Climate Exchange

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griculture

prediction data, standardizes global climate prediction

data and develops cutting-edge prediction technology

through the accumulation of MME prediction technol-

ogy. In addition, it provides developing countries with

education and training opportunities on advanced climate

prediction technology. For example, KMA along with the

US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

sponsored a training workshop for developing countries

(the Fourth International Training Workshop on Climate

Variability and Prediction) held in San José, Costa Rica on

August 7-17 2012. KMAmade a contribution to the work-

shop by sending Korean experts in the areas of climate

prediction and monitoring who gave lectures and practical

exercises on MME theories, the utilization of WMO-LC

LRFMME data and climate information services. KMAwill

continue such training programmes to help develop the

capacity of developing nations in adaptation and reducing

vulnerability to climate change.

In 2010, at the CBS expert meeting of the WMO

Commission for Climatology in Switzerland, it was

decided that data from the LC LRFMME would be used as

basic prediction data for global seasonal climate updates

(GSCU), so the centre provided data for the pilot publi-

cation of GSCU in September 2011 and February 2012.

In June 2012, a GSCU task force meeting was held in

Busan, Korea to discuss ways to practically foster GSCU.

Collecting and distributing global weather data

WMO approved Seoul to become the world’s sixth host

of a Global Information System Centre (GISC-Seoul), a

hub for collecting and distributing global weather data.

GISC-Seoul, run by KMA within the WMO Information

System, can be described as a massive, web-based global

electronic library of weather information.

Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the Ministry for

Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Ministry of Health and

Welfare, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, and

the Ministry of Environment. The panel holds meetings twice a year.

KMA hosts workshops on national climate change scenarios to

raise public awareness on climate change, to broaden understand-

ing of climate change scenarios in adaptation fields such as energy,

agriculture and health, and to promote the use of climate scenarios.

KMA has also published and distributed various materials such as

Tips for Easy Use of Climate Change Scenarios and a Casebook on

Understanding and Utilization of Climate Change Scenarios

and used

such publications for staff training as well as education tours.

Customized climate information

As climate change has different impacts on different regions, KMA

launched the Regional Climate Services in 2011, recognizing that a

specific strategy tailored to a certain region is required.

The regional services led by KMA enable local governments and

businesses to make use of climate science information for industries

including agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing and tourism. The

services produce and provide customized climate science informa-

tion suited to industries in different regions.

In 2011, 15 areas such as specialized crops, the south-west tidal flats,

alpine agriculture and tangerine farming were selected for pilot projects,

and climate science informationwas collected and provided for these areas.

After a project verification process, specific information for each industry

will be supplied for the wider application of climate science information.

Long-range forecasting

TheWorldMeteorological Organization (WMO) Lead Centre for Long-

Range Forecast Multi Model Ensemble (LC LRFMME) is responsible

for collecting and standardizing long-range forecast data produced

by 12 GPCs worldwide and providing the data to WMO member

countries. The centre also produces multi model ensemble (MME)

Participants at the TT-GSCU task force meetings in Busan, Republic of Korea, June 2012

Image: KMA