1 

 

WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL PANEL OF EXPERTS ON POLAR AND HIGH MOUNTAIN

OBSERVATIONS, RESEARCH AND SERVICES Sixth session

Reykjavik, Iceland, 8 – 11 September 2015

2

 

Executive Summary 1. The Sixth meeting of the Panel of Experts on Polar and High Mountain Observations, Research and Services (EC-PHORS) was hosted by the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) from September 8 to 11, 2015 at the Hotel Natura in Reykjavík. The Panel reviewed its activities since the previous meeting and planned its activities for the coming 18 months and beyond. 2. The Panel facilitates advances in observations, understanding and prediction in pursuit of better and new services. Its activities focus upon improved situational awareness of the state of the cryosphere through, inter alia, the Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW) and seek to improve weather prediction and climate projection at the regional and global scales through the Global Integrated Polar Prediction System (GIPPS). 3. The recently concluded World Meteorological Congress expanded its remit beyond the Hindu-Kush Himalayas Karakoram (Third Pole) region to include all high mountain environments. The Panel does not, itself, have the necessary critical mass and will seek to attract expertise to improve our understanding of, inter alia, cryospheric mass balances and the resulting hydrologic impacts such as floods and water security. The Panel will review its Terms of Reference by the end of November 2015 to ensure we properly codify EC-PHORS roles, refine and define its focus on high mountain regions in order to be effective and not to spread too far beyond its competencies in this regard. The Panel will also endeavour to strengthen mechanisms to effectively interact with the Arctic Council and Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and to integrate work of research institutes and operational agencies. The Panel committed to extending the mandate of the Polar Space Task Group (PSTG) under new EC-PHORS terms of reference until 2018 by contacting existing agencies seeking their ongoing commitment and by engaging other space agencies not yet active on the PSTG. 4. The Panel will continue its ongoing regulatory responsibilities in the Antarctic and seek to expand observational networks and improve telecommunications related to the Antarctic Observing Network (AntON). It will continue to support, through its research framework, the GIPPS initiative and concentrate efforts to successfully launch the Year of Polar Prediction (YOPP mid 2017- mid 2019). To this end, the activities of the services framework will seek synergy with the Polar Prediction Project Socio-Economic Research Activities (PPP-SERA) and to advocate for the Intensive Observing Period (IOP) for the YOPP. 5. The Services White Paper, in line with the approved WMO Strategy for Service Delivery (SD) which was approved by Congress as a high priority for the Organization, brings organization and focus to the spectrum of service requirements and gaps by framing them around specific user groups. The White Paper will undergo a final review and adoption, so it can be the intended EC-PHORS reference document for service requirements. 6. There were many highlights during the meeting and the Panel received excellent briefings on the activities of IMO. An afternoon session with Mr Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, the President of Iceland, was extremely informative. The Panel appreciated the excellent arrangements and professionalism of IMO staff in creating the conditions for effective deliberations. 7. Four annexes are included in this report;

Annex 1 List of Participants Annex 2 EC-PHORS Team Assignments Annex 3 GCW Working Structure and its Membership Annex 4 Selected Meetings of Relevance to the Panel

3

 

Report 1. Context 1.1 WMO interest in cold climate matters has been elevated of late due to the rapid decrease of glaciers including those in the Asian High Elevations and Tropics that threaten water supplies and impact a large portion of the planet’s population. The noted changes in Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets are of growing concern as this will influence the rate of sea-level rise. Since the changing climate in the Polar Regions will impact weather and climate in other regions of the world, teleconnections impact studies will be part of this integrated approach.

1.2 The Panel is a diverse group of 38 experts from 25 countries with personal commitment, technical expertise and political will. It seeks to ensure, by cross-representation, that close collaboration exists with other international organizations concerned. It includes representatives of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), International Association of Cryospheric Sciences (IACS) and the lead for the Polar Space Task Group is with the intergovernmental European Space Agency.

1.3 The Panel is founded on the principle that an integrated approach is needed to provide required services to users and advice to governments about adaptation and mitigation, based on an understanding of the global impact of changes in Polar and High Mountain Regions. The goal of the Panel is to enhance our understanding of the implications of changes in Polar Regions and in the cryosphere (solid precipitation, snow cover, sea ice, lake and river ice, glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets, ice shelves, permafrost and seasonally frozen ground) on the human condition.

1.4 WMO activities in Polar and High Mountain Regions are now codified as one of the seven key priorities of WMO in the WMO Strategic Plan for 2016-2019. A GCW Project Office (GCW-PO) will be established at WMO. CryoNet, the surface-based standardized core observing network of GCW, is one of the four core component observing systems of the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS). There are 36 stations currently identified for the pre-operational testing of CryoNet. The development of AntON is seen as a very positive step by WMO to reinforce engagement with the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS). We will need to discuss what additional platforms could be included in AntON like aircraft, drifting buoys or Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) on board of voluntary ships and issues to be dealt with during the next few years including YOPP.

1.5 The PSTG has developed a draft 2015-2018 Strategic Plan which supports the Global Cryosphere Watch and the Year of Polar Prediction. We have also advanced Arctic-HYCOS, designed to regularly collect, manage and share high quality data from a defined basic network of hydrological stations in the Arctic basin to evaluate freshwater flux to the Arctic Ocean and Seas. The Global Integrated Polar Prediction System (2013-2022) has gained significant interest in both hemispheres. Also the Year of Polar Prediction, an IOP campaign and research for the period from mid-2017 to mid-2019, held a successful summit in July 2015 in Geneva.

4

 

2. Organization of the Session 2.1 The Sixth session commenced on Tuesday September 8, 2015 at the Hotel Natura in Reykjavík. Árni Snorrason welcomed the group to Iceland looking forward to the discussion and noted the commitment of the Panel. One never says sorry for the weather in Iceland, but at least the meeting was inside.

2.2 Mr. Hugi Olafsson, Director General, Department of Oceans, Water and Climate from the Icelandic Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources welcomed the participants. He noted that we have entered a new era, where the main agent of change is humankind and the work of this Panel contributes to the understanding of the extent of these influences and the margins for action are growing smaller with each passing year. 2.3 David Grimes, the Co-chairperson of EC-PHORS, welcomed the group and noted the emphasis for this meeting is to follow-up decisions of the Seventeenth World Meteorological Congress (Cg-17) and the Sixty-seventh session of the Executive Council (EC-67) to further the WMO Polar and High Mountain Activities and to better define the high mountain aspects. He noted that from the inception of PHORS in Ottawa we have asked ourselves, “Who needs to be in the room” in order for the Panel to effectively discharge its duties. A second objective is on the major initiatives related to GIPPS most notably the Polar Prediction Project and the Year of Polar Prediction (PPP-YOPP). A third major issue is the oversight role of the Panel with respect to the Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW).

2.4 Rob Vertessy, the Co-chairperson of EC-PHORS, thanked the organizers and noted his passion for the work of the Panel. He remarked on the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions on global weather patterns including the onset of more arid conditions in southern Australia negatively impacting agriculture there. He highlighted the increased interest in our activities by all WMO Members illustrated by the fact that the work of this Panel is codified into the WMO Strategic Plan 2016-2019 as one of the seven priorities. Our role is to get the outputs of this community mainstreamed in the work of the Organization and to get government buy-in to the activities.

2.5 Árni Snorrason then provided an overview of the logistical activities followed by introductions by each of the Panel members. David Grimes provided an overview of the work programme to systematically work through the documents. Which are available at: https://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/polar/sessions.html

2.6 Most Panel members attended with the exception of K. Satheesan (India) who was on mission in Antarctica, Jeff Key (USA) who attended by WebEx and Alexander Frolov (Russian Federation). The co-chairs welcomed the eight new members of the Panel (Khalid Lahlal of Morocco was delayed enroute) and thanked them for their interest. He then expressed appreciation to those members who had contributed to the Panel in the past, including J.M. Hörler (Argentina-retired), J. Carrasco (Chile), P. Taalas (Finland), E. Brun (France - re-assigned – IPCC), H.-W. Hubberten (Germany -retired), P. Lemke (Germany -retired) and Ms. M.-L. Ou (Republic of Korea). Dominique Bérod represented GEO Cold Regions initiative.

3. EC-PORS: Objectives and Strategic Framework 3.1 Miroslav Ondráš provided an overview of the WMO Polar & High Mountain Activities (P&HMA) in the WMO Strategic Plan Priority including Cg-17 decisions (e.g. Resolution 40 Cg-17) on the budget, strategic and operational plans (Resolution 69 Cg-17) and the new Terms of Reference for EC-PHORS. Key aspects include operationalizing GCW and supporting the further implementation of GIPPS.

5

 

3.2 Interest was expressed in aligning the various strategic plans for WMO, GCW, PSTG, WMO Service Delivery and other related matters. It was explained that the WMO Strategic and Operational Plans, although focusing on 2016-2019 in alignment with the WMO financial period, really does go beyond this timeframe in terms of effort and longevity of programmes, some having existed more than six decades. Improved definition of high mountain activities is required to ensure we do not dilute our efforts too greatly. Many nations are interested and concerned about the cryosphere and these efforts open doors to many new partners, e.g. avalanche prediction. It was noted that the Panel should not consider itself as the body that is responsible for the “doing” but more aligned with facilitating these connections, networks and advocacy for Polar and High Mountain activities. We need, perhaps, to do some re-calibration of the broader scale of activities to determine what is and what should be done in the cryosphere and specifically at a sub-regional even sub-national scale in high mountain areas and that we not artificially separate high mountains from the GCW activities. We must remember that the influences on Polar Regions are not quite those experienced in all high mountain regions; we must, therefore, be cognizant of the differences in processes and predictability between the two while recognizing there is merit in investigating these regions together under a GCW, GEO and other initiatives.

