World Climate Research Programme: Difference between revisions

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The '''World Climate Research Programme''' (WCRP) was established in 1980, under the joint sponsorship of [[International Council for Science]] and the [[World Meteorological Organization]], and has also been sponsored by the [[Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission]] of [[UNESCO]] since 1993. It is a component of the [[World Climate Programme]]. The objectives of the programme are to develop the fundamental scientific understanding of the physical [[climate]] system and climate processes needed to determine to what extent climate can be predicted and the extent of human influence on climate. The programme encompasses studies of the [[Earth's atmosphere|global atmosphere]], [[ocean]]s, [[sea ice]], land ice (such as [[glacier]]s, [[ice cap]]s and [[ice sheet]]s), and the land surface which together constitute the Earth's physical climate system.

WCRP activities address issues of [[scientific uncertainty]] in the Earth's climate system including transport and storage of heat by the ocean, the global energy and [[Water cycle|hydrological cycle]], the formation of [[clouds]] and their effects on radiative transfer, and the role of the [[cryosphere]] in climate. These activities match the scientific priorities identified by the [[Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change]], and provide the basis for responding to issues raised in the [[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change]]. WCRP also lays the scientific foundation for meeting the research challenges posed in Agenda 21. Together with the [[International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme]] and the [[International Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change Programme]], WCRP provides the international framework for scientific cooperation in the study of global [[climate change]].

Scientific guidance for the programme is provided by a Joint Scientific Committee consisting of 18 scientists selected by mutual agreement between the three sponsoring organizations.