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SSiRC measurement campaign starting today

From 14-26 May, the Kelud Ash Experiment (KLAsh) will make measurements of the volcanic plume from the Mt. Kelud (Indonesia) using balloon-borne instruments.

The experiment consists of the University of Wyoming’s Optical Particle Counter, together with instruments that measure aerosol optical properties, ozone, and meteorological variables up to 30 km in altitude. The aim is to better characterize particle sizes and optical properties from a relatively fresh volcanic plume in the stratosphere. Mt. Kelud last erupted on 13 February 2014 and replaced lava dome with 400 meters diameter crater with 30 to 50 meters depth. The measurement campaign will provide valuable data for the SPARC activity on stratospheric sulfur (find more information on the SSiRC activity).

GASS-YoTC model output available

The data from the GASS-YoTC (GEWEX Global Atmospheric System Science, GASS, and Year of Tropical Convection, YoTC) Vertical Structure and Physical Processes Multi-model Experiment is highly suitable for detailed model-based, physical-process studies of a wide range of weather and climate phenomena.

Find data access and more information on the experimental framework, contributing models etc.

Invitation to review and comment on initial design for CMIP6

Climate modelers and scientists from around the world are invited to help improve the next generation of Coupled Model Intercomparisons and submit their comments before 15 September 2014.

Since 1995, the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) has coordinated climate model experiments involving multiple international modeling teams. Through CMIP, climate modelers and scientists from around the world have analyzed and compared state-of-the-art climate model simulations to gain insights into the processes, mechanisms, and consequences of climate variability and climate change. This has led to a better understanding of past, present, and future climate, and CMIP model experiments have routinely been the basis for future climate change assessments made by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

An initial design for CMIP6 has now been developed (Meehl et al., EOS, 2014) that is open for comments from the community until 15 September 2014. This includes a small set of experiments to be routinely performed by modeling groups whenever they develop a new model version. The output from these so-called ongoing CMIP Diagnostic, Evaluation and Characterization of Klima (DECK) experiments will be distributed for community use via the ESGF infrastructure. Other Model Intercomparison Projects (MIPs) will build on the CMIP DECK experiments and augment them to address a broad range of scientific questions. Additionally proposed MIP experiments together with the CMIP DECK experiments will constitute the suite of simulations for the next phase of CMIP.

MIPs are now invited to request endorsement for the next phase of CMIP (i.e., CMIP6). A CMIP6-Endorsed MIP may propose that a subset or even all of their experiments be included as part of the suite of simulations constituting CMIP6, see further information in the template for these applications which is available on the CMIP Panel website. This website also lists the current active MIPs under ‘Catalogue of MIPs’. The co-chairs of these MIPs have been informed by the CMIP Panel and WGCM co-chairs that the application for CMIP6-Endorsed MIPs is now open.

Climate Symposium 2014: Apply for travel support before 31 March

The Climate Symposium 2014 will take place in Darmstadt, Germany, 13-17 October. This large conference focusses on climate information for decision making and is organised by the World Climate Research Programme and Eumetsat.

Important dates:

31 March – Deadline to submit application for travel support

15 April – Deadline to submit abstracts

15 May – Early registration deadline

Find website.