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Improved climate data

Project completed
Satellite image showing plumes of smoke rising from forest fires over Sumatra.
Satellite image showing plumes of smoke rising from forest fires over Sumatra. © NASA Worldview © NASA

Together with the SDC, MeteoSwiss has committed itself to improving the climate information base worldwide. High-quality, long-term climate measurement series can be used to estimate the consequences of climate change and to provide a greater understanding of the related opportunities and risks. The project has now come to an end after five years.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Global
Climate change and environment
Biosphere protection
Environmental policy
01.04.2014 - 31.03.2018
 CHF  3’090’000
Background

It is increasingly acknowledged that climate change will exert a tremendous influence on the three dimensions of sustainability, thus being a key game changer and global risk factor for sustainable development. In order to react on changes in the global climate system, decision makers on different levels must rely on a sound information and knowledge base. The latter is, however, often not available, since in many parts of the world, high quality data on essential climate variables is either still not available or not yet used for related climate services. Thus, in its first phase, CATCOS supported the establishment of high quality climate data providers, targeting countries in under-represented areas with respect to atmospheric and terrestrial observations (aerosols, greenhouse gases, glaciers). This has not only contributed to filling important data gaps, but also raised awareness of the value of systematic climate monitoring and thus ultimately added to the global effort of climate monitoring. While CATCOS 1 has delivered a sound groundwork for improving the climate knowledge and information base mainly focusing on global needs, the second phase will allow broadening the scope and including needs on the regional to local level (data for local climate services). This is particularly highlighted by two concrete activities in Central Asia and South America which are closely related to ongoing SDC initiatives. In this way, CATCOS will respond to needs on different levels, from global (e.g. improving the network of Global Atmosphere Watch stations) down to very local (e.g. enhanced knowledge on air pollution in Bolivia). Additionally, CATCOS 2 will continue with the investment made by further supporting the different countries and institutions on their way to become independent, sustainable and reliable climate data providers, which are closely linked to the relevant stakeholders on all levels.
Objectives

Better decision making to mitigate and adapt to climate change based on sound information and knowledge as a contribution to the reduction of global risks and poverty.
Medium-term outcomes

  • High-quality data on atmospheric and terrestrial climate variables are sustainably available in the target countries and at the designated International Data Centres
  • Data providers, users and decision makers in the region are linked in a sustainable manner
  • Decision makers and stakeholders are aware of the use and benefits of high-quality climate data

    		•
    Results

    Results from previous phases:  

    CATCOS 1 has achieved the following results:

    • Memorandum of understanding established with all countries
    • Capacity building and twinning arrangements have started in all countries
    • Three of three countries produce glacier monitoring data
    • Three of four countries produce aerosol and greenhouse gas data
    • Data are submitted to the international data centres
    Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
    Credit area Development cooperation
    Project partners Contract partner
    Private sector
    Swiss Academic and Research Institution
    • Other Swiss academic and research institutions
    • Swiss Private Sector
    • Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss


    Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    3’090’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    3’006’844
    Project phases

    Phase 2 01.04.2014 - 31.03.2018   (Completed)

    Phase 1 01.08.2011 - 31.03.2014   (Completed)
    • Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation GENERAL ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION
      GENERAL ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION
      Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation
      Biosphere protection
      Environmental policy and administrative management
      Aid Type Mandate without fiduciary fund
      Project number

      7F08114

    In order to initiate measures at an early stage in the areas of climate protection and adaptation, local decision-makers in developing countries often do not have a reliable data base. The reason for this is a lack of resources for systematic climate observation. 

    Following the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in 2009, additional funding was provided for climate change adaptation and mitigation in developing countries. The SDC used this funding to initiate the CATCOS project (Capacity Building and Twinning for Climate Observing Systems) within the framework of its Global Programme on Climate Change and Environment. 

    Spanning a period of over five years, the project provided ten partner countries in Africa, South America, Central Asia and Southeast Asia with targeted support in building their climate observation capacity. CATCOS focused on the installation of new measuring instruments, training for station operators and scientists, the promotion of regional cooperation and communication on the advantages of the climate data collected. 

    Several Swiss partners took part in the project: the Paul Scherrer Institute, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (Empa), the University of Fribourg and the University of Zurich. 

    First, the measurements

    From 2011 to 2016, greenhouse gas, aerosol and glacier measurements were established in seven – subsequently a total of ten – partner countries. In addition to the installation of measuring instruments and the resumption of climate observations, tailor-made training courses were provided, in the countries themselves and also in Switzerland. Local scientists, as well as station operators, were not just given training on how to use the new equipment, but also on how the collected data had to be processed in order to meet international quality standards. In subsequent courses, training was given on how to analyse the data scientifically and how to evaluate the results. 

    The expertise obtained through CATCOS was given recognition in the partner countries, as confirms Budi Satria, climatologist with the Indonesian Weather Service (BMKG): "After three months of training in Switzerland, I was able to better understand the effects of forest fires on air quality in Sumatra. I even received an award for my analyses at an international scientific workshop.”

    Prof. Urs Baltensperger talking with Budi Satria.
    Budi Satria (right) at the inauguration of an Indonesian observing station talking to Prof. Urs Baltensperger from the Paul Scherrer Institute. © BMKG

    Increased use of climate data

    The project made it possible for the data collected to be sent to international data centres and made freely accessible to the public, thus making a valuable contribution to the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS). Various communication channels were used to inform decision-makers about the value and availability of the climate data, including country visits, presentations, articles published in the media, scientific publications and information brochures. 

    In addition, the mobile application ‘wgms Glacier’ was developed, which allows easy access to scientific glacier information from all over the world. Jorge Luis Ceballos, glaciologist at the Colombian Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM), is emphatic: “Thanks to this app, everyone can follow the glacier melt in the tropics and compare it internationally”.

    Jorge Luis Ceballos talking with Dr Michael Zemp.
    Jorge Luis Ceballos (left) talking to Dr Michael Zemp from the University of Zurich. © IDEAM

    Promoting regional cooperation

    Workshops for Southern Africa, Latin America and Central Asia were held, bringing together the national weather services and representatives of key organisations from the agriculture, water, health and disaster preparedness sectors. This enabled a dialogue to be established between producers and users of climate services in the three regions. "In the first regional workshop in Southern Africa proposals were formulated to close gaps in the value chain of climate services in the region," explains Elliot Bungare, Head of International Affairs at the National Weather Service of Zimbabwe (MSD).

    A dozen or so experts sitting in a seminar room.
    At a regional workshop in Southern Africa, joint proposals for a better circulation of climate services were formulated for the region. © MSD

    Text and photos appeared originally on the MeteoSwiss blog.

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    Last update 03.01.2021