3.3 The Terms of Reference (ToR) were introduced by Miroslav Ondráš (Resolution 3 EC-67), which adapted the previous ToR to include the focus on high mountain activities. The members of the Panel were requested to express their views on the ToR by the end of October with aim to consolidate the ToR by the end of November, 2015. 4. EC-PHORS Planning Framework 4.01 The Panel reviewed the major achievements since the previous meeting and initiated planning for the future. This involved a series of presentations by the chairs of the PHORS components in plenary as well as break-out sessions to share views on opportunities and challenges in each of the frameworks. The groups then recommended activities for consideration by the Panel for forward planning. Some common themes included;

Strengthening strategies and targets for outreach including partner organizations, WMO Constituent Bodies, the GFCS and the International Polar Partnership Initiative (IPPI);

Confirming modalities for the EC-PHORS relationship with the GCW Steering Group and GCW-PO in WMO;

Evaluating required activities for High Mountains and bringing them to the attention of relevant WMO bodies and partners;

Supporting the GIPPS International Coordination Office (ICO) and contribute to, and advocate for, GIPPS and YOPP;

Reviewing the ToR to ensure we properly incorporate High Mountain activities / Task Team in the Panel’s structure and how we interact with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS), International Permafrost Association (IPA), MOUNTerrain and the International Network for Alpine Research Catchment Hydrology (INARCH) of WCRP-GEWEX and the Third Pole Environment (TPE);

Codify EC-PHORS roles and modalities to bring forward matters for consideration and respond to recommendations from bodies such as the Arctic Council and ATCM; and

Sharpening our focus on how we communicate our intentions in the near-term.

6

 

4.02 Generally, EC PHORS needs to define or set some bounds on its consideration of what is meant by High Mountains and what activities might be envisioned. The Panel did recognize that the conduit for communication between the WMO Secretary-General and Members is through the Permanent Representative (PRs) but it was recognized that the Panel needs to expand its sphere of influence beyond the typical communication or influence of WMO PRs and better engage the research networks. 4.03 It was also decided to draft a letter to the space agencies promoting the PSTG reconfirming existing members, and a second to attract new members such as India or Argentina, or to reengage and replace resigning members such as Brazil. Comments on the PSTG Strategic Plan were solicited. The Panel does not have the necessary critical mass and it may require attracting expertise to participate in a HM Task Team. 4.1 Observations Framework 4.1.1 Árni Snorrason provided an overview of the observation framework activities including specific activities related to the Hindu-Kush Himalayas Karakoram region, Alps and Andes and coordination activities with PSTG.

4.1.2 He noted also that Arctic-HYCOS is designed to regularly collect, manage and share high quality data from a defined basic network of hydrological stations in the Arctic basin to evaluate freshwater flux to the Arctic Ocean and Seas, monitor changes and develop models for enhanced hydrological prediction in the Arctic region. A preliminary 616 stations have been identified with long-term daily discharge data available, and around 250 of these already provide online available data in near real time. The project covers the Arctic basin with participation from the eight Arctic Council Members. A demonstration project on Arctic-HYCOS is seen as an essential step in its implementation.

4.1.3 AntON and the WMO Solid Precipitation Intercomparison Experiment (SPICE) are very important elements of the work. SPICE is currently led by Canada (Ms Rodica Nitu) and consists of 20 sites worldwide with goal to standardize solid precipitation measurements; it is a demonstration project of the GCW. It is now in the analysis phase of the data captured over the past 4 years. Ms Nitu is interested in identifying a new lead to alleviate her workload after leading the experiment for four years.

4.1.4 Related to this, CIMO has nominated Arkady Koldaev (member of the CIMO Management Group) as the CIMO Focal Point for EC-PHORS. CIMO and RA VI plan to organize a workshop on observations at mountain stations, which is of interest to EC-PHORS. CIMO is also willing to assist EC-PHORS to conduct a survey of Members on their specifications for instruments used in polar and high mountain environments and on the observing practices they use in such environments if PHORS pursues this.

4.1.5 Overarching objectives for the Observation Framework are to:

a. Increase observations through partnerships with, inter alia, the Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks (SAON), the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO) etc.;

b. Confirm contributions to the YOPP field campaign and IOP (e.g. expanding AMDAR, VOS),and ensuring engagement of the PSTG member agencies in relation to specific data or product needs;

c. Help specify the locations and nature of the special observations for IOP; d. Advocate to expand Ocean observational capacity; and

7

 

e. Explore opportunities to reduce the cost of data transmission considering SATCOM is to become permanent in 2016.

4.1.6 The Panel needs to explore a specific action to liaise with the YOPP IOP teams (Chris Fairall/Iab Renfrew – Arctic and David Bromwich – Antarctic) to develop modalities to design and deploy observation systems in support of the YOPP and to advocate for legacy systems. 4.2 Antarctic activities (J. Stander, S. Colwell) 4.2.1 EC-PHORS facilitates the regulatory responsibility for the establishment and maintenance of an Antarctic Observing Network (AntON) of surface and upper-air stations to meet the requirements of Members. This constitutes one of the most important obligations of Members under Article 2 of the WMO Convention. A significant number of ships do not regularly report. The Antarctic Task Team (ATT) has been working with IAATO to encourage their members to submit meteorological observations from their ships when in Antarctic waters. The ATT continues to be concerned over the cost of data and how will the switch to sending data in BUFR format on the GTS/WIS affect the monitoring of Antarctic observations. 4.2.2 Following the broad introduction, the status of development of AntON and GCOS monitoring of the Antarctic were presented. The ATT works closely with the SCAR Expert Group on Monitoring. To support the YOPP IOP it is essential that WMO numbers are allocated to Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) so that these data are transmitted on GTS/WIS and ingested in the GDPFS. Having the metadata will also ensure that AntON data are compliant with WIGOS. Metadata collection will be facilitated by the WMO Observing System Capability Analysis and Review Tool (OSCAR) that will become operational in the course of 2016. 4.2.3 It was noted that Antarctica does not normally fall under the remit of NMHSs and thus the implementation of WIGOS has its challenges despite the fact that agreements on WIGOS represent a country commitment and not just the NMHS. Third party data is another issue that has been identified by the Intercommission Coordination Group (ICG-WIGOS). It may be helpful to get the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) on side to work through the ATS. It was also noted that we need to promote and improve service capacity in the Antarctic. The Panel will need some guidance on how to navigate the ATCM process. 4.2.4 Action items for the Panel include;

a. Investigating a clear, concise report on assets contributed from each country, the instrument sensors and issues or challenges associated. This might help identify systemic problems such as outages;

b. Determining impacts of the conversion to BUFR formats informed by CBS; c. Providing guidance on the scope and nature of future EC-PHORS’ collaborations with

the ATCM. In particular, the Panel must identify an Antarctic Practitioner to attend ATCM XXXIX in Santiago, Chile from June 6 -15, 2016;

d. Identifying topics for key papers to be submitted to ATCM XXXIX to raise the visibility and participation of the Panel, develop core agenda items and inform the meeting of the GIPPS and specifically YOPP;

e. Exploring approaches to develop an integrated service delivery model for Antarctic weather services, including possible coordinating role of WMO, and how to engage with ATCM during this process; and

8

 

f. Drafting a letter to PRs regarding assignation of WMO station numbers, including for research sites, to capture observations in WIGOS/operational data exchange systems and consider how to report on AntON performance in these terms.

4.3 Global Cryosphere Watch (J. Key by WebEx) 4.3.1 Jeff Key presented a status report on GCW development, implementation, and working structure. The Global Cryosphere Watch (http://globalcryospherewatch.org) was developed with the assistance of many Members as an IPY legacy. Although it is generally treated under the Observation Framework, it covers the spectrum from observation through data management and products and services. 4.3.2 EC-PHORS requested the Secretariat to follow-up on the decisions of Cg-17 to mainstream and implement GCW into WMO Programmes as a cross-cutting activity. The Secretary-General is to provide support to the implementation of GCW and to establish a GCW Project Office. Congress also agreed that the GCW Implementation Plan should be the guiding document for the implementation of the GCW and that the initial governance will be provided by EC-PHORS. The immediate priority for GCW is to establish CryoNet as one of the four core component observing systems of WIGOS and agreed on 36 CryoNet sites that will be used for the pre-operational testing phase. 4.3.3 The CryoNet network in Asia consists of six sites which are considered a good start for the Third Pole activities. However several gaps in the global network remain to be filled, including those that would monitor tropical glaciers. EC-PHORS requested the GCW Steering Group to develop further CryoNet sites to fill existing gaps notably in Africa, parts of Asia and North America. Plans are underway to hold a CryoNet workshop focusing on Asia and on the tropical glaciers to be held Russian Federation (February 2016) and in Africa (3rd quarter of 2016. 4.3.4 EC-PHORS agreed with the changes in the GCW working structure and its membership (see Annex 3). It noted gaps in expertise in several working groups and agreed that a letter of invitation should be sent to PRs by the WMO Secretary-General and to the academic community by the EC-PHORS Co-chairpersons in the Boreal fall of 2015. The GCW Steering Group (GSG) should also work on GCW network design and develop strategies to close existing gaps. 4.3.5 The GCW website (http://globalcryospherewatch.org) has not changed substantially in a structural sense since EC-PORS-5. It has, however, grown in content. The most significant change is in the CryoNet station/site questionnaire. Station information (metadata) provided through the questionnaire is used to dynamically generate a web page for each station and it is the basis for the selection of sites for CryoNet and for its pre-operational testing. The major changes include:

• A new structure for listing and displaying the surface network; • A Snow Watch inventory of snow datasets; • Additional products and new assessments in the Cryosphere Now section; and • Updates to the measurement methods page that includes additional resources. •

4.3.6 A number of initial products, such as “snow anomaly trackers” for snow water equivalent, are available on the GCW website that could be used by the future Polar Regional Climate Centres (PRCCs). The GCW Steering Group has built a broad partnerships beyond the NMHS community and National focal points ensure we continue to progress with global representation.

