World Meteorological Organization

The recently concluded RA VI RCC User Forum Survey represents a significant milestone in our ongoing effort to improve regional climate services. This survey, directed at National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) across Regional Association VI, has provided valuable insights into the strengths and areas for growth within the RA VI RCC Network. With contributions from diverse geographical zones, this milestone helps us better understand how well the RCC Network serves the region’s varied climate needs and how we can further enhance our support to stakeholders.

The WMO Regional Office for Europe, represented by Natalia Berghi, was invited to present the survey results at the RA VI RCC User Forum, held on 5 and 6 November 2024.

Key Milestone Insights

Acknowledged Importance of the RCC Network
The survey confirmed that the RA VI RCC Network is viewed as a vital component for enhancing climate services across the region. With an average relevance score of 4.23/5, the network's role in providing reliable climate services and supporting NMHSs is highly regarded. This robust recognition lays a strong foundation for future collaboration and service improvement.

Identifying Gaps and Opportunities for Improvement
Survey results highlight several key areas where improvements can be made to strengthen the RCC Network's offerings. Key gaps identified include:

• Subseasonal to Seasonal Forecasting: There is a clear need for enhanced forecasting capabilities, particularly for running reliable regional climate models for seasonal forecasts. This will enable better management of climate variability in the region.
• Forecast Verification: Stronger verification processes are required to assess forecast accuracy and improve future predictions.
• Data Sharing and Integration: A need for more seamless data transfer between NMHSs was emphasized, with a call for greater collaboration and more efficient sharing of datasets across the region.
• Snow Depth and Other Variables: Participants highlighted the need for snow depth to be included in key datasets like ECA&D and E-OBS, which play an essential role in regional climate monitoring, particularly for sectors like agriculture and water management.

High Utilization of RA VI RCC Resources

• Website Awareness: 82% of respondents were familiar with the RA VI RCC website, indicating good awareness of available resources. However, outreach efforts should be expanded to ensure all stakeholders are informed about these vital tools.
• ECA&D and E-OBS Datasets: These datasets are crucial for the majority of NMHSs, with an average rating of 3.5/5 for their value in complementing national datasets, which helps improve climate forecasting and monitoring.
• Data Security: Concerns about data leaks were not widespread, with most respondents feeling secure in sharing data with organizations like ECA&D. However, a few NMHSs expressed caution and would benefit from more clarity and assurance regarding data security measures.

Usage of Climate Monitoring Products
Products such as Climate Watch Advisories and bulletins from the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD), including maps and bulletins, remain core tools used across the region. However, respondents expressed a need for further regional customization, particularly in areas like Southeastern Europe and the South Caucasus. Tailoring products to local climate conditions and events will make them even more relevant to each subregion’s needs.

• Regional Customization of Products:
  • SEEVCCC advisories (Southeastern Europe), MGM maps (Eastern Mediterranean), and Armstatehydromet maps (South Caucasus) are widely used but have more limited regional coverage.
  • There is potential to create additional region-specific climate products, such as drought intensity maps and snow cover assessments, which can improve early warning and disaster preparedness efforts.

Long-Range Forecasting and Collaborative Efforts
Long-range forecasting tools received positive feedback. However, technical constraints and limited resources continue to affect the capacity for effective long-term forecasting in certain regions. Additionally, barriers such as funding and political factors hinder greater collaboration on long-term forecasting.

• Key Takeaways:
  • Respondents expressed the need for better data accessibility, enhanced visualizations, and additional training on forecasting tools.
  • Interest in collaborative research and project participation is high, though obstacles remain related to funding and authority.

Research Integration into Operational Practices
The integration of research findings into operational practices is growing but still variable across the region. Many NMHSs recognize the importance of research, but translating this into actionable services varies significantly.

• Areas for Improvement:
  • Strengthen the timeliness of research outputs.
  • Align research more closely with operational needs and provide funding support to enhance collaboration between national and regional institutions.

Importance of Climate Projections for Future Planning
A significant portion of respondents emphasized the value of climate projections for long-term decision-making and adaptation planning. While projections are already part of some NMHSs' operations, there is a clear demand for better access to regional climate models and higher-resolution projections to improve local adaptation strategies.

• Key Insights on Climate Projections:
  • Enhanced regional climate projections: There is growing demand for high-resolution projections tailored to specific subregions, especially for extreme weather events and sectoral impacts (e.g., agriculture, water resources, and energy).
  • Uncertainty and adaptation: Projections often carry uncertainty, and respondents emphasized the need for tools to better understand and manage this uncertainty, particularly in planning for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
  • Training and capacity building: Although many NMHSs use climate projections, there is a need for enhanced training to help translate these into actionable data for local and national adaptation planning, as well as for providing services to vulnerable sectors.
• Actionable Recommendations:
  • Promote the development of high-resolution regional models to offer more localized projections, especially for areas with complex geography.
  • Support training initiatives that enable the effective use and interpretation of projections, particularly to address uncertainty and its implications for adaptation planning.

Looking Forward: Next Steps and Recommendations
Based on these milestone insights, the following actions are being prioritized to enhance the effectiveness of the RA VI RCC Network:

• Enhancing Forecasting Models: Focus on improving subseasonal to seasonal forecasting capabilities and forecast verification processes.
• Regional Customization of Climate Products: Develop more tailored products for specific subregions, particularly for drought and snow cover monitoring.
• Increasing Data Sharing and Collaboration: Enhance the sharing of datasets and foster collaboration among NMHSs to address barriers in data transfer.
• Expanding Training and Outreach: Organize training and awareness campaigns to ensure all NMHSs are fully informed about RCC resources and how to best use them.
• Securing Sustainable Funding for Research: Advocate for more strategic funding to ensure continued research efforts, especially in areas like long-range forecasting.
• Supporting Climate Projections and Adaptation Planning: Increase the availability of regional climate projections, improve tools for understanding uncertainty, and provide training to integrate projections into long-term adaptation planning.

This survey represents a critical milestone in improving the RA VI RCC Network’s impact on regional climate services. By addressing identified gaps, fostering stronger collaboration, enhancing product offerings, and supporting the effective use of climate projections, the RCC can continue to be a vital tool for National Meteorological and Hydrological Services in the region.

The RA VI RCC Coordination Team is committed to using this feedback to guide its future activities and ensure that the RCC Network remains responsive to the evolving climate challenges faced by our Members. The survey results, along with the outputs from the RCC Users Forum, were further discussed by the RA VI RCC Coordination Team during its meeting held immediately after the Forum. Read more here: 7th Meeting of the RA VI RCC Coordination Team | World Meteorological Organization

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