuracy

Parameter

Go

al B/T T/H

G

oa

l

B/

T

T/

H Goal B/T T/H

Land Cover

Land surface imagery250

m 550 m

2500

m

30

d

45

d

90

d

Land cover250

m 400 m

1000

m 1 y

1.5

y 5 y 50 classes 25 classes 5 classes

Glaciers and ice caps

Glacier cover 30 m 45 m

100

m 1 y

1.5

y 5 y 5 % (Max) 7 % (Max)

10 %

(Max)

Ice-sheet topography0.01

km

0.015

km

0.05

km 1 y 2 y 10 y 10 cm (vert.) 15 cm (vert.)

20 cm

(vert.)

Glacier topography 30 m 45 m

100

m 1 y

1.5

y 5 y 10 cm 22 cm 100 cm

Fire disturbance

Fire area0.25

km

0.85

km

10

km 1 d

1.5

d 3 d 5 % (Max) 7 % (Max)

10 %

(Max)

Fire radiative power0.1k

m 1km

10

km 1 h 4 h 1 d

Table 1. GCOS requirements for

Terrestrial ECVs

ESA CCI-CMUG Questionnaire

• Detailed requirements for CCI ECVs:

Tables 1 to 3 give the GCOS requirements for the 11 ECVs beingaddressed in phase 1 of the CCI project. Please make any commentsyou think should be made to the values in these tables. Detailedrequirements for CCI ECVs.

• Product types, formats and access:

Table 4 asks for your input on data formats and access options to thedatasets.

Table 4: Product types, format and access

• Do you require level 1 geophysical measurements (e.g. radiances) or level 2 or 3 datasets (derived products) or both?

• Do you want single sensor datasets or merged product datasets or both?

• Preferred validation methodology?

• Preferred format of the data? (e.g. CF compliant NetCDF, …)?

• Preferred means of access to the data? (e.g. FTP, DVD, via web browser OpenDAP, …)

• Your intended use of the datasets? (e.g. initialisation, assimilation, reanalysis, comparison with models, ...)

• Any other comment?

ESA CCI-CMUG Questionnaire

• Detailed requirements for CCI ECVs:

Tables 1 to 3 give the GCOS requirements for the 11 ECVs beingaddressed in phase 1 of the CCI project. Please make any commentsyou think should be made to the values in these tables. Detailedrequirements for CCI ECVs.

• Product types, formats and access:

Table 4 asks for your input on data formats and access options to thedatasets.

• Next ECVs for climate modelling and reanalyses:

Table 5 provides a list of ECVs NOT covered by the ESA CCI project.Please give priorities for which ECVs you would like to see consideredin the next phase of the CCI.

Input on other ECVs for climate modelling and reanalyses

Atmosphere ECVs Priority H/M/L ? Comments

Precipitation

Earth Radiation Budget

Upper-air Temperature

Upper-air Wind

Surface Wind Speed and Direction

Water Vapour

Marine ECVs

Sea State

Ocean Salinity

Terrestrial ECVs

Snow Cover (Extent, Snow Water Equivalent)

Permafrost and seasonally -frozen ground

River Discharge

Lake levels

Albedo

fAPAR

Leaf Area Index

Biomass

Soil Moisture (surface and root zone)

Table 5. Input on other ECVs for climate

modelling and reanalyses

Summary

• CMUG has now started to support the CCI

• We are seeking input from the climate modelling and reanalysis communities.

• This is your opportunity to help influence the CCI programme.

• It is crucial the products produced are ‘fit for purpose’ otherwise this will be a lost opportunity.

• Please answer the questionnaire available at www.cci-cmug.org.

• Please get in touch via cmug@metoffice.gov.uk

GCOS Requirements- Marine ECVsEach requirement is expressed in terms of Horizontal Resolution, Vertical Resolution, Observing Cycle, Delay of Availability and Accuracy

with each parameter described in terms of Goal, Breakthrough (B/T) and Threshold (T/H).

