Looking forward
The UKCP09 User Guidance is reflective of our and users' current understanding of how to use this package of climate information. As such, it is an evolving resource that will require periodic updating, involving both users, and the climate science and impacts and adaptation scientific communities. This necessitates that users ensure that they are using the most up-to-date version of the User Guidance.
This initial version of the UKCP09 User Guidance should be viewed as providing a snap shot of work in progress. It represents our current understanding of how best to inform those wishing to use UKCP09, but is an understanding that has been developed before any of the UKCP09 outputs were available to the broader user community. It is inevitable that understanding will continue to evolve as UKCP09 is more widely used, and as our knowledge and experience, and that of the user community, develops over time.
In addition, UKCP09 itself will continue to evolve post-launch, reflecting provision of updated or enhanced information about projected climate futures, modifications and revisions to the UKCP09 website and User Interface , and the development of new resources which enable improved uptake and more effective use of UKCP09.
As such, it is our expectation that this guidance will be regularly updated to best reflect these changes. Consequently, users are requested to refer to the online UKCP09 User Guidance to ensure they are using the latest version.
User and scientific advice is critical to achieving the required standard for the UKCP09 User Guidance – best reflecting the changes in knowledge, experience and UKCP09 products, , including accompanying applications. The UKCP09 Link to Users' panel pages on UKCIP website established to support the development of UKCP09, will continue to play a vital role in the development of UKCP09 by providing views and guidance on needed future developments and their appropriate reflections within the UKCP09 guidance and other resources.
A UKCP09 Helpdesk is available to receive and respond to user queries related to the use of UKCP09. It is expected that the knowledge gained from these queries and preparing responses will also be used to improve the UKCP09 User Guidance and point to the need for updates and further developments.
Updates to UKCP09 will include what will be called UKCP09 extras. As was the case for UKCIP02, new developments of existing components, and additional tools and products are expected to become available over UKCP09’s lifetime. When made available these will be considered and developed with the involvement of the UKCP09 Users’ Panel. It is also expected that these extras will need to be reflected in updates to the UKCP09 User Guidance and, in some cases, in updates to the UKCP09 science reports.
Users are also reminded that the UKCP09 User Guidance is not the single source of information needed to undertake a vulnerability, impacts or adaptation assessment. UKCIP offers other resources (e.g. Adaptation Wizard , Local Climate Impacts Profile ( LCLIP ) and Risk, uncertainty and decision making framework ) which provide tools and guidance to support these assessments. Although currently based on previous climate scenarios (e.g. UKCIP02), they will be updated to also take advantage of the enhanced utility provided by UKCP09. Users are encouraged to explore this larger source of resources available in the context of supporting their decision-making needs.
- Last updated: Sunday, 11 March 2012