Interview with Harilaos Loukos, founder and CEO of The Climate Data Factory and partner of the S2S4E project. Based in Paris, he succeeded in putting climate data at the centre of his job.
What is climate data?
For many people, climate data necessarily means observations from satellites or weather stations. However, this is far from being always the case. In our field, climate data corresponds to seasonal (from one to several months) or decadal forecasts (from one to several years), but also to climate projections. For example in a decadal forecast, we study what the weather or climate will be in the next year. It is a longer time period than the seasonal forecasts, which we also call sub-seasonal to seasonal (S2S). Based on a monthly or quarterly scale, S2S forecasting is at the heart of the S2S4E project.
What is the difference between “forecast”, “projection” and “scenario”?
The term future “scenario” relates to a more statistical approach to climate: the number of cold winters, wet winters, or droughts over a time period. In future “projections” or “scenarios”, we don’t predict what will happen in 2075 or even later, but instead, we look at climate change over an average of 30 years for example. It is a long-term view, unlike “forecasts”. This level is called “climate change” because the impacts of human activities and greenhouse gases are integrated in the simulations. It is the third level after decadal forecasts and the sub-seasonal to seasonal forecasts.
Where do the climate data you are using come from? Are they easily accessible?
Usually, projection data are generated through the simulations produced by the research institutions that participate in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Forecast data are accessible through the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), national weather centres and research programmes. Although they are stored in online scientific databases most of the time, climate data are not so accessible. The amount of this raw data is massive, not homogeneous, and delivered in a specific jargon that is difficult to understand for the layman.
What are they used for? How are you working with them?
Climate data are mainly intended for scientists who are studying climate change impacts and who use this data in their studies and research. Urbanists and engineers also use them. At The Climate Data Factory, we turn them into data that are ready to be used. Once downloaded, we obtain climate data in different formats: this is what we call “model grids”- and this is when the formatting, harmonisation and adjustment processes of data start. The steps remain the same, regardless of whether we work with long-term or sub-seasonal to seasonal data (such as in the S2S4E project). These processed climate data can then be used in impact studies for a large range of sectors: hydrology, agronomy, biodiversity… Our team combines IT skills and expertise in climate. Thomas is a developer engineer, with a thesis in the climate field, and is mainly involved in data processing. My other colleague Florian has a product manager and customer service profile with a strong expertise in climate. The forecasts and projections we work on are increasingly sought after for climate change adaptation studies, although they were not initially designed for that purpose. In particular, they provide a scientific base for the implementation of greenhouse gas reduction policies.
How is the digital revolution impacting climate data?
For sure, computers and their ability to generate more reliable forecasts (weather, seasonal or other) have brought a great change for the actors in this field. Today, the boost in computing power allows to make seasonal and decadal forecasts, as well as improve the accuracy of climate forecast models. The Cloud also completely transformed the climate data sector: today a company like ours (we are 3 in a garage!) can operate without having to host servers in-house and bear the burden of high infrastructure costs. With the boom in the number of connected objects and cheaper sensors used in weather stations, some companies have launched their own observation network. This would have been unbelievable just a few years ago, as deploying and maintaining this type of network is extremely expensive!
Do you think climate data are key today?
They are not yet key, but they have become part of our everyday lives. Policymakers and citizens have become more aware that this data exists and that it can be useful for other purposes than just weather forecasting. Today, the main objective is still to convince professionals to use and take into account the available data on future changes when they are planning, for example, infrastructures that have a life expectancy of 50, 100 years or even more. Today, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) even requires to include climate change in project risk assessments when building roads, dams or other large infrastructures.
How many companies are positioned in the climate data market?
Climate data and services, also known as ‘Climate Data Management’, is a developing market, so there are only a few companies in this sector both at the French national or European scales. When I launched my first company 15 years ago, it was positioned in the same niche as The Climate Data Factory. However, it was too early and the market was not ready yet! Today, product development and matching a product with its market is crucial. For example, the ECMWF organises hackathons every summer and provides participants with data to develop weather and other applications. The goal is to end up with a finished product that addresses a specific need, while integrating data.
Written by Mathilde Bazin-Retours/ LGI.