What is the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S)?

About Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S):

• C3S is one of six thematic information services provided by the Copernicus Earth Observation Programme of the European Union.
• C3S is implemented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) on behalf of the European Commission. 
  • ECMWF is an independent intergovernmental organisation serving its member and Co-operating States and the broader community.
• C3S supports society by providing authoritative information about the past, present, and future climate in Europe and the rest of the world.
• The service offers free and open access via the internet to the best available climate data and to the tools needed to use this data.
• C3S has developed a Climate Data Store that provides easy access on the internet to a variety of high-quality, up-to-date, global datasetsabout the impacts of past, present, and future climate change.
  • The Climate Data Store is continually updated with new data based on the latest science, including observations, reanalyzes of past observations, seasonal forecasts, and climate model projections.
  • The Climate Data Store offers tools and expert guidance that make it possible to transform complex climate datasets into useful visual products, such as maps and charts.
  • Users anywhere can use data and tools available on the Climate Data Store for their own local needs.
  • C3S can provide user support, training, and guidance where needed.
• C3S users include scientists, consultants, planners, and policymakers, the media, and the public.
• C3S relies on climate research carried out within the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and responds to user requirements defined by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS).
• C3S provides an important resource to the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS).

Key Facts about Copernicus Programme:

• It is the Earth observation component of the European Union’s Space programme.
• It offers information services that draw from satellite Earth Observation, and in situ (non-space) data.
• The programme consists of a complex set of systems that collect data from multiple sources, including Earth Observation satellites, in-situ sensors like ground stations, and airborne and sea-borne sensors. 
• Users have free and open access to a great deal of this data, which is also processed to provide a set of services based on reliable and near-real-time information.
• Copernicus is served by a set of dedicated satellites (Sentinel family) and contributing missions.
  • The Sentinel satellites are specifically designed to meet the needs of the Copernicus information services and their users.
• Copernicus is funded, coordinated, and managed by the European Commission in cooperation with partners such as the European Space Agency and other EU agencies.

Q1: What is the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP?

The World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) is an international initiative that coordinates global climate research to improve understanding of the Earth's climate system and support climate predictions. Through international science coordination and partnerships, WCRP contributes to advancing our understanding of the multi-scale dynamic interactions between natural and social systems that affect climate. It was established in 1980 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the International Council for Science (ICSU) (now part of the International Science Council - ISC).

Source: DH