The latest SPARC eNews bulletin includes an open call for SPARC Scientific Steering Group membership, information on the WCRP-SPARC Workshop: Challenges for Climate Science, details of the Summer School on Atmospheric Composition and Dynamics and much, much more.

10-14 July 2017

New York, NY, USA

The WCRP, jointly with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC), invites you to an international conference on sea level research that will address the existing challenges in describing and predicting regional sea level changes, and in quantifying the intrinsic uncertainties. For more see the conference flyer.

In this issue of GEWEX E-News:

• Showcasing your GEWEX related papers
• The International Prize for Model Development and International Data Prize
• Webinar Series on Applications of Remote Sensing to Soil Moisture and Evapotranspiration
• Call for International Soil Modeling Consortium (ISMC)-CROSS Panel Members
• Special INARCH Issue of Earth System Science Data
• and more...

Applications are now invited for groups within, and linked to, CORDEX communities across the globe to propose 'Flagship Pilot Studies' (FPS). The FPS will focus on sub-continental-scale targeted regions, so as to allow a number of capabilities towards addressing key scientific questions and needs of the vulnerability, impact & adaptation community and end users. FPS proposals should be driven by the regional CORDEX communities, although sharing common protocols so as to allow easier exchange of know-how. FPS proposals will be reviewed and endorsed by the CORDEX Science Advisory Team, together with selected external reviewers, according to the criteria listed in the 'FPS Criteria & Guidelines' document. Further details on the FPS, together with instructions on how to submit your proposal and an application template, can be found on the FPS webpage. There will be 3 deadlines per year for FPS proposals: 15th February, 15th June and 15th October 2016. Successful proposals from the third round of 2016 (15 October) will be presented on the CORDEX website.

Frédéric Vitart et al. 2016

A database containing sub-seasonal to seasonal forecasts from 11 operational centres is available to the research community and will help advance our understanding of the sub-seasonal to seasonal time range. The S2S database represents an important tool to advance our understanding of the sub-seasonal to seasonal time range. In particular, this database will help identify common successes and shortcomings in the model simulation and prediction of sources of sub-seasonal to seasonal predictability and is an important tool for case studies of extreme events. For more see the full article in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (Early Online Release) (OPEN ACCESS).

September, 2016

Over the next few months we intend to prepare a useful and accessible WCRP summary document.  We hope the document will serve three purposes: a brief summary of recent accomplishments and impact, a ‘review’ document to meet the needs of the up-coming International Council for Science (ICSU) review of WCRP, and a WCRP outlook for the next several years recognising present and future challenges especially as influenced by the Paris climate agreement.

September, 2016

Print and broadcast media and the blogosphere carry urgent news about the climate system: global atmospheric CO₂ at record high levels (above 400 ppm), another consecutive month of record warmth in surface air temperatures, recent extreme flood and drought events in many locations (even if the western press focuses primarily on Louisiana), reduced coverage of Arctic sea ice (seriously low but not ‘off the charts’ if you follow the Alfred-Wegener-Institut (AWI) / University of Bremen product), and the list goes on.

September, 2016 

CLIVAR Open Science Conference

“Charting the course for climate and ocean research”

18-25 September 2016

Qingdao, China

Highlights that you will not want to miss

Links here

Adrian Simmons et al., 2016

A report in response to a request by the Committee on Space Research of the International Council for Science to prepare a roadmap on observation and integrated Earth-system science for the coming ten years. Its focus is on the combined use of observations and modelling to address the functioning, predictability and projected evolution of interacting components of the Earth system on timescales out to a century or so. It discusses how observations support integrated Earth-system science and its applications, and identifies planned enhancements to the contributing observing systems and other requirements for observations and their processing. A set of concluding discussions covers general developmental needs, requirements for continuity of space-based observing systems, further long-term requirements for observations and other data, technological advances and data challenges, and the importance of enhanced international co-operation. For more see the full article in Advances in Space Research (Volume 57, Issue 10) (OPEN ACCESS).

Paris, France

28 November - 1 December, 2016

Tropical Atlantic climate recently experienced pronounced shifts of great socio-economic importance. The oceanic changes were largest in the eastern boundary upwelling systems. African countries bordering the Atlantic strongly depend upon their ocean-societal development, fisheries, and tourism. They were strongly affected by these climatic changes and will face important adaptation challenges associated with global warming. Furthermore, these upwelling regions are also of great climatic importance, playing a key role in regulating global climate. The 2016 TAV Conference will include sessions on: 1) Oceanic and atmospheric processes affecting physical-biogeochemical interaction and climate; 2) Mechanisms and simulation of tropical Atlantic climate variability; and 3) Towards realizing socio-economic benefits of climate prediction in the Tropical Atlantic for marine ecosystems, fisheries, and continental climate. Abstract submission closes 1 September 2016. For more details see the conference website.