9

 

4.3.7 Action items for the Panel include;

a. Considering how it will interact with the GSG and the GCW-PO once established, including approval of GSG members and interface with the GCW-PO;

b. Conscripting experts to assist with the work and acquire the support of the Members; c. Determining how WMO can develop connections to the GEO Cold Regions initiative as it

was noted that synergy between the activities are important in the context of Horizon 2020 and other initiatives; and

d. Ensuring there are CryoNet sites that better represent the gaps in High Mountain environments (e.g. the Rockies, Alaska Range, Africa etc.) perhaps with a specific target over three years (e.g. 15 new sites).

4.4 High Mountain Activities (C. Xiao) 4.4.1 The Panel was introduced to the components of high mountain regions’ hydro-meteorological and cryospheric observing systems and services including the need for coordination (e.g. focal points for each of the high mountain regions), plans for new instrumentation and data capture in real or near real-time. It was noted that CryoNet in Asia now has six sites and progress was stimulated by the 3rd Tibet Plateau Atmospheric Scientific Experiment (TIPEX-3) jointly launched in 2013 by China Meteorological Administration (CMA), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NNSFC), and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). TIPEX-3 Phase 1: 2014 – 2017 has expanded observations for water and energy balance of land surface processes, boundary layer in the Third Pole. For all High Mountain activities, integrated observation for satellite remote-sensing product calibration and data policy and data sharing are required. Issues concerning adaptation to the impact of rapid glacier retreat in the Tropical Andes and shrinking Patagonian glaciers are of concern. 4.4.2 The Panel will continue to discuss a process and the applicability of our activities toward High Mountain activities including what gaps or areas that we need to focus on from the Panel’s perspective. In doing so, we must be cognizant of the differences in processes and predictability between the poles and high mountain regions under GIPPS, GCW, GEO and other initiatives. 4.4.3 Action items for the Panel include;

a. Establishing focal points for each HMA partner; b. Seeking modalities to promote High Mountain activities and to engage countries and

organizations such as WGMS, IPA, ICIMOD, MOUNTerrain, INARCH and TPE in these activities;

c. Communicating that service enhancement (Seasonal climate prediction, water availability prediction, hazards prevention, infrastructure protection, ecology protection and pasture maintenance) requires an expanded observation system and effective data sharing framework;

d. Refining the role of PHORS; e. Initiating an inventory of existing platforms and ensuring they are linked to GCW. We need

to include Polar and HM observations in the RRR and the OSCAR database; f. Strengthening linkages with WCRP (GEWEX / CliC) in order to improve the fundamental

science aspects of the production chains; g. Determining how we might expand the PSTG mandate to incorporate High Mountain

observations;

10

 

h. Seeking modalities to provide WMO’s scientific and technical expertise, as well as its organizational components and engagement with Members in the region, to achieve the aims of the Arctic Circle Third Pole initiative.

4.5 Polar Space Initiatives; (M. Drinkwater)

4.5.1 The WMO Polar Space Task Group (PSTG) represents an important coordination group among all space agencies and seeks to ensure the integration between remote and in-situ observations. To better frame and communicate its activities in the next four years, PSTG has developed a draft 2015-2018 Strategic Plan to illustrate support to GCW and YOPP (Mid 2017- Mid 2019). The plan also describes functional and scientific achievements, mechanisms to achieve its goals, measures of success, and future priority areas. PSTG intends to finalize the Plan at its fifth session in October 2015.

4.5.2 The Panel noted that high mountains are not in the PSTG mandate. Whilst polar orbiting satellites pass over the poles around 14 times a day the sensors deployed for polar observations often do not cater for the time/space sampling needed for mountain applications, particularly at lower latitudes. The PSTG has been anticipating user needs and it would be useful to create a set of strategic goals for products and services and inform the future development of, for example, coordinated inter-agency SAR or other data acquisitions.

4.5.3 It was noted that DG Research and Innovation of the European Commission recognizes the benefits of the PSTG coordination. Sentinel-1A operational SAR data acquisition plans currently respond to Copernicus service needs as priority, and the single satellite alone is unable to fulfil PSTG requirements for the SAR entirely, such as pan-polar sea ice coverage every few days. Multi-satellite coordination remains a high priority to secure coverage in conjunction with RADARSAT and other SAR satellites. Satellite Doppler Wind Lidar (ADM Aeolus) will provide horizontal line of sight wind speed profiles from 30 km altitude down to the surface and may be available for launch around the end of 2016, early 2017 in time to support YOPP. Further, SAR and Vis-IR missions can assist models with routine sea-ice observations, and optimal estimation of weekly seasonal ice thickness products has been demonstrated using ESA’s CryoSat and Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (SMOS) research missions. 4.5.4 Action items for the Panel include;

a. Reviewing the mandate of the PSTG to inform, support and advocate for PSTG activities. Southern ocean satellite data requirements is one aspect that needs further focus to maintain bipolar balance;

b. Reviewing the PSTG Strategic Plan prior to the PSTG-5 meeting on October 5-7, 2015; c. Re-engaging with existing space agencies to extend the mandate and to attract others (e.g.

Argentina, Brazil and India) that may be interested in contributing; d. Extending the mandate of PSTG under new EC-PHORS terms of reference until 2018; and e. Supporting Cal/Val of Space-based observations before and during the YOPP IOP.

11

 

4.6 Research Framework (Ø. Hov, T. Jung, M. Sparrow) 4.6.1 Øystein Hov led this discussion and Thomas Jung provided a status report on GIPPS development and steps proposed for GIPPS components (the Polar Prediction Project (PPP) by WWRP and the Polar Climate Predictability Initiative (PCPI) by WCRP), including a plan for YOPP. 4.6.2 Global prediction centres have not really focused on Polar Regions (e.g. ECMWF just use a static persistent characterization of sea ice) so the need to improve our capabilities is self-evident. The GIPPS 2013-2022 is a ten year effort that aggregates the efforts of the world’s NMHSs and research institutions to map weather, water and climate in these regions and provide an invaluable resource to be drawn upon by decision-makers. GIPPS is service-driven (i.e. operational in focus) and will provide `predictions´ spanning short-term (weather) to centennial (e.g. sea level) time scales. GIPPS is comprised of two inter-related initiatives; the PPP of WWRP at time scales of hours to seasons and the PCPI of WCRP designed for time scales of seasons to decades. 4.6.3 The Implementation and Science Plans for the PPP are available at the website for the ICO for Polar Prediction: (http://polarprediction.net/en/home) which is based at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research. The PCPI will be a component of the “The Cryosphere in a Changing Climate” Grand Challenge of WCRP (although the scope of the PCPI extends well beyond the cryosphere). The two co-leads of the GIPPS - PCPI are Cecilia Bitz (CliC) and Ted Shepherd (SPARC).

4.6.4 YOPP is a community initiative under the auspices of the WMO/WWRP PPP for the period 2017 – 2019 centred on 2018. It aims to enable a significant improvement in environmental prediction capabilities for the Polar Regions and beyond, by coordinating a period of intensive observing, modelling, prediction, verification, user-engagement and education activities. The Implementation Plan for YOPP has been officially released. It is available at http://www.polarprediction.net/documents.html. 4.6.5 The Panel members were very supportive and impressed by the progress. The Panel noted the need to ensure stronger linkages with the research community and link with Space agencies on the YOPP. Harmonized data policies is important to its success and should be in place for the operational phase (mid 2017- mid 2019) as well as the consolidation phase out to 2022. The focus on the Antarctic is important to the tourism interests however, challenges there include bandwidth, access to data and the need for more robust, coordinated service delivery; that GIPPS and YOPP need to play a role as a service enabler. The USA National Science Foundation (NSF) has been funding some activities to optimize observation networks in the Antarctic which could assist in this process. 4.6.6 The Research group noted that we need a better definition of high mountain areas which are dominated by small scale, in time and space, weather, climate and water features. Although they have a significant cryosphere component, they are often sparsely observed and scales are variable. One must ask whether the Alaska mountain range fits the high mountain definition in comparison to the Alps, Andes and Hindu-Kush Himalayas Karakoram (KHK), does such a broad definition fit the EC-PHORS mandate? We therefore need to consider the role of WMO in high mountain environments in terms of user requirements including their effect on weather patterns (e.g. monsoons), seasonal climate prediction, water availability prediction, hazards prevention (e.g. landslides, avalanches), infrastructure and ecosystem protection. The Panel noted that we need to capitalize on existing linkages with, for example, WCRP-CliC and GEWEX in order to improve the fundamental science aspects of the production chain. Perhaps it may be helpful to liaison with the WWRP- High Impact Weather (HIW) Project.

