Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) [UPSC Notes]

According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), March 2023 brought about changes on various meteorological fronts. In this context, understand what is the Copernicus Climate Change Service and what is its importance in the present scenario in this article. This topic is relevant for the IAS exam environment and ecology segment of GS paper III.

Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S)

The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) is a service provided by the European Union’s Copernicus Programme, which is aimed at monitoring the Earth’s environment and climate.

• The C3S provides comprehensive information on the past, current, and future climate in Europe and around the world, using a combination of satellite observations, ground-based observations, and computer models. 
• The C3S produces a wide range of climate-related information products and services, including seasonal forecasts, climate indicators, and climate re-analyses.
• These are used by a variety of stakeholders, including policymakers, businesses, and the general public. 

Copernicus Climate Change Service Latest Findings (March 2023)

The European Meteorological Agency noted the world’s second joint warmest March on record and that the Antarctic Sea ice extent reached the second lowest on record. The C3S, which is implemented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts on behalf of the European Commission, publishes monthly climate bulletins that describe changes in global surface air temperature, sea ice cover, and hydrological variables. 

• The world had the second joint warmest March on record, with temperatures above average over southern and central Europe and below average over most of northern Europe.
• New high-temperature records were set in March for a vast swathe of land over North Africa, south-western Russia and most of Asia, as it was much warmer than average.
• North-eastern North America, Argentina and neighbouring countries, a large part of Australia and coastal Antarctica also saw temperatures much above average. However, it was much colder than average over western and central North America.
• Antarctic sea ice extent hit a record low in February, and March saw little improvement, at 28 per cent below average.
• Sea ice concentrations were also much below average in all sectors of the Southern Ocean.
• Arctic sea ice extent was 4 per cent below average, ranking joint fourth lowest for March in the satellite data record, but also close to the three lowest extents.
• Drier-than-average conditions were observed in most of the Iberian Peninsula, the Alpine arc, parts of Central Europe, the eastern Balkans and the north-western coast of the Caspian Sea, as well as in Argentina, southern Australia, south-western Africa and parts of Asia.
• These findings are based on analyses using billions of data, information and observations from satellites, ships, aircraft and weather stations worldwide.

Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S):- Download PDF Here