Horizontal

Resolution

Observing

Cycle Accuracy

Parameter Goal B/T T/HGo

al

B/

T

T/

H Goal B/T T/H

Sea surface temperature

Sea surface temperature (analysis) 10 km 50 km

500

km 3 h 6 h

24

h 0.1 K 0.4 K 1 K

Sea surface temperature (CDR) 1 km 8 km

500

km 3 h 6 h

24

h 0.1 K 0.126 K 0.2 K

Ocean colour

Ocean chlorophyll 1 km 5 km

100

km 1 d

1.5

d 3 d 5 % (Max) 8.5 % (Max)

25 %

(Max)

Sea level

Ocean dynamic topography 25 km 50 km

250

km 1 d 3 d

30

d 1 cm 1.5 cm 5 cm

Coastal sea level change 25 km

100

km

1000

km

24

h

50

h

240

h 1 cm 2 cm 10 cm

Sea-ice

Sea-ice cover 12 km 25 km

100

km 1 d 2 d 7 d 5 % (Max) 6 % (Max)

10 %

(Max)

Sea-ice thickness 100 km

170

km

500

km 1 d 2 d 7 d 0.1 cm 0.2 cm 1 cm

Table 2. GCOS requirements

for Marine ECVs

GCOS Requirements – Clouds and OzoneEach requirement is expressed in terms of Horizontal Resolution, Vertical Resolution, Observing Cycle, Delay of Availability and Accuracy

with each parameter described in terms of Goal, Breakthrough (B/T) and Threshold (T/H).

Horizontal Resolution

Vertical

Resolution

Observing

Cycle Accuracy

Parameter Goal B/T T/H

Go

al B/T T/H

Go

al

B/

T T/H Goal B/T T/H

Clouds

Cloud cover50 km 100 km

500

km 1 h 4 h 6 h 10 % (Max) 15 % (Max) 20 % (Max)

Cloud ice profile - Total column50 km 100 km

500

km 1 h 4 h 6 h 10 g/m2 15 g/m2 20 g/m2

Cloud top height50 km 100 km

500

km 1 h 4 h 6 h 0.5 km 1 km 2 km

Cloud water profile (> 100 µm) - Total

column 50 km 100 km

500

km 1 h 4 h 6 h 5 kg/m2 10 kg/m2 20 kg/m2

Cloud water profile (< 100 µm) - Total

column 50 km 100 km

500

km 1 h 4 h 6 h 10 kg/m2 20 kg/m2 50 kg/m2

Ozone

Ozone profile - Lower stratosphere (LS)50 km 75 km

100

km

0.5

km 1 km 3 km 3 h 9 h 72 h 5% 8% 20%

Ozone profile - Troposphere column 5 km 10 km 50 km 3 h 9 h 72 h 5 DU 8 DU 15 DU

Ozone profile - Higher stratosphere &

mesosphere (HS & M) 50 km 100 km

500

km

0.5

km 1 km 3 km 3 h 9 h 48 h 5% 8% 20%

Ozone profile - Higher troposphere (HT)5 km 20 km

100

km

0.5

km 1 km 2 km 3 h 9 h 72 h 10% 15% 30%

Ozone profile - Lower troposphere (LT)5 km 10 km 50 km

0.5

km 1 km 2 km 3 h 9 h 72 h 10% 13% 20%

Trace gas profile CH4 - Higher stratosphere

& mesosphere (HS & M) 50 km 100 km

250

km 2 km 2.5 km 4 km 3 h 4 h 6 h 2% 4% 10%

Ozone profile - Total column 5 km 10 km 50 km 3 h 9 h 72 h 5 DU 8 DU 15 DU

Table 3. GCOS requirements

for Atmospheric ECVs (clouds and ozone)

GCOS Requirements - AerosolsEach requirement is expressed in terms of Horizontal Resolution, Vertical Resolution, Observing Cycle, Delay of Availability and Accuracy

with each parameter described in terms of Goal, Breakthrough (B/T) and Threshold (T/H).

Horizontal

Resolution

Vertical

Resolution

Observing

Cycle Accuracy

Parameter

Goa

l B/T T/H

Go

al B/T T/H

Go

al

B/

T T/H Goal B/T T/H

Aerosols

Aerosol optical depth (VIS+IR) - Higher

Stratosphere & Mesosphere column 1 km 2 km 10 km 1 d 2 d 7 d 0.01 1/km 0.015 1/km 0.02 1/km

