CliMathNet: Mathematics for Climate Network

The science of climate modelling and prediction has developed in the past twenty years to become a science where advances can directly and quickly influence international, national government and enterprise policy. While much of the progress in these aspects of climate science have been via a combination of improved earth observation, more powerful computers and better understanding of feedbacks in the earth system, mathematics and statistics have played an underpinning role in generating, solving and validating numerical models. It is an area of science where the UK has demonstrated leadership that goes from the development of numerical weather prediction to strong representation of UK science and scientists on the current Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), distinguished by a Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.

Mathematics and statistics have played a major role in many advances in climate modelling and prediction, and these contributions have been in both directions, for example, the seminal Lorenz (1963) model is continuing to have a great impact on the field of dynamical systems and their statistical properties and is still the model of choice for a simple nonlinear dynamical system. However, the Mathematical Sciences have often been seen as a toolbox rather than an equal partner with Climate Science. This division is institutionalized in the UK in a number of ways - core funding for Climate Science in the UK is from NERC, DECC and DEFRA while Mathematics and Statistics is seen as an EPSRC responsibility; even the more theoretical research is often based within Earth Science, Physics and/or Meteorology departments rather than Mathematics or Statistics; although one could identify "Mathematics for Earth Sciences" as an internationally successful cognate activity.

We believe that wider engagement with the Mathematical Sciences have the potential to contribute much more to answering the key questions (in particular understanding and reducing uncertainties in observation and prediction). By engaging a wide range of Mathematics and Statistics researchers on a number of scientific themes, CliMathNet aims to stimulate discussion and progress on these themes by entraining the expertise of mathematicians and statisticians.

Academic impact: This network should have a lasting impact in integrating the climate modelling and prediction community much more closely with the mathematical sciences community. As an example, the recent (2nd) Review of the Tyndall Centre's Climate Research Unit chaired by Lord Oxburgh highlighted need for climate modellers to work more closely with professional statisticians: "We cannot help remarking that it is very surprising that research in an area that depends so heavily on statistical methods has not been carried out in close collaboration with professional statisticians. Indeed there would be mutual benefit if there were closer collaboration [with] a much wider scientific group outside the relatively small international circle of temperature specialists."

Societal impact: This network should have a lasting impact in a number of societal areas. This includes (a) the development of improved data and tools for policymaker by recognizing and reducing uncertainty. (b) Inspiring young researchers to engage with issues at the interface of mathematical sciences/climate science and by doing this to maintain UK leadership in these fields. (c) Public engagement, for example, by highlighting the international "Mathematics for Planet Earth" initiative during 2013.

Economic impact: The network should have a lasting impact in terms of developing new mathematical and statistical techniques that help to improve predictions and in turn make the UK's economy more resilient in the light of a changing environment. Engagement with the Tyndall Centre and with the Industrial Mathematics KTN will ensure that this impact is achieved.