Terms of reference

  • Foster and coordinate the worldwide, long-term development of complex coupled Earth system models (ESMs) to simulate fast weather-climate-water-biogeochemical processes for application in research and operations.
  • Identify, prioritise, link and understand common systematic errors and their solutions across different time-scales in coupled ESMs, sharing this information across the model development community.
  • Promote the use of innovative approaches such as machine learning and provide guidance to utilise exascale computing for Earth system modelling, e.g. to overcome scalability issues.
  • Provide advice on the right level of complexity required in coupled ESMs for a particular application.
  • Maintain close links to specialised modelling, user, working or focus groups.
  • Identify technological and scientific trends in Earth system modelling and advise seamless global data-processing and forecasting systems (GDPFS) (via the Research Board), and research groups within the programmes, of these emerging themes.
  • Encourage quality assurance through facilitation of intercomparison and exchange of internationally accepted model evaluation information relevant to their efficient and accurate use in operational weather & climate services.
  • Advise the Research Board, and hence the other WMO research programmes, on the development of ESMs.