Aerosol absorption optical depth (VIS) - Higher

Troposphere column 1 km 2 km 10 km 1 d 2 d 7 d 0.004 1/km 0.01 1/km 0.02 1/km

Aerosol absorption optical depth (VIS) - Lower

Troposphere column 1 km 2 km 10 km 1 d 2 d 7 d 0.004 1/km 0.01 1/km 0.02 1/km

Aerosol optical depth (VIS+IR) - Lower

Troposphere column 1 km 2 km 10 km 1 d 2 d 7 d 0.01 1/km 0.015 1/km 0.02 1/km

Aerosol extinction coefficient (VIS) - Higher

stratosphere & mesosphere (HS & M)10

km 20 km

100

km

0.5

km

0.65

km 1 km 1 d 2 d 7 d 0.01 1/km 0.015 1/km 0.02 1/km

Aerosol extinction coefficient (VIS) - Higher

troposphere (HT)10

km 20 km

100

km

0.5

km

0.65

km 1 km 1 d 2 d 7 d 0.01 1/km 0.015 1/km 0.02 1/km

Aerosol extinction coefficient (VIS) - Lower

stratosphere (LS)10

km 20 km

100

km

0.5

km

0.65

km 1 km 1 d 2 d 7 d 0.01 1/km 0.015 1/km 0.02 1/km

Aerosol extinction coefficient (VIS) - Lower

troposphere (LT)10

km 20 km

100

km

0.5

km

0.65

km 1 km 1 d 2 d 7 d 0.01 1/km 0.015 1/km 0.02 1/km

Aerosol optical depth (VIS+IR) - Lower

Stratosphere column 1 km 2 km 10 km 1 d 2 d 7 d 0.01 1/km 0.015 1/km 0.02 1/km

Aerosol absorption optical depth (VIS) - Lower

Stratosphere column 1 km 2 km 10 km 1 d 2 d 7 d 0.004 1/km 0.01 1/km 0.02 1/km

Aerosol absorption optical depth (VIS) - Higher

Stratosphere & Mesosphere column 1 km 2 km 10 km 1 d 2 d 7 d 0.004 1/km 0.01 1/km 0.02 1/km

Aerosol optical depth (VIS+IR) - Higher

Troposphere column 1 km 2 km 10 km 1 d 2 d 7 d 0.01 1/km 0.015 1/km 0.02 1/km

Table 3. GCOS requirements

for Atmospheric ECVs (aerosols)

GCOS Requirements – Greenhouse GasesEach requirement is expressed in terms of Horizontal Resolution, Vertical Resolution, Observing Cycle, Delay of Availability and Accuracy

with each parameter described in terms of Goal, Breakthrough (B/T) and Threshold (T/H).

Horizontal

Resolution

Vertical

Resolution

Observing

Cycle Accuracy

Parameter

Goa

l B/T T/H

Go

al B/T T/H

Go

al

B/

T T/H Goal B/T T/H

Greenhouse Gases

Trace gas profile CH4 - Higher troposphere

(HT)50

km

100

km

250

km 2 km

2.5

km 4 km 3 h 4 h 6 h 2% 4% 10%

Trace gas profile CH4 - Lower troposphere (LT) 10

km 20 km 50 km 2 km

2.5

km 3 km 3 h 4 h 6 h 2% 4% 10%

Trace gas profile CH4 - Lower stratosphere

(LS)50

km

100

km

250

km 2 km

2.5

km 4 km 3 h 4 h 6 h 2% 4% 10%

Trace gas profile CH4 - Troposphere column 10

km 20 km 50 km 3 h 4 h 6 h 2% 4% 10%

Trace gas profile CH4 - Total column10

km 50 km

250

km 3 h 4 h 6 h 2% 4% 10%

Trace gas profile CO2 - Lower troposphere (LT) 10

km 50 km

500

km

0.5

km 1 km 2 km 3 h 6 h 12 h 1% 1.30% 2%

Trace gas profile CO2 - Total column50

km

100

km

500

km 3 h 4 h 6 h 1% 1.30% 2%

Trace gas profile CO2 - Troposphere column 10

km 50 km

500

km 3 h 4 h 6 h 1% 1.30% 2%

Trace gas profile CO2 - Higher stratosphere &

mesosphere (HS & M)250

km

350

km

500

km 2 km 3 km 4 km 3 h 4 h 6 h 1% 1.30% 2%

Trace gas profile CO2 - Higher troposphere

(HT)50

km

100

km

250

km 1 km

1.5

km 2 km 3 h 4 h 6 h 1% 1.30% 2%

Trace gas profile CO2 - Lower stratosphere

(LS)250

km

350

km

500

km 1 km 2 km 4 km 3 h 4 h 6 h 1% 1.30% 2%

Table 3. GCOS requirements

for Atmospheric ECVs (Greenhouse gases)