12

 

4.6.7 Action items for the Panel include;

a. Strengthening linkages between the PPP-SERA sub-committee with the EC-PHORS Service Framework in order to formulate forecasts including warnings to trigger an adequate human behavioural response and communicate the socio-economic benefits of research and its contribution to community resilience;

b. Encouraging seamless prediction and building synergy between PPP and PCPI planning; c. Ensuring the PSTG space agencies validate their plans to ensure that the data sets are

sustained in support of demands from the modelling and service communities emulating the dialogue that takes place under the aegis of organizations like EUMETNET;

d. Advocating with funding agencies on behalf of GIPPS and YOPP; and e. Calling upon WMO Members to fully participate in the YOPP intensive observing periods

and follow-up. 4.7 Services Framework (A. Devaris, H. Tangen) 4.7.1 Aimee Devaris and Helge Tangen provided an overview of the activities of the service framework which guides the integration of service delivery and factors contributing to service improvements through the acquisition of user perspectives. Their key challenge was to produce what is referred to as a “Services White Paper” in line with the approved WMO Strategy for Service Delivery (SD) which was approved by Congress as a high priority for the Organization. It was a challenge tackling such a large and diverse landscape using the WMO SD Strategy Progress Model as tool to focus and identify gaps, e.g. verification. The latest draft incorporated the work of Scott Carpentier and Elizabeth Donovan, with COMNAP, to develop the Antarctic weather service delivery paper. 4.7.2 The group has been scoping the development of Polar Regional Climate Centres (PRCC) and Polar Regional Climate Outlook Forums (PRCOF). Under the auspices of the WMO Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) and with a contribution by the Government of Canada, the WMO will host a Scoping Workshop on Climate Services for the Polar Regions, which will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from November 17-19, 2015. The key result of this GFCS project is to develop an improved climate services framework across the Arctic Polar Region and establish a Polar Regional Climate Centre or network thereof. To prepare for this event, in February 2015, a survey was completed to determine the scope of services and the readiness of Member states to provide information and services. The preliminary findings of that survey are contained in Doc 5(3), “PRCs & PRCOFs” available at https://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/polar/sessions.html . 4.7.3 The Services Team has revised the White Paper considerably to bring organization and focus to the spectrum of service requirements and gaps by framing them around specific user groups. In addition, a general characterization of services in the context of the WMO Service Delivery Progress Model allows for best practices and recommended actions to be more easily identified across the three relevant and distinct regions (e.g., Arctic, Antarctic, and High Mountains). The Chairs agreed the White Paper should be considered for final review and adoption, so it can be the intended EC-PHORS reference document for service requirements. The Services Team proposed a workshop to identify a specific set of recommendations or best practices responsive to the White Paper. 4.7.4 Discussion ensued on sea-ice services for the Antarctic. Solutions there are not as complex as in the north; there is, therefore, no appetite to have the investment of a large number of ice services providing the same or similar services. With approximately 4000 researchers, and 40,000

13

 

tourists annually visiting the Antarctic as well as relatively limited fishing activities outside the ice margin, the intent is to ensure that operations are run efficiently and that no one gets in trouble. 4.7.5 On the proposed Services workshop in 2016, the Panel suggested that the scope and scale should highlight how customers will use the outputs of YOPP investments. The focus for this workshop will be informed by the PRCC Scoping Workshop and the 3rd Pole RCC Scoping Workshop. We will need to determine opportunities for the timing of the workshop in relation to the YOPP PPP-SERA sub-group responsible for outreach, communications, and stakeholder engagement. This workshop may consider launching a handful of demonstration projects. 4.7.6 Action items for the Panel include;

a. Implementing formal outreach with nationally recognized indigenous groups beginning with the Permanent Participants to the Arctic Council;

b. Developing the concept and action plan for a scoping workshop on service delivery engaging with the PPP-SERA group and the WMO Public Weather Services programme;

c. Socializing the concept of a PRCC for Antarctica with COMNAP building a consortium of southern hemisphere communities in a unified and persuasive way;

d. Working with the IICWG on Southern Hemisphere circumpolar ice-edge bulletin; e. Gathering the 13 countries of YOPP and holding workshop that assesses services

outcomes of YOPP/PPP and designs a demonstration project; f. Connecting representatives of the Services Framework with GCW teams; g. Final review of the Services White Paper so it may be adopted; and h. Scott Carpentier to take the co-lead of this group allowing Aimee Devaris to reduce her

commitment. 5. Perspectives of Partners; 5.1 International Polar Partnership Initiative (IPPI) 5.1.1 During the meeting, there were detailed presentations from Panel members representing partner organizations. Overarching this discussion is the ongoing consideration of the International Polar Partnership Initiative. The IPPI is the evolution of the International Polar Initiative (IPI) which emerged from the International Polar Decade (IPD), a Russian Federation led initiative held in 2011 which in turn was informed by the IPY-CLIPS workshop in 2008. Congress endorsed participation of WMO in the further development of the IPPI Concept through Resolution 57 (Cg-17). A separate meeting took place between the co-chairs and some IPPI interagency Steering Group (SG) members who were meeting separately at RANNIS in Reykjavik; next steps by the IPPI SG will be monitored. 5.1.2 The IPPI Concept document is the product of the IPPI SG on a Long-Term Cooperative International Polar Initiative. Various iterations of the Concept document have been reviewed and the consistent view is that it needs to “better highlight tangible benefits and outcomes expected from the IPPI beyond existing partnership mechanisms”. EC-PHORS stressed the need for distinguishable activities that are inexpensive to implement, clearly address WMO objectives and considers benefits to national programmes. There are merits of IPPI and plans to move forward to develop shared objectives and activities under a framework agreement. There are synergies with the efforts of the Arctic Council through its Task Force on Science Cooperation. 5.2 Arctic Council (AC)

14

 

5.2.1 Dr. Magnús Jóhannesson, Director of the Secretariat of the Arctic Council provided an overview of the work of the Arctic Council (http://www.arctic-council.org/). He focused on the need for greater alignment and clarity between United Nations Intergovernmental work such as that of WMO to which Arctic Council member governments contribute and the work of AC which is intergovernmental and has those same governments involved. An example of this disconnect is that WMO has world experts developing climate change monitoring measures and standards, and one finds working groups of the council doing similar work without WMO engagement.

5.2.2 It was noted that the WMO had applied for Observer status and did not achieve it on two attempts. There is some sensitivity on the part of some members that there are currently 33 observers; nonetheless, WMO expertise is seen as an asset to the Council’s goals as NMHSs operating in Arctic have operational networks that contribute to AC work, e.g. through AMAP. One aspect to follow up is engaging indigenous communities which are important to the Panel’s emphasis on improved service delivery to augment community resilience. Clearly, the Panel needs to develop a mechanism to effectively talk with AC and to integrate work of research institutes and operational agencies.

5.3 Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP)

5.3.1 Lars-Otto Reiersen provided an overview of the structure, purpose and focus for AMAP. Its environmental focus is on human health including mercury deposition, airborne pollutants, black carbon, radioactivity (e.g. decommissioned submarines), ocean acidification and Arctic freshwater systems assessment. He noted several activities strongly related to EC-PHORS including SAON and Adaptation Actions for a Changing Arctic (AACA). The final version of the Arctic Resilience Report, an initiative of the Swedish AC Chairmanship and now co-chaired by Sweden and the United States, is due in May 2016. Previous chairs, Sweden and Canada, concentrated on the national interests in the international context. A significant change is noted with the USA chair-ship with their concentration on pan-Arctic issues of climate change and ocean acidification.

5.4 International Arctic Science Council (IASC)

5.4.1 Volker Rachold noted that IASC consists of 22 member countries, the most recent member being Portugal. The key initiative undertaken by the IASC third International Conference on Arctic Research Planning (ICARP III) which provides a framework to identify Arctic science priorities for the next decade and to coordinate Arctic research agendas. The four scientific themes in mind i) Climate System and Transformations, ii) Societies and Ecosystems, iii) Observing, Technology, Logistics and Services and iv) Outreach and Capacity Building. IASC is working on the “roadmap” for the next decade and will be discussed at the next Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) which will be held in Fairbanks (USA) on 12-18 March 2016. This will be held in tandem with the Arctic Observing Summit (AOS); see https://assw2016.org. The 2017 meeting will be held in Prague and the next joint IASC-SCAR meeting will take place in Davos, Switzerland in 2018.

