The RCC Network – climate services for WMO Members in Europe

Regional Climate Centres (RCCs) are regional, operational entities of the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) Climate Services Information System (CSIS). As such they are serving the members of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) through their respective National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs). Thus, RCCs are supporting NMHSs in meeting their national climate-related duties and better serving their users. RCCs are formally designated by WMO and are recognized as WMO Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres (RSMCs) in the WMO Manual on the Global Data-processing and Forecasting System (GDPFS).

WMO RCCs provide climate data sets, climate monitoring products, including climate watches, and long-range forecasting products. The details of the services provided by RCCs are developed jointly with the WMO Members in the region, based on their needs, and regularly reviewed. The RCC in Europe (WMO Regional Association (RA) VI) has been established in 2009 and designated in 2012 as a network of three nodes i.e. for climate data, climate monitoring and long-range forecasting. Each of these nodes is led by a NMHS, supported by a consortium of agencies providing regional or sub-regional contributions. A website (www.rccra6.org) allows access to the network, with links to the websites of the individual nodes. While most of the information is accessible without restriction, some content, like the Climate Watch Advisories (CWAs) is password protected, and may only be accessed with permission of the home country’s NMHS.

The presentation will demonstrate the many services offered by the WMO RA VI RCC Network through its members, lessons learned, and challenges ahead. It will be a kind of update to the information provided in the EMS/ ECAC 2012.