Who We Are
US CLIVAR is a national research program with a mission to foster understanding and prediction of climate variability and change on intraseasonal-to-centennial timescales, through observations and modeling with emphasis on the role of the ocean and its interaction with other elements of the Earth system, and to serve the climate community and society through the coordination and facilitation of research on outstanding climate questions.
Our Research
The ocean plays a key role in providing a major long-term "memory" for the climate system, generating or enhancing variability on a range of climatic timescales. Understanding the ocean's role in climate variability is therefore crucial for quantifying and harnessing the predictability inherent to the Earth system. US CLIVAR-led research has played a substantial role in advancing understanding of, and skill in predicting climate variability and change.
Science and Research Challenges
Subseasonal-to-
Seasonal Prediction
Decadal Variability
and Predictability
Climate Change
Climate and Extreme
Events
Polar Climate Changes
Climate and Marine
Carbon/Biogeochemistry
Climate at the Coasts
Announcements
A new observational benchmark for equatorial upwelling
Published in Journal of Climate, Karnauskas (2025) re-examined a collection of historical estimates made since 1961, as well as drifters and other modern observations and state estimates, to provide new constraints on this key variable.
Detection of state-dependent prediction skill using an adaptable, machine learning-based approach
Kyle Shackleford (Colorado State University) presents a new framework for identifying state-dependent prediction skill in this new Research Highlights..
Ocean Model Development workshop report is published
The Ocean Model Development, Data-driven Parameterizations, and Machine Learning in Ocean Models of the Earth System workshop report has been published.
Latest Edition of Variations Available Now
US CLIVAR relaunches the quarterly Variations publication with an edition on, "Needs and prospects for advancing tropical Pacific observations of the ocean and atmosphere."
Upcoming Webinars
Process Study Webinar Series
Charlotte Demott, Colorado State University
This talk will summarize the findings of the ASTZ Study Group report and offer some early assessments of how ongoing and planned process studies harmonize with these recommendations.