5.5 International Ice Charting Working Group (IICWG)

5.5.1 Helge Tangen summarized the latest meeting of the IICWG which successfully engaged Southern Hemisphere organizations having Antarctic METAREA responsibilities (Australia, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand and South Africa) to enhance marine safety in ice-frequented southern waters. The meeting agreed that a first priority should be to produce a regularly updated circumpolar ice edge bulletin for broadcast on the Global Maritime Disaster and Safety Service (GMDSS). A 1-day workshop is being planned for October 2015 in conjunction with IICWG-XVI (October 19-24) to further develop the logistics for this initiative. Russia’s AARI, US NIC and the Norwegian Ice Service have commenced a project to integrate their production of ice charts for

15

 

Antarctic waters. The IICWG has initiated an inventory of national ice service plans that could contribute to the YOPP.

5.5.2 Helge remarked that the biggest modelling challenge is the initialization of the state of the sea-ice. He highlighted the opportunity to connect IICWG and the YOPP communities to test/validate ice prediction work.

5.6 Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR)

5.6.1 Steve Colwell noted that two new countries have joined SCAR, the Czech Republic and the Islamic Republic of Iran, bringing the total number of countries in the SCAR family to 39. Two new Vice Presidents were also elected – Azizan Abu Samah (Malaysia) and Terry Wilson (USA). SCAR conducts a host of activities across many disciplines including the Operational Meteorology in the Antarctic www.scar.org/ssg/physical-sciences/opmet, Ice Sheet Mass Balance and Sea Level www.scar.org/ssg/physical-sciences/ismass (a SCAR/IASC/CliC Expert Group), Antarctic Climate Change in the 21st Century (AntClim21) www.scar.org/srp/antclim21 the SnowAnt Action Group improve knowledge and implement the SnowReader and the Southern Ocean Observing System www.soos.aq. Other highlights include the SCAR Horizon Scan and Antarctic Roadmap Challenge

5.7 Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) 5.7.1 Mike Sparrow remarked that WMO input to the Treaty System is both useful and appreciated. By engaging with the Treaty in a meaningful and constructive manner WMO is enhancing its own profile and prestige in an important policy forum. Recommendation 6 of the 2015 meeting encourages governments to work with SCAR to consider how best to promote international Antarctic climate change research, including to support the objective of the 21st Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC meeting in Paris. 5.7.2 The Panel will have to provide guidance on the scope and nature of future EC-PHORS’ collaborations with the ATCM, in particular for ATCM XXXIX in Santiago, Chile from June 6 -15, 2016 which will have a particular emphasis of the Treaty on climate change issues and on education and outreach. The timing is problematic for WMO representation as it overlaps for the 68th Session of WMO EC and FINAC which takes place from June 13 – 24. 5.7.3 The Panel will need to discuss topics for key papers to be submitted to the meeting which may require additional Antarctic Task team (ATT) members to assist. Tourism, search and rescue and other services are governed under the treaty; we may wish to pursue a dialogue on how the ATCM might address a more common baseline of weather services. The Panel needs to identify an Antarctic practitioner and determine how it can facilitate the discussion between WMO and the operational working group, COMNAP. The Panel will need some guidance on how to navigate the ATCM process and to raise the visibility of the GIPPS and specifically YOPP.

5.8 International Association of Cryospheric Sciences (IACS) 5.8.1 Charles Fierz briefed on the three standing groups of IACS; Glaciers and Permafrost Hazard in Mountains (GAPHAZ), the Joint Commission on Volcano-ice interactions and the Steering Group for the GTN-Glacier including the WGMS which provides a snapshot of the ~200,000 glaciers on Earth. He noted the Joint IACS-CliC-IGS symposium, Wellington, New Zealand February 13 –17, 2017. (See; http://www.iugg.org/associations/iacs.php)

16

 

5.9 Group on Earth Observations (GEO) 5.9.1 Dominique Bérod provided an overview of the GEO Cold Regions initiative. Building synergy with the GEO initiative may offer an avenue to reach communities outside the Panel’s membership domains and create synergies and partnerships with policy-makers, stakeholders, and funders over the cold regions’ ecological and engineering fields, and improve the public awareness through capacity development. GEO is gearing up for the Ministerial from November 9 – 13 in Mexico City, an opportunity to promote activities in the cryosphere. 5.9.2 Activities for 2015 include strengthening collaboration with WCRP, sponsoring the Polar challenge, participation to the YOPP Summit. WMO and GEO are co-hosting a session during the Arctic Circle Assembly in October 2015. GEO will participate on the organizing committee of the Arctic Observing Summit to be held in 2016 in Alaska. Candidate initiatives, depending on resources, include a global network to archive, manage, and provide access to in-situ and remotely-sensed data for monitoring the global cold regions. He also highlighted the work with GCW to advocate for sustained observations and information exchange mechanism to understand the global change over the cold regions including a proposed Global Cold Regions Community Portal. It was noted, however, that resources toward these efforts are quite limited. 5.10 The Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) Bruce Angle requested that the Panel provide suggestions toward the PRCC concept for the Arctic and the ‘Third Pole Scoping workshops. The Panel needs to consider a mechanism to liaison with the Inter-Commission Coordination Group for WMO’s Contribution to the GFCS (or WMO Coordination Group for the GFCS) which was formed at Congress. This would enable a link to the Intergovernmental Board on Climate Services. The GCOS review and the adoption of Resolution 60 CG XVII – WMO Policy on the International Exchange of Climate Data and Products to Support the Implementation of the GFCS needs to be considered in the context of the Implementation of EC-PHORS activities in support of the GFCS. 6. Other Activities

6.1 During the session, the Panel was privileged by a series of presentations at the Icelandic Meteorological Office including;

Tómas Jóhannesson, Group Leader for Glaciological Research on Glaciers and climate change in Iceland: hydrological and societal implications

Harpa Grímsdóttir, Coordinator for Avalanche Hazards on Snow avalanches and landslides in Iceland: monitoring, hazard zoning and mitigation;

Matthew J. Roberts, Coordinator for Flood Hazards on Monitoring of floods and volcanic eruptions in Iceland; and

Professor Guðfinna Aðalgeirsdóttir, of the Glaciological Group of the University of Iceland. 6.2 On Thursday, September 10, the Panel was received by the President of Iceland, Mr Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, at the President’s Office at Bessastaðir for broad discussions on Polar and High Mountain issues, areas of particular interest to the president. This encompassed a very interesting exchange of views on the changing scope of the Arctic and Hindu-Kush Himalayas Karakoram (Third Pole) Region; the former opening up only at the end of the cold war, the latter serving as a

17

 

significant water source for over one billion people and both under severe threat of climate change, 6.3 President Grímsson was excited about the attention to the Arctic by the Obama administration at the recent Global Leadership in the Arctic: Cooperation, Innovation, Engagement and Resilience (GLACIER) conference. He provided an overview of his Arctic Circle initiative developed as a means of breaking down political barriers that impede cooperation. The President was briefed on EC-PHORS activities. He was impressed by the breadth of engagement and noted that WMO’s scientific and technical expertise, as well as its organizational components and engagement with Members in the region, would be very helpful in achieving the aims of the Arctic Circle Third Pole initiative.

7. Structure and Modalities of EC-PORS; Future Work Programme 7.1 It was noted that EC-PHORS’ operating space is quite large including the domains of observations, research and services at the poles and High Mountains with the need for broad outreach activities to stakeholders to develop services. The competencies of Panel members, available resources and ability to partner and deliver are limited while the scale is unlimited. 7.2 Over the subsequent weeks and months, EC-PHORS must be cognizant of these limits and constrain its focus to avoid becoming too diffuse. The Panel will continue to facilitate advances in observations, understanding of changes and prediction in pursuit of better and new services and seek to ensure that all of our activities and partnerships should logically lead to the realization of specified outcomes. 7.3 The Panel concluded initial assignments of new members in the framework of our activities and formed a High Mountain Task Team (HMTT) to help define appropriate components of high mountain regions’ hydrometeorological and cryospheric observing systems and services. The Team will liaise with international organizations and programmes on high mountain observations, research and services. Given that both YOPP and the Panel are currently pursuing stakeholder engagement (i.e. for the PRCC); EC-PHORS will investigate the need for a task team on YOPP employing the guidance of the Services White Paper. 7.4 Taking into consideration the accomplishments of the Panel since its inception, a process will be established to reflect on and focus EC-PHORS’s efforts in the near term, particularly in the high mountain activities. The Terms of Reference were circulated for comment by the end of October and the Panel will articulate a renewed charge by the end of the calendar year to prepare a report to Executive Council in June 2016. 8. Closure 8.1 EC-PHORS-6 ended at noon on Friday September 11, 2015. The Seventh session will be held within the window of September 2016 and February 2017 with a preference to the southern hemisphere and, perhaps, to a location that might focus on mountain environments. Argentina noted they would investigate the possibility of holding the meeting in Ushuaia. 8.2 The co-chairs, on behalf of the Panel, thanked Árni Snorrason and his team for their superior efforts. They helped shape the agenda and informed the Panel of the activities, culture and landscape of Iceland. The meeting with the president of Iceland certainly inspired the group.

