Climate Indices Review

WMO (the World Meteorological Organization) and WCRP (the World Climate Research Program) have jointly formed an ad-hoc scientific working group to review the use of climate indices. The team is formed jointly by experts from the two organisations with a steering group currently consisting of seven members:

• Blair Trewin (Australian Bureau of Meteorology, WMO)
• Xuebin Zhang (University of Victoria, WCRP)
• Lisa Alexander (UNSW Sydney, WCRP)
• Kate Willett (UK Met Office, WMO)
• Robert Dunn (UK Met Office, WMO)
• Ziese Markus (GPCC, WMO / WCRP)
• Serhat Şensoy (Turkish State Meteorological Service, WMO)

The team aims to review the following activities:

1. science review of the indices themselves (existing and potential new),
2. data requirements to support indices,
3. creation and maintenance of indices data sets, and
4. development and maintenance of relevant software.

The team has established terms of reference and a draft timetable, and is currently in the process of establishing sub-groups to consider particular aspects. It is expected that proposals will be developed and made available for public review in the second half of 2026.