Facilitating the Use of Satellite Observations for Evaluating CMIP5/IPCC Simulations

Taylor et al (2008) have defined the protocol for the CMIP5 simulations that will be used for the next IPCC Assessment Report, AR5. The protocol defines the scope of simulations that will be undertaken by the participating modeling groups. For several of the prescribed retrospective simulations (e.g, decadal hindcasts, AMIP and 20th Century coupled simulations) observational data sets can be used to evaluate and diagnose the simulation outputs. However, to date, the pertinent observational data sets to perform these particular evaluations have not been optimally identified and coordinated to readily enable their use in the context of CMIP5. In this presentation, we will report on the progress and plans of a collaborative activity between NASA and PCMDI with the objective to provide the community of researchers that will access and evaluate the CMIP5/IPCC climate model results access to analogous sets of satellite data (in terms of variables, temporal and spatial frequency, periods and file format). The data sets will be accessible via the same Earth System Grid (ESG) web portal as the model data, and a number of these data sets are expected to be in place by spring of 2011 so they can be utilized for CMIP5 evaluation. Community input is welcome on the long-term aspects of this project in terms of additional data sets, analysis capabilities, performance metrics, and relevant information technology issues (e.g.,ESG).