ANNEX 1

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS CO-CHAIRS Mr David Grimes (Canada) Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) Environment Canada 351 St-Joseph Blvd PVM Building, 8th Floor, ADMO Gatineau, QC K1A 0H3 Canada Tel.: +1 819 938 4385 Fax: +1 819 938 4391 E-mail: david.grimes@ec.gc.ca

Dr Robert Vertessy (Australia) Bureau of Meteorology

GPO Box 1289 Melbourne, VIC 3001 Australia Tel.: +61 2 62323501 Fax: +61 3 9669 4548 E-mail: r.vertessy@bom.gov.au

MEMBERS

Argentina Dr María Paula Etala(Ms) Acting Manager of Research, Development and Capacity Building National Weather Service Secretariat of Science, Technology and Production for the Defense Ministry of Defense 1104 Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires Argentina Tel: +54-11 4317 2000 ext. 3152 Fax: +54-11 4316 2309 E-mail: petala@smn.gov.ar Australia Mr Scott Carpentier Regional Manager Antarctic Meteorology

Bureau of Meteorology – Tasmania/Antarctic Region GPO Box 727 Hobart TAS 7000 Level 5, 111 Macquarie Street Hobart TAS 7001 Tel: +56 2 436 4502 Fax: +56 2 437 8512

E-mail: s.carpentier@bom.gov.au Canada Dr Geneviève Béchard Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) Environment Canada

Director General, Weather and Environmental Monitoring

351 St-Joseph Blvd Gatineau, QC K1A 0H3 Tel: +1 819 934 5471 E-mail: genevieve.bechard@ec.gc.ca

p. 2 Chile Ms Paola Uribe Ribaidi Direccion Meteorologica de Chile Av. Portales 3450, Estación Central Santiago Casilla 140, Sucursal Matucana, Estación Central Tel: +56 2 243 64538 Fax: +56 2 243 78212 E-mail: puribe@meteochile.gob.cl

China Dr Cunde Xiao China Meteorological Administration 46 Zhongguancun Nandajie Haidian District Beijing 100081 Tel: +86 10 6217 6570 Fax: +86 10 6217 5931

E-mail : cdxiao@lzb.ac.cn, cdxiao@cams.cma.gov.cn

Denmark Dr Katrine Krogh Andersen Dept. for Research and Development Danish Meteorological Institute Lyngbyvej 100, DK-2100 Copenhagen Tel: +(45) 3915 7494 Fax: +(45) 3927 1080

E-mail: kka@dmi.dk Finland Dr Johanna Ikävalko Finnish Meteorological Institute Vuorikatu 24 P.O. Box 503 FI-00101 Helsinki Tel: +358 400 291 066 Fax: +358 9 323 1025

E-mail: johanna.ikavalko@fmi.fi France Dr Marie Dumont Scientific deputy head French Snow Research Centre Bâtiment METEO-FRANCE

Domaine Universitaire 1441, rue de la Piscine F-38400, Saint Martin d’Hères France Tel: +33 4 76 63 79 07 Fax: +33 4 76 51 53 46 E-mail : marie.dumont@meteo.fr

Germany Mr Rüdiger Hartig

Deutscher Wetterdienst Bernhard-Nocht Str. 76 20359 Hamburg Germany Tel: +49 69 8062 6109 Fax: +49 69 8062 6106 E-mail: ruediger.hartig@dwd.de

p. 3 Germany / WWRP Polar Prediction Project Dr Thomas Jung Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research Bussestrasse 24 D-27570 Bremerhaven Germany Tel: +49 (0)471-4831-1761/1760

Mobile: +49 (0)15146722091 Fax: +49 (0)471-4831-1797 E-mail:Thomas.Jung@awi.de

Iceland Dr Árni Snorrason

Icelandic Meteorological Office Bustadavegur 9 IS-150 Reykjavik Tel: +354 522 6000 Fax: +354 522 6001 E-mail: arni.snorrason@vedur.is

Italy Dr Giancarlo Maria Pedrini

Advisor to the PR of Italy with WMO Via Murri 49 Bologna 40137 Italy Tel: +39 335 6400 315 E-mail: pedrini.giancarlo@gmail.com Dr Vito Vitale Senior Researcher University of Bologna ISAC-CNR Bologna Italy Tel: +39 051 639 9595 E-mail: v.vitale@isac.cnr.it

Japan Dr Takashi Yamanouchi National Institute of Polar Research and

Department of Polar Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies

10-3 Midoricho, Tachikawa-shi, Tokyo 190-8518 Japan

Tel: +81 42 512 0705 Fax: +81 42 528 3497

E-mail: yamanou@nipr.ac.jp Morocco Khalid Lahlal Moroccan National Meteorological Service Face Préfecture Hay Hassani B.P. 8106 Casa-Oasis Casablanca Morocco Tel: +21 2661174213 E-mail: lahlal.khalid@gmail.com

p. 4 Norway Mr Helge Tangen

Regional Director, Weather Forecasting in Northern Norway Norwegian Meteorological Institute (met.no) P.O. Box 6314 N-9293 Tromso Norway Tel.: +47 77 62 1300 Fax: +47 77 62 1301 E-mail: helge.tangen@met.no

Dr Øystein Hov Norwegian Meteorological Institute (met.no) P.O. Box 43, Blindern N-0313 Oslo Norway Tel: +47 22 96 3000 Fax: +47 22 96 3050 E-mail: oystein.hov@met.no Norway / Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Mr Lars-Otto Reiersen Programme (AMAP) Executive Secretary Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) P.O. Box 8100 Dep. N-0032 Oslo Norway Tel: +47 23 24 16 32 Fax: +47 22 67 67 06 E-mail: lars-otto.reiersen@amap.no

Republic of Korea Dr Sang-Jon Park Korea Polar Research Institute Korea Meteorological Administration 45 Gisangcheong-gil, Dongjak-gu Seoul 156-720 Tel: +82 32 760 5309 Fax: +82 28 36 23 86 E-mail: sangjong@kopri.re.kr Dr Kyung-On Boo Korea Meteorological Administration 45 Gisangcheong-gil, Dongjak-gu Seoul 156-720 Tel: +82 28 36 2385 Fax: +82 28 36 23 86 E-mail: kyungon@korea.kr Russian Federation Dr Alexander Klepikov

Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute of Roshydromet

38 Bering Street St Petersburg 199397 Tel: +7 812 352 02 26 Fax: +7 812 352 15 57 E-mail: klep@aari.nw.ru klep56@gmail.com

p. 5 South Africa Mr Johan Stander South African Weather Service P.O. Box 21 Cape Town International Airport 7525 Cape Town Tel: +27 21 934 0450 Fax: +27 21 934 4590 Mobile: +27 84 264 4765 E-mail: johan.stander@weathersa.co.za

Sweden Dr Anette Jönsson Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute Folkborgsvägen 1 S-601 76 Norrköping Tel: +46 11 495 8456 Fax: +46 11 495 8001 E-mail: anette.jonsson@smhi.se Sweden / Expert in Hydrological Research Dr Berit Arheimer

Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute Folkborgsvägen 1 S-601 76 Norrköping Tel.: + (46 11) 495 8456 Fax: + (46 11) 495 8001 E-mail: berit.arheimer@smhi.se

Switzerland / International Association of Dr Charles Fierz Cryospheric Sciences (IACS) WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF

Flüelastrasse 11 7260 Davos Dorf

Davos, Switzerland Tel: + 41 81 4170 165 Fax: + 41 81 4170 110 E-mail: fierz@slf.ch United Kingdom of Great Britain Dr Steven Colwell Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) British Antarctic Survey High Cross, Madingley Road Cambridge, CB3 OET Tel: +44 1223 221 1483 Fax: +44 1223 221 1279 E-mail: src@bas.ac.uk

United Republic of Tanzania Mr Ladislaus B Chang'a Tanzania Meteorological Agency Ubungo Plaza Building 3rd Floor P.O.Box 3056 Dar es salaam, Tanzania Mobile: +255 759 349 966 E-mail: Ladislaus.Changa@meteo.go.tz

p. 6 United States of America Ms Aimee Devaris NOAA - National Weather Service 222 West 7th Avenue 23, Suite 517 Anchorage Alaska 99513 Tel: +1 907 271 5126 Fax: +1 907 271 3711 E-mail: aimee.devaris@noaa.gov

Dr Kelly Falkner Division of Polar Programmes National Science Foundation 4201 Wilson Blvd., Room 755 Arlington, VA 22230 Tel: +1 703 292 7424 Fax: +1 703 292 90 81 E-mail: kfalkner@nsf.gov International Arctic Science Committee Dr Volker Rachold (IASC) IASC Secretariat

Telegrafenberg A43 14473 Potsdam Germany Tel.: +49 331 288 2212 Fax: +49 331 288 2215 E-mail: volker.rachold@iasc.info

European Space Agency (ESA) Dr Mark Drinkwater Mission Science Division (EOP-SM) European Space Agency (ESA) ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1 NL-2201 AZ Noordwijk, The Netherlands Tel: +31 71 565 5673 Fax: +31 71 565 5675

E-mail: mark.drinkwater@esa.int Secretariat Australia Jon Gill Manager, International Affairs Strategy, Parliamentary, International and Communication Branch Bureau of Meteorology Tel: +61 3 9669 4219 GPO Box 1289 Melbourne VIC 3001 Level 6, 700 Collins Street, Docklands VIC 3008 E-mail: j.gill@bom.gov.au Canada Mr Bruce Angle Special Advisor to the President of WMO Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC)

