Description:

Global Earth Observations (EO) encompass nearly all aspects of the Earth’s water cycle that integrates across the atmosphere, the land surface/vegetation and the oceans.  The dynamics of this coupling accounts for all weather, water cycle extremes, and climate variability, and together with Green House Gasses (GHGs) and other forcings, global climate change. This session highlights the application of global Earth Observations (EO) systems and modeling products for the early warning of extremes, changes in extremes associated with climate variability, and persistent shifts in the distribution of water cycle anomalies linked to climate change. Included are water cycle related phenomena such as floods and extended wet periods, droughts and water stress, above normal temperatures and heat waves/heat stress, forest and urban fires, coastal inundation. The session also highlights aspects of strategic guidance to improve climate resilience, especially as regards water, food, energy security and risk mitigation among others. For access/delivery of data and information products, the session invites a discussion of Open Science and Open Information (EIS) systems that are being expanded to deliver locally relevant strategic and operational guidance for the mitigation of the impact of weather and climate related water cycle extremes.