Tarquinia VT, Italy

19-28 October 2016

This School provides an overview of state of the art techniques and methods for detecting and monitoring the volcanic and convective clouds. It teaches students about the different instruments and platforms that are best at detecting such clouds and discusses new missions planned for solving the main issues in this research field. The registration deadline is the 31 August 2016. For more details see the training school website.

Météo-France, Toulouse, France

18-21 October 2016

This workshop is intended to facilitate the more rapid advance of development of coupled data assimilation methodologies to improve weather and climate predictions and reanalyses. The workshop will cover methods for coupling of data assimilation methodologies between the atmosphere, ocean, land-surface, sea-ice, aerosols, atmospheric chemistry, and more, including weak coupling (coupling of the forecasts providing the background forecasts) and strong coupling (coupling of the state estimation as well). The workshop will also consider which observations are particularly important to advance coupled assimilations. The workshop will include overview presentations by selected invited speakers, 15-minute oral presentations, posters, discussion of the key scientific and technical challenges, and breakout groups to list the key issues and to formulate recommendations for how collaboration facilitated by the WMO can advance the state of the science more rapidly. The deadline for abstracts is 11 September 2016. For more see the workshop website.

The Tropical Pacific Observing System (TPOS) aims to meet the observational, experimental, and operational needs of today and the future. The purpose of the TPOS 2020 project is oversee the transition to a more resilient and integrated observing system to meet the identified gaps as well as future needs as they are identified. A (revised) draft, now called the "First Report" (second and final reports will come in 2018 and 2020) can be downloaded from the TPOS 2020 website. While still a draft, to be finalized at the end of this year, it is now a public document that can be circulated.

Also see the link on the TPOS 2020 website to download the comment spreadsheet for this second draft. You are encouraged to comment on the revision; please use the spreadsheet, which makes it far easier to keep track of comments and responses. Every comment gets a specific response, and these will all be posted publicly (both drafts, no names on comments). In order to make final decisions on this report at the Steering Committee meeting in October, all comments are due by 23 September 2016.

We appreciate your help in sharing the report with other stakeholders of TPOS observations. If you have distribution lists or specific communities that you think would be interested, please share the link to the report directly, or let the Steering Committee know by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

31 October to 1 November 2016

Berlin, Germany

WCRP and SPARC welcome scientific contributions related to the Grand Challenges on “Clouds, circulation & climate sensitivity”, “Climate extremes”, “Near-term climate prediction”, and “Carbon feedbacks in the climate system” and/or the SPARC themes “Atmospheric dynamics and predictability”, “Chemistry and climate”, and “Long-term records for climate understanding”. The aim of the workshop is to discuss the state of the science in the areas of Grand Challenges and SPARC themes, to define improved collaborations between SPARC and the Grand Challenges and to discuss the role of SPARC and Grand Challenges in WCRP priorities. For more information see the SPARC announcement. The deadline for abstracts and registration is 30 September 2016.

The First Institute of Oceanography (FIO) and the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) invite applications for the post of Executive Director of the International CLIVAR (Climate and Ocean - Variability, Predictability, and Change) Project Office, based in Qingdao, China.

The goal of CLIVAR is to improve understanding and prediction of ocean-atmosphere interactions and their influence on climate variability and change, to the benefit of society and the environment. CLIVAR is a core project of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP).

The scope of work will include contributions to fulfillment of CLIVAR scientific priorities as part of the WCRP’s objectives and goals. Further, the Executive Director will be responsible for a range of activities including managing the ICPO, participating in relevant meetings and workshops, promoting CLIVAR objectives, and seeking sources of additional funding.

Candidates should hold at least an MSc in oceanography, climate or closely relate field. Required skills include a broad knowledge of oceanography and climate science, ability to communicate to a range of stakeholders, and demonstrated team leadership. Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English are essential.

The work place is the First Institute of Oceanography of the State Oceanographic Administration of China, located in Qingdao, China. The position is available from 1^st October 2016. The position will be available until at least June 2019 and renewed on an annual basis.

