Enhanced Surface Climate

This use case delivers high-resolution surface climate datasets focused on surface mass balance (SMB) and melt across Greenland and Antarctica. By integrating Earth Observation (EO) data with regional and global climate models (RCMs and GCMs), and applying cutting-edge super-resolution techniques, this use case provides detailed insights into the key processes driving ice sheet change.

Understanding SMB and melt is critical for quantifying the contribution of the polar ice sheets to sea level rise and for capturing feedbacks between surface conditions and broader climate dynamics. These datasets support research, policy, and public awareness by offering a clearer view of how polar surface processes evolve over time.

• Polar Climate Scientists: Researchers analysing SMB, melt trends, and their influence on ice sheet stability and sea level rise.
• Climate Model Developers: Users integrating high-resolution surface data into larger climate and Earth system simulations.
• Educators and Communicators: Stakeholders using data to illustrate surface climate change in accessible, visual formats.

• Detailed Surface Insights: Provides high-resolution SMB and melt datasets to improve understanding of polar climate systems.
• Support for Climate Models: Enhances model boundary conditions for simulating polar climate processes and interactions.
• Data-Driven Decision Support: Informs science-based climate strategies and public communication.
• Interactive Exploration: Enables users to access and visualise climate data relevant to polar ice sheet evolution.

The Enhanced Surface Climate Use Case Demonstrator will be delivered as a Jupyter Notebook, offering an intuitive interface to explore SMB and melt patterns over Greenland and Antarctica. Users can access datasets, visualise spatial and temporal trends, and gain insights into surface processes driving polar climate change.

Mock-up of the Enhanced Surface Climate Use Case Demonstrator.