CLIVAR
CLIVAR (climate and ocean: variability, predictability and change) is one of six core projects of the World Climate Research Programme. Its purpose is to describe and understand climate variability and predictability on seasonal to centennial time-scales, identify the physical processes responsible for climate change and develop modeling and predictive capabilities for climate modelling.[1] Now International CLIVAR Office (ICPO) is hosted by Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China. The ICPO provides secretariat support to the Scientific Steering Group (SSG) and the various panels and groups and is responsible for the project’s outreach activities. It also serves as the point of contact for the CLIVAR scientific community as a whole, and for other relevant activities.
History
[edit]The following is an approximate timeline of CLIVAR and its precedents:[1]
- 1985: The World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) initiated the TOGA (Tropical-Ocean Global Atmosphere Project) (1985-1995) to study interannual variability driven by the ocean-atmosphere system in the tropics.
- 1990: The WCRP began the first observational phase of the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (1990-1997)
- 1991: The Joint Scientific Committee (JSC) of the WCRP called on a group of experts to come together and consider the possible future directions for climate research, building on the foundation laid by TOGA and WOCE.
- 1992: The deliberations of the Joint Scientific Committee were published in 1992 in a brochure entitled ‘CLIVAR – a study of Climate Variability and Predictability’.
- 1993: The WCRP JSC decided to undertake CLIVAR as a major activity.
- 1995: CLIVAR was officially launched, initially as a 15-year project. The launch coincided with the end of TOGA.
- 1997: The first CLIVAR implementation plan was published.
Panels and working groups
[edit]CLIVAR has a number of panels and working groups based on the study of climate variability and predictability of different components of the global climate system.
Global panels
[edit]CLIVAR has four global panels:[2]
- Global Synthesis and Observation Panel (GSOP)[3]
- Climate Dynamics Pane(CDP)[4]
- Ocean Model Development Panel(OMDP)[5]
- CLIVAR/GEWEX Monsoons Panel
Regional panels
[edit]Regional panels focus on specific aspects of the climate system. Since the different regions of the ocean are qualitatively different, and given the important role of the oceans in controlling climate over the interannual, decadal, and centennial scales considered by CLIVAR, the subdivision into panels is largely based on regions of the ocean system:
- Atlantic Region Panel (ARP)
- CLIVAR /CliC Northern Oceans Region Panel (NORP)
- CLIVAR/CliC/SCAR Southern Ocean Region Panel (SORP)
- CLIVAR/IOC-GOOS Indian Ocean Region Panel (IORP)
- Pacific Region Panel (PRP)
Research Foci
[edit]CLIVAR RFs are temporary 3-5 years groups that drive priority climate research through bottom-up efforts, foster cross-panel and WCRP-wide collaboration, and engage new scientists. The current RFs are:
Membership
[edit]An open call for nominations to the various CLIVAR committees is announced annually via the ebulletin, website, newsletter and social medias (X, Facebook and Linkedin). Nominations are submitted via an online form.
When considering all nominations, CLIVAR panels take into account the scientific expertise that will support fulfilment of the panel's terms of reference, and then seek endorsement from the CLIVAR SSG for the proposed new slate of members. Scientifically qualified nominations that support gender and geographical balance and promote opportunities for early career scientists and researchers from developing countries to participate in CLIVAR activities are encouraged. The initial term of service for members is three years, with possible extension of two years. When moving up to co-chair, another two years will be added to the panel member's current term. The total time served on the panel is not to exceed 7 years, including those years as chair.
National programmes
[edit]There is one national CLIVAR program that run largely autonomously but contribute to the international CLIVAR program now:[6]
- US CLIVAR:[7] This contributes directly to the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) by coordinating and advancing research within the US to improve the documentation, understanding, modeling and prediction of variations in global and regional climate. It is supported by participating programs in five United States Government agencies: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the United States Department of Energy (DOE), and the Office of Naval Research (ONR).[8]
See also
[edit]- The VAMOS Ocean Cloud Atmosphere Land Studies
- Dr Antonietta Capotondi was elected as PICES WG-49 co-chair representing CLIVAR in 2023.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "About CLIVAR". CLIVAR. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
- ^ "Global". CLIVAR. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
- ^ "Global Synthesis and Observation Panel". Retrieved July 3, 2014.
- ^ "Climate Dynamics Panel (CDP)". CLIVAR. Retrieved 7 Feb 2025.
- ^ "CLIVAR Ocean Model Development Panel (OMDP)". CLIVAR. Retrieved 7 Feb 2025.
- ^ "National Programmes". CLIVAR. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
- ^ "US CLIVAR". US CLIVAR. Archived from the original on August 11, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
- ^ "About US CLIVAR". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
- ^ "Dr Antonietta Capotondi was elected as PICES WG-49 co-chair representing CLIVAR". CLIVAR. Retrieved January 15, 2023.