Atmospheric and Climate Science

Atmospheric and climate science within the Meteorological Service of Canada MSC focuses on advancing the state of knowledge for the public good and on developing new products and services to help Canadians avoid or adapt to severe weather and other atmospheric hazards.

Research and development activities at MSC provide the scientific foundation for weather forecasts, air quality advisories, climate change projections, and flood and ice forecasts. They also provide the scientific underpinning for a wide range of government policy initiatives, such as national air quality standards for air pollutants, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, and the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.

This report showcases how the new scientific knowledge produced by MSC is being used in support of policies and services to Canadians and the international community. Because of the excellence of its science, MSC is a significant contributor in many international arenas. Canadian General Circulation Models (GCMS) are among the best in the world and were used extensively in the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – an international panel of climate experts. Many of MSC’s air quality monitoring stations are part of World Meteorological Organization networks, helping the scientific community to maintain a watch over global environmental issues such as greenhouse gases, stratospheric ozone depletion, acid rain, and hazardous air pollutants.

The most visible results of the MSC’s atmospheric science are the daily weather forecasts and the storm warnings provided to Canadians. MSC’s weather, climate and air quality services have evolved by drawing on uniquely Canadian approaches to solving scientific problems and meeting the public’s needs.

Whether it is nationally or internationally, the MSC strives to reflect the latest scientific understanding in all of its products, services and advice. This ensures that Canadian citizens and policy makers are able to understand and act effectively to protect themselves from atmospheric threats and to safeguard the atmosphere.

Collaboration with scientists from government, academia and the private sector, both nationally and internationally, has been an essential element in making the achievements in this report possible.

Meteorological Service of Canada - Environment Canada - Government of Canada

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