The 37th Session of the WCRP JSC (JSC-37) took place from 25 to 27 April 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland. This annual meeting brought together 68 leading scientists, climate experts and planning staff from 18 countries to assess and guide WCRP activities. You can view all presentations from the JSC-37 meeting here. We will very soon complete and distribute an annotated list of outcomes and action items.
Two new Grand Challenges endorsed
The JSC endorsed two new climate Grand Challenges: 'Carbon Feedbacks in the Climate System' and 'Near-Term Climate Prediction'. Both of these topics emerged loudly and clearly from the WCRP and IPCC joint workshop in Bern on 'Lessons Learnt for Climate Change Research' from the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report. Their successful development as Grand Challenges reflects extensive work over the past several months within the biogeochemistry and decadal prediction communities. Both groups plan immediate activities to set internal schedules and targets and to publicize their plans. With these additions the JSC believes that WCRP has programmes and activities in place to address current urgencies in our climate system.
Young Earth System Scientists (YESS) network
Following a similar action by the Scientific Steering Committee of the World Weather Research Programme, the WCRP JSC endorsed a strong connection to and identification with the Young Earth System Scientists (YESS) network. The YESS community provides an international and multi-disciplinary network and a collective voice for early career researchers. The JSC encouraged YESS to engage with existing early career scientists groups within WCRP and among other science organisations.
Regional climate reorganization
The JSC considered mechanisms and structures to effectively organize and support regional activities across WCRP. The JSC recognized the unique capability that exists within WCRP to address scientific and technical aspects of improving regional modeling and regional products, e.g. through CORDEX, and a broad and growing need for regional information that cuts across most WCRP activities. An ad hoc working group of the JSC will recommend guidelines, identify partnerships, and suggest an overall structure as appropriate. The JSC also wrestled with the issue of urban issues as a special challenge related to regional information issues.
Plans for the coming year
The JSC along with many members of the WMO community heard latest reports about the 6th phase of WCRP's Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) already underway. CMIP provides the framework and foundation for climate research and CMIP6 will serve as the basis for IPCC's 6th Assessment Report. As WCRP renews its communications plans and activities, including this newsletter and several enhancements for the website, support for and news about CMIP6 will represent one of our key messages.