Now that some records stretch back over four decades, observations of Earth from space are used widely in climate science. Observation-based trends in a range of essential climate variables are important as direct indicators of tendencies that may persist in coming decades, and to assess climate-model based projections. Requirements for the stability (the trend fidelity) of observations of essential climate variables have been internationally coordinated through the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS). The fidelity of the observed trends is important to consider – not least because we often must exploit early missions that were not originally specified for climate monitoring. Despite this, climate data records are often analysed as if the observations are perfectly stable. This webinar will explore why that is, why that needs to change, and what would constitute better practice both in specifying stability requirements and in quantifying trend uncertainties. Along the way, we will encounter some of the important climatic trends that are shaping our climate future.
Christopher Merchant is Professor of Ocean and Earth Observation at the University of Reading, and part of the National Centre for Earth Observation in the UK. He has been involved in the quantification and understanding of climate change from Earth observations for many years, since completing a related doctorate at University College London. He has worked extensively with the European Space Agency, in the (former) Earth Science Advisory Committee and still within the Climate Change Initiative. He led a major project, FIDUCEO, focussed on innovations to bring metrological rigour to Earth observations. His team at Reading have developed capabilities in quantitative thermal remote sensing that have enabled climate data records for surface temperature to be obtained from >40 years of satellite observations.