Environment Canada 351 St-Joseph Blvd PVM Building, 8th Floor, ADMO Gatineau, QC K1A 0H3 Tel: +1 819 938 4390 Fax: +1 819 938 4391 E-mail: bruce.angle@ec.gc.ca

p. 7 Other support United States of America Dr Renee Tatusko Alaska Regional Headquarters NOAA – National Weather Service 222 West 7th Avenue Anchorage, Alaska Tel: +1 907 271 3886 Fax: +1 907 271 3711 E-mail: renee.l.tatusko@noaa.gov

WMO Secretariat Dr Wenjian Zhang Director, Observing and Information Systems Department, World Meteorological Organization 7bis, avenue de la Paix CH 1211 Geneva Switzerland Tel: +41 22 730 8567 Fax: +41 22 730 8021 E-mail: wzhang@wmo.int Dr Miroslav Ondráš

Chief, Observing and Information Systems Divisions Director, Observing and Information Systems Department, World Meteorological Organization 7bis, avenue de la Paix CH 1211 Geneva Switzerland Tel: +41 22 730 8409 Fax: +41 22 730 8021 E-mail: mondras@wmo.int Dr Mike Sparrow WCRP Senior Scientific Officer World Meteorological Organization 7bis, avenue de la Paix CH 1211 Geneva Switzerland Tel: +41 22 730 8486 Fax: +41 22 730 8036 E-mail: msparrow@wmo.int GEO Secretariat Dr Dominique D. Bérod Senior Expert - Water and climate Hydrological adviser of the WMO Region VI GEO Secretariat CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland Tel: +41 22 730 87 99 E-mail: dberod@geosec.org

ANNEX 2

EC Panel of Experts on Polar and High Mountain Observations, Research and Services

(EC-PHORS) - Team Assignments

September 24, 2015

Context

While recognizing that experts associated with PORS bring with them a broad and often interdisciplinary background, a primary responsibility for each of the Panel members is highlighted in this shade of red and, where appropriate, a secondary area of interest in this shade of blue.

D. Grimes (Co-chair) Canada

R. Vertessy (Co-chair) Australia

Task

Foci for Activities

Leads

Antarctic Task Team

General; Antarctic Observation Network (AntON) Review – update resolutions of record Review – update standard regulatory material Propose recommendations to the Antarctic Treaty

System Review observing practices used in the Antarctic Liaison with ATCM

S. Colwell J. Stander

Panel members; R. Hartig, A. Klepikov, J. Renwick, K. Satheesan, K. Falkner, S. Carpentier, T. Yamanouchi, P. Etala

High Mountain Task Team

General; Define appropriate components of high mountain

regions’ hydrometeorological and cryospheric observing systems and services

Review observing practices used in high mountain Liaison with international organizations and programmes

on high mountain observations

Leads C. Xiao C. Fierz

Panel members; L. Chamg’a, M. Dumont, K. Lahlal

Observational

Framework

General; Includes observations from research and monitoring

networks, satellite, in-situ and new technologies Monitor effectiveness of basic observing systems and

support standardization of observing practices for Polar and High Mountain Regions

Polar Space Task Group to provide coordination across Space Agencies in support of cryospheric and polar research and applications.

Provide oversight of the Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW) implementation and ensure cryosphere communities are engaged in GCW working structure

Liaise with the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS) regarding AntON, CryoNet and space-based observations and coordinate with ICG-WIGOS and its Task Teams

Leads A. Snorrason M. Drinkwater (PSTG) J. Key (GCW) & WIGOS Liaison

Task

Foci for Activities

Leads

Ensure integration and interoperability with the WMO

Information System (WIS) Liaison with international organizations and programmes

on polar observations

Panel members; G. Béchard, G.M. Pedrini, C. Xiao, C. Fierz , H. Lantuit, V. Vitale, T. Yamanouchi, O. Hov, L.-O. Reiersen, K. Satheesan, C. Fierz For non-panel member of the PSTG and its subsidiary, the SAR Coordination Working Group, see; http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/sat/pstg_en.php For GCW Steering Group and other team members see; http://globalcryospherewatch.org/about/teams.html

Research

Framework

General The Global Integrated Polar Prediction System (GIPPS)

including WWRP-PPP and WCRP-PCPI, a research and operational focus from daily to inter-decadal timeframe

Monitor requirements of research scientists and advise operational community

Link with Services Framework

Lead J. Renwick

Panel members; T. Jung, B. Arheimer, K. Falkner, O. Hov, A. Jönsson, K. Krogh Andersen, V. Rachold, L. Chamg’a, P. Uribe Raibaudin, C. Fierz, T. Yamanouchi

Services

Framework

General Guide integration of service delivery & factors

contributing to service improvements Acquire user perspectives Liaison with IICWG, JCOMM and ICO for WWRP - PPP Develop the architecture for PRCCs, PCOFs

Leads H. Tangen S. Carpentier

Panel members; A. Devaris, A. Frolov, A. Jönsson, L.-O. Reiersen, P. Etala. J. Renwick, C. Xiao, J. Ikävalko. J. Stander, Non-Panel members; T. Stipa, A. Holman, R. Tatusko

International Polar

Partnership Initiative

General IPY Legacy; Modalities and level of engagement in IPPI Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) Data Policy

Leads D. Grimes R. Vertessy

Panel members; A. Klepikov, V. Rachold, L-O Reiersen

Secretariat

General Set boundaries of interest – Polar / sub-polar Inform and engage WMO Constituent bodies (Regional

Associations, Technical Commissions, Executive Council and Congress)

Continuity of engagement amongst Panel members Review - update Terms of Reference Input to WMO Strategic Planning External engagement

M. Ondráš W. Zhang B. Angle J. Gill

ANNEX 3

GCW WORKING STRUCTURE

GCW STEERING GROUP Chair: Árni Snorrason (Icealnd)

Vice-Chair: Barry Goodison (Canada)

Under the general guidance of the Cg and EC, the GCW Steering Group (GSG) will provide high-level guidance on GCW development and implementation and will steer the activities of its Task Teams. Especially it will:

1) Provide high level guidance and general direction on GCW implementation and its further development;

2) Liaise with the WMO’s GCW focal points nominated by the Permanent Representatives, as well as representatives of partner organizations and entities in GCW implementation;

3) Coordinate GCW activities with the WMO Technical Commissions, Regional Associations and Programmes, and with the relevant partner organizations, groupings and related international programmes,

4) Establish GCW Task Teams and provide guidance on their TOR and Work Plans; 5) Provide oversight and management of the GCW Task Teams; 6) Consider the development of a WMO GCW programme in collaboration with the WMO

Technical Commission, Regional Associations and Partners for consideration by EC-PORS

7) Provide guidance on the conduct of GCW Pilot and Demonstration Projects; 8) Report annually to EC-PORS, including recommendations for GCW development and

implementation for consideration by the WMO Executive Council and the WMO Congress;

9) Provide annual reports to all stakeholders, as appropriate through GCW website and/or Newsletter

Members:

Árni Snorrason Permanent Representative of Iceland with WMO. Director-General. Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO), Bustadavegur 9, IS-150 Reykjavik, Iceland

Jenny Baeseman

Director, Climate and Cryosphere Project Norwegian Polar Institute Fram Centre 9296 Tromsø, Norway

Sue Barrell Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, Australia

Gino Casassa Director of the Glaciological Department at the Instituto de la Patagonia, Universidad de Magallanes, Av. Bulnes 01855, Punta Arenas, Chile

Michele Citterio GEUS - Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark

Aimee Devaris Director, Alaska Region, National Weather Service NOAA. National Weather Service, 222 West 7th Avenue, 23, Suite 517, Anchorage, Alaska 99513, United States of America.

Mark Drinkwater ESA, ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

p. 2

Charles Fierz International Association of Cryospheric Sciences (IACS). WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche ReseaPrch SLF, Flüelastrasse 11, CH-7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland.

Øystein Godøy Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Postboks 43 Blindern, 0313 Oslo, Norway.

Barry Goodison 4 Vezina Pl., Kanata, Ontario K2K 3G9, Canada

Jeff Key Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1225 West Dayton Street; Madison; WI 53562; USA

Kari Luojus Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), Erik Palménin aukio 1, FI-00560 Helsinki, Finland.

Tetsuo Ohata Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)

Vasily Smolyanitsky Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI), Bering str., 38, St.Petersburg, Russian Federation.

Wolfgang Schoener

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schöner Climatology and Hydrology Unit Department of Geography and Regional Science University of Graz 8010 Graz, Heinrichstraße 36

Cunde Xiao

Chinese Academy of Meterological Science China Meteorology Administration 46 Zhongguancun Nandajie Beijing 100081 China

p. 3

OBSERVATIONS WORKING GROUP Chair: Wolfgang Schöner (Austria)

Co-Chair: Michele Citterio (Denmark) The Observations Working Group addresses capabilities and needs for surface-based and satellite observations. It is responsible for the establishment and coordination of operations of the GCW surface-based observational network, including the core network called CryoNet. The group develops a network strategy and procedures for becoming part of the GCW network, evaluates proposed sites, and determines data availability. It develops relevant material to be included in the WMO Technical Regulations and in the WIGOS Manual. To establish CryoNet, it defined the types of sites on land or sea, operating a sustained, standardized programme for observing and monitoring as many cryospheric components and variables as possible. This Group is compiling best practices, guidelines, and standards, facilitates instrument intercomparisons, and promotes interaction and collaboration between the scientific and operational communities. It is conducting an inventory of measurement methods and infrastructure at sites that measure components of the cryosphere. The Observations Working Group assesses user needs, periodically reviews and updates observing system requirements and capabilities, and contributes to the WMO Rolling Review of Requirements database.

