World Meteorological Organization Working together in weather, climate and water WMO Executive Council Panel of Experts on Polar Observations, Research and Services (EC-PORS) WMO EC-PORSwww.wmo.int WMO Adapted from a presentation to WMO Executive Council – LXII By David Grimes and Greg Ayers - EC-PORS Co-chairs NEIL ADAMS and STEVE PENDLEBURY Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia BRUCE ANGLE Meteorological Service of Canada, Ottawa, Canada

Historical perspective Recommended by WMO Congress XV – 2007 –Focus on integrating programs in polar regions –Program coordination for Antarctica –Implementation strategy for Global Cryosphere Watch –Need was re-enforced by International Polar Year Established by Executive Council in 2008 –David Grimes (Canada) and Greg Ayers (Australia) nominated as co-chairs –WMO Members (18) nominated 24 experts to participate EC-PORS took on the responsibilities of the previous EC- Working Group on Antarctic Meteorology

Geographic Scope Several different delineations of the Arctic and Antarctic regions, closely tied to the specific activity or programme Arctic – EC-PORS interacts with Region II, IV and VI Antarctic – EC-PORS has operational responsibilities south of 60 o S

EC-PORS EC-PORS’ Scope is broad Value-added chain involving Acquisition, Exchange, Products & Services weather, climate, water, oceans, cryosphere Observational gaps are significant; geographic, parameter specific Data accessibility inconsistent (telecom, data standards, policies) Remote sensing/Space assets are essential for research and operations Integrated monitoring (WIGOS,WIS) Promote configuration/interoperability with other polar observing networks Supersites for multidisciplinary monitoring Need to consider user requirements, new technologies, updated standards for the sustainability of observing systems Partnership with other organizations can bring benefits e.g. SAON Operational and financial challenges in remote, hostile environments Scope and Challenges Observations (Doc 3.4)

Polar Network of Networks GOS forms a core IABP RBSN AMDAR AWS ASBN ABN Joint Programmes GAW WCRP Arctic HYCOS GCOS (GOOS, GTN-P, GTN-G) IPA Sea Ice EC