Improving access to climate information: The Met Office Climate Data Portal

Across Europe, a wide variety of public and private organisations require climate hazard and impact data both to improve understanding of current and changing risks and inform adaptation measures. Climate hazard and impact data currently require considerable technical expertise to access, download and interrogate creating a barrier for policy makers, local authorities, non-governmental and citizen organisations, and other interested parties. In the UK, the Met Office, in partnership with ESRI, has created a Climate Data Portal to address this issue. It provides a selection of climate data and supporting documentation in user friendly, ready-to-use data formats. Built using ArcGIS Hub, Esri’s cloud-based data engagement platform, the portal makes it much easier for users to view climate data geospatially and analyse climate change projections alongside their own data. Datasets currently available include a selection of historical climate records, climate projections and climate change impact metrics. The authors have also been exploring ways to use the platform to provide bespoke information for different sectors, including Local Authorities which are elected bodies that provide a range of services for particular geographical areas. This presentation will include a brief demonstration of the portal.