CryoNet Team Lead: W. Schöner (Austria)

Best Practices Team Lead: Ch. Fierz (Switzerland)

and Þ. Þorsteinsson (Iceland)

Solid Precipitation Team Lead: R. Nitu (Canada)

The CryoNet Team establishes the surface-based observational network, develops formal procedures for establishing the GCW network, defines the types of sites and site requirements, and evaluates candidate sites.

The Best Practices Team conducts an inventory of measurement methods at sites that measure components of the cryosphere. It compiles best practices, guidelines, and standards.

The Solid Precipitation Team facilitates the intercomparison of instruments for measuring solid precipitation.

Members: M. Bernhardt (Germany), G. Casassa (Chile), M. Citterio (Denmark), Ch. Fierz (Switzerland), Ch. Genthon (France), B. Goodison (Canada), J. Key (USA) H. Lantuit (Germany), K. Luojus (Finland), Þ. Þorsteinsson (Iceland), V. Smolyanitsky (Russian Federation), S. Starkweather (USA), C. Xiao (China), H. Yabuki (Japan)

Members: M. Citterio (Denmark), J. Key (USA) W. Schöner (Austria), V. Smolyanitsky (Russian Federation)

Members: TBD

p. 4

INTEGRATED PRODUCTS WORKING GROUP

Chair: TBD Co-Chair: Kari Luojus (Finland), and Vasily Smolyanitsky (Russian Federation)

The Integrated Products Working Group identifies key GCW datasets. This includes the development of an inventory of candidate in situ and satellite products for GCW that are mature (product quality) and generally accepted (credible) by the operational and scientific community. The Group facilitates the harmonization of products (e.g., multiple sea ice estimates), product intercomparisons, and oversees development of data policies for GCW including data exchange by WMO Members. It considers data homogeneity, interoperability, and compatibility of GCW observing and monitoring systems and derived cryospheric products.

Snow Watch Team Lead: K. Luojus (Finland) and R. Brown (Canada)

The Snow Watch Team assesses the maturity and accuracy of snow products through intercomparison projects.

Members: Ch. Derksen (Canada), Sean Helfrich (USA), S. Pullen (UK) D. Robinson (USA), P. de Rosnay (ECMWF)

p. 5

INFORMATION AND SERVICES WORKING GROUP

Chair: Øystein Godøy (Norway) Co-Chair: Jeff Key (USA)

The Information and Services Working Group is responsible for the ongoing development and operation of the GCW Portal and its Data Catalogue, cryospheric metadata and terminology, the GCW Website, and outreach activities. The Group manages linkages to data contributors, works with national focal points, and develops documentation for outside use. It works through interoperability issues with data centres and other programmes.

Portal Team Lead: Ø. Godøy (Norway)

Terminology Team Lead: G. Casassa (Chile) Co-Lead: S. Starkweather

(USA)

Website and Outreach Team

Lead: J. Key (USA)

The Portal Team develops the GCW web portal (catalogue). It determines linkages to data contributors, evaluates and improves interoperability with partners, and works on metadata and terminology issues with the Terminology Team.

The Terminology Team identifies current cryosphere glossaries and develops/evaluates terminologies and vocabularies.

The Website and Outreach Team develops and maintains the GCW information website. This Team is an authoritative voice on cryosphere issues. It creates outreach material for the media and the public.

Members: Ch. Fierz (Switzerland), J. Friddell (Canada), K. Luojus (Finland), B. Saadatnejad (Norway), W. Schöner (Austria), S. Starkweather (USA)

Members: M. Citterio (Denmark), Ch. Fierz (Switzerland), Ø. Godøy (Norway) J. Key (USA) V. Smolyanitsky (Russian Federation) H. Yabuki (Japan)

Members: J. Baeseman (SCAR), R. Thoman (USA)

1

ANNEX 4

EC Panel of Experts on Polar and High Mountain Observations, Research and Services

(EC-PHORS) - Selected Meetings of relevance September 24, 2015

September 20-24 Interdisciplinary Polar Studies in Svalbard (IPSiS) Meeting, Svalbard,

Arctic Scientific Conference Longyearbyen, Field Workshops for young researchers October 5-9 11th International Conference on Southern Hemisphere Meteorology and Oceanography

(ICSHMO, Santiago, CHILE. Theme of “Antarctic weather and climate predictability and prediction” including “The WMO Polar Prediction Project (PPP)” http://www.icshmo-2015.com/

5-9 Polar Space Task Group (PSTG) and SAR CWG-4 meeting, Oberpfaffenhofen,Germany 13–15 Meteorological Technology World Expo, Brussels, Belgium 14 AECO’s 12th Arctic Cruise Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark 16-18 The 2015 Arctic Circle General Assembly, Reykjavik, Iceland http://arcticcircle.org/ 19-23 Sixteenth Session of the International Ice Charting Working Group, Rostok-Neustrelitz, Germany

(Includes a 1-day workshop on circumpolar ice edge bulletin for broadcast on the Global Maritime Disaster and Safety Service (GMDSS).

20-23 Senior Arctic Officials (SAO) Executive and Plenary Meeting, Anchorage, Alaska 27-28 2nd International Arctic Products Validation and Evolution Workshop, Norrköping, Sweden http://calvalportal.ceos.org/events/apveii-workshop 27-29 Second Polar Data Forum, Waterloo, Canada http://www.polar-data-forum.org/ November 2-5 INTERACT: International Network for Terrestrial Research and Monitoring in the Arctic, Warsaw, Poland http://www.eu-interact.org/ 2-27 World Radio Communication Conference 2015 (WRC-15). Geneva, Switzerland (TBC). 3-6 Polar Oceans and Global Climate Change, La Jolla, California http://www.americanpolar.org/news/events/ 3-6 Forum for Arctic Modeling and Observational Synthesis Meeting, Cape Cod, MA, USA http://web.whoi.edu/famos/workshop-4-november-3-6-2015/ 5-8 Due North: Next Generation Arctic Research & Leadership, Calgary, Alberta http://arctic.ucalgary.ca/acuns-2015-student-conference 9-13 Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Plenary and Ministerial, Mexico City, Mexico 17-19 Scoping Workshop on the Polar Regional Climate Centre concept, Geneva, Switzerland 17-19 Arctic Observing Open Science Meeting, Seattle, Washington http://www.arcus.org/search-program/meetings/2015/aoosm

2

Nov 30 – Dec 11 UNFCCC COP 21/ CMP 11, Paris, France. December 5-9 Global Cryosphere Watch Steering Group (GCW-SG) CryoNet, Portal, Website Teams, Boulder, Colorado 7-11 ArcticNet Annual Scientific Meeting, Vancouver, BC http://www.arcticnet.ulaval.ca/

2016 January Mid CryoNet Asia Workshop focusing on Asia and on the tropical glaciers, Salekhard, Russian

Federation 24-29 Arctic Frontiers 2016, Tromso, Norway www.arcticfrontiers.com 27-30 Northern Lights Conference, Ottawa, Canada http://www.northernlights.events/ February TBD 2nd CryoNet Asia Workshop, Salekhard, Russian Federation March TBD 3rd Portal Team and 1st Terminology Teams meeting (TBD) 12-18 Arctic Science Summit Week / Third Arctic Observing Summit, Fairbanks, AK

https://assw2016.org/ 15-17 Senior Arctic Officials (SAO) Executive and Plenary Meeting, Fairbanks, Alaska April TBC The First PPP/PCPI Polar Prediction School in Abisko, Sweden

Note; educational webinars will flank this event TBD CryoNet Team meeting TBD 4th GCW Steering Group meeting TBD 1st Best Practices Team meeting May 10–13 Earth Observation and Cryosphere Science 2016 (Co-organised with WCRP-CliC) ESA-ESRIN, Frascati, Rome, Italy See; http://congrexprojects.com/2016-events/15c11/introduction June TBD CryoNet Tropical Glaciers Workshop 15–24 Sixty Eighth Session of the WMO Executive Council (EC-68), Geneva, Switzerland 20 - 24 11th International Conference on Permafrost - ICOP 2016, Potsdam, Germany http://www.icop2016.org/ August 19 – 31 XXXIV SCAR Meetings and Open Science Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia http://scar2016.com/ September 19 20th Anniversary of the Arctic Council, Tromso, Norway TBD GCW 3rd Snow Watch Team meeting

3

TBD GCW 2nd Latin America Workshop TBD PSTG and SAR-CWG October 4-6 SAO Executive & Plenary Meeting, Portland, Maine November TBD GCW 1st Website & Outreach Team meeting 2017 TBD Arctic Science Summit Week (ASSW) 2017, Prague, Czech Republic 2018 TBD Joint IASC-SCAR meeting, Davos, Switzerland Further additions are welcomed