IRI/WMO Workshop on the tailoring of seasonal climate forecasts: training experts in the climate predictability tool (Co-Sp.)

The International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI), in partnership with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Beijing Climate Center (BCC), is pleased to announce a two-week training workshop for seasonal climate forecasters.

The objective of this workshop is to train a group of seasonal forecast specialists to provide an expert level of technical support for enhancing the capacity of National Meteorological Services (NMSs) around the world, particularly those in the developing and least developed countries. The focus of the training will be on providing high quality, tailored seasonal forecast information to sectors that include public health, water resources, and agriculture. Specifically we will offer intense training in advanced statistical downscaling methodologies, using Global Producing Center (GPC) model outputs and will work extensively using IRI's Climate Predictability Tool (CPT). The workshop will have a strong focus on the tailoring of seasonal forecasts to move beyond the generation of the standard tercile-based seasonal forecast formats.

Through its sub-regional CLIPS Focal Point Training Workshops, WMO's CLIPS project and its partners have made substantial contributions to building capacity in climate services worldwide. However, it is now increasingly recognized that a wider pool of experts is needed at the regional levels with local perspectives, to sustain, update, and expand these capacities. These experts will act as regional trainers who can assist National Meteorological Services around the world to enhance their capacities to provide high quality, tailored seasonal forecast information in user-friendly formats. In turn the development of this capacity will help strengthen the communication of climate information to climate-sensitive sectors and enable more effective climate-related risk management practices.