For additional information see Further Details. Inquiries about the position may be directed to WCRP Senior Scientific Officer This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or to the Head of the International Cooperation Center of FIO, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The position will remain open until filled by a suitable candidate. The application must include a covering letter summarizing details of your relevant qualifications and experience, a CV and the names and contact information of three references and should be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Update: November 2016

Executive Director of CLIVAR International Project Office

We are no longer accepting applications for this position.

20-22 September 2016 - Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, USA

Registration deadline: 15 August 2016

The Physics Dynamics Coupling 2016 workshop will work to address challenges in the development of advanced algorithms to accurately and efficiently represent process interactions that determine fundamental characteristics of weather and climate systems. For more see the workshop webpages.

21-25 November 2016 - Dakar, Senegal

Deadline 15 August 2016

This training school will include lectures by leading experts from the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Working Group on Seasonal to Interannual Prediction (WGSIP) on predictability over sub-seasonal to decadal timescales, with concrete examples from some of the world’s leading operational centers. Lab-based classes will introduce participants to the new S2S Project subseasonal and CHFP seasonal forecast databases. 

For more information see the school webpage.

GEWEX e-News and GEWEX News are both now available. In GEWEX e-News find out about the latest GEWEX-related opportunities and upcoming events. Want to showcase your publications? Find out how GEWEX can help! In GEWEX News discover the Arctic Observation and Reanalysis Integrated System (ArORIS), the new GEWEX Aerosol Precipitation Project, highlights from the 14th Baseline Surface Radiation Network Scientific Review and Workshop, the International Soil Modeling Consortium, and the relationship between decadal changes in sea surface temperature and long-term drought.

CLIVAR August Bulletin out now! Highlights include:

• Still time to register for the CLIVAR Open Science Conference
• Exchanges Special issue on the Kuroshio Current
• CLIVAR-relevant sessions at AGU Fall Meeting
• US CLIVAR Released the Intra-Americas Seas workshop report
• and more...

October 17-19 2016

University of Grenoble, Grenoble, France

INARCH participants and their research teams are invited to participate in the second GEWEX INARCH Workshop. This workshop will bring scientists together to explore and discuss specific issues in mountain snow and ice hydrology highlighted after the inaugural INARCH workshop in Kananaskis in October 2015. The workshop is open to all scientists contributing directly or indirectly to the INARCH GEWEX crosscut project. Early-career scientists are encouraged to participate.  If you wish to become an INARCH participant please contact John Pomeroy with an expression of interest and description of what your contribution to the project might be.

Three main topics will be covered by the Workshop:

• Atmospheric downscaling for mountain snow and ice hydrology modeling
• Availability and suitability of surface observations and spatial observations from mountain observatories (including discussion of the mountain observations journal special issue)
• Climate sensitivity numerical experiments – results from numerical diagnostic experiments using the cryospheric and hydrological response of mountain catchments to various representations of a changing climate

This 3-day meeting will include 2 days of presentations/discussions and a 1-day optional field trip to one of the INARCH observatories in the French Alps (to be determined). It will take place at the Laboratory of Glaciology and Environmental Geophysics (Lliboutry Conference Room, LGGE main building), on the campus of University of Grenoble, Grenoble, France. There will be no meeting registration cost and lunch will be provided (including the lunch during the optional field trip). We anticipate being able to provide partial travel support to participants for travel and accommodation (especially to early career scientists). Please contact the organizing committee if you wish to request this support.

Participants will make their own travel arrangements to Grenoble. Information regarding transportation is available on the 'How to find the LGGE' webpage.

Interested participants need to provide an expression of interest of attending or presenting by emailing Vincent Vionnet. If you wish to make a presentation please indicate the provisional title of your talk. An abstract will be requested later. Please also mention whether you intend to participate in the optional field trip.

The Scientific Committee thanks you for considering this workshop and thank the Local Organising Committee for their work in making arrangements and hosting it in France this year.

For further information please contact the Local Organising Committee:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., CNRM-CEN, Isabella Zin, LTHE, Jean Emanuel Sicart, LTHE, Delphine Six, LGGE

The report on the 14^th Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) Scientific Review and Workshop is now available. Talks and posters are also available on the World Radiation Monitoring Center-Baseline Surface Radiation Network web page.

SPARC have been busy. Find out the latest in SPARC's July eNews Bulletin and SPARC's latest Newsletter (No. 47).