Pilot Study of Early Warning and Risk Assessment on Drought Disaster

Overview 

Application of Seasonal Forecasts to Predict the Electricity Demand in Japan

Overview 

APCC issues consecutive rolling three monthly and seasonal operational forecasts using the biggest MME in the world. Utilizing the state of art MME climate forecasts of APCC, CRIEPI is to establish reliable prediction system for electricity demand in Japan. APCC and CRIEPI scientists are conducting collaborative research on the application of seasonal forecasts and downscaling products of APCC.
  - Development of 6-month deterministic and probabilistic forecasts based on downscaling method by APCC and verification of the seasonal forecast for Japanese stations by APCC and CRIEPI
  - Verification of experimental electricity demand predicted by CRIEPI
  - Continuous provision of station level climate prediction products for Japanese stations from APCC to CRIEPI

Climate Change and Cities

Overview

As a main culprit of CO2 emission, city is a main cause of climate change. The progress of urbanization has increased CO2 emissions. While the greenhouse gas emissions from industrial activities are reduced, the emissions from the demand for energy services, for example, lighting, heating and air conditioning, use of electronic goods and home appliances, transportation are increasing.

On the other hand, city is also a damage target of climate change. Climate change is threatening the city’s infrastructure and quality of life. Tropical night phenomenon increases the demand for energy uses of cooling which cause a vicious cycle of increasing CO2 emissions.

Accordingly, the research is focusing on relations between climate change and cities which will draw a strategic plan to reduce the source of greenhouse gas emission and to minimize the disaster risks and damages from climate change. This will contribute to establish urban policies to cope with climate change more effectively.

Development of an APCC Operational ISO MME System and Investigation on Arctic and High-latitude Influences on East Asian Climate

Overview

To improve capability of seasonal climate prediction in APCC, the research will contribute to develop a land-initialization scheme at APCC based on inputs from data sets available from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP, U.S.A.), based on the NCEP Climate Forecast System (CFS). The University of Hawaii will continue to deliver three additional coupled model’s long-lead forecast output four times a year to enhance the operational MME forecast of APCC.

It has been shown that the Arctic/high-latitude influences on East Asian winter climate is becoming more important in considering that the climate changes either by anthropogenic or by natural forcing lead to the largest changes in the Arctic due to various climate feedbacks. In this extent, the research will investigate the dynamical mechanism of Arctic and high-latitude influences on the East Asian winter weather/climate and estimate the impacts of associated changes in East Asian winter monsoon/cold surges on the weather/climate and socio-economic human activities in East Asia and Korea.
 

Extending APEC Climate Center Seasonal Forecast and Climate Adaptation products for improved Societal Applications

Overview

APCC multi model forecasts provide an invaluable resource to mitigate adverse socio-economic impacts of extreme weather and climate events. However application domains require detailed spatio-temporal information in addition to the global and long-lead, albeit coarse resolution, climate predictions compiled and produced by the center. In order to better exploit APCC products, this project will conduct research to evaluate the ability of multi model forecasts to better predict extreme climate events, for instance intense droughts in East and South Asia. This will be based on existing climate reforecast produced by APCC combined with dynamical downscaling techniques that refine forecast information to appropriate space and time resolution.

APCC also acts as a center for climate data and related information with open access to member economies. The APCC data repository is used by a variety of end-users from different socio-economic sectors (agriculture, energy etc.) to produce different impart studies.

The University of Aizu is renowned for its superior Information Communication Technologies (ICT) related education and research. Based on its ICT research and development, it was proposed to enhance the usability of APCC data repositories by making it easier and intuitive for various end-users to interact with, and by enhancing data post-processing functionality.
 

A Study for Improving the Utilization of Weather and Climate Information

Overview

As unusual weather phenomena have been increased recently, the influence of weather and climate information has growing to general public and industry. The primary weather-climate information create significant value for the industry, services and the public sector, however, the secondary weather-climate information which is refined data of the primary weather-climate information to meet the needs of individual consumers is insufficient.

In this regards, the research is comprehensively examines the information delivery and supply mechanism and its utilization. Through the study of strategic plans which create demand of the information, the appropriate plan for weather-climate information development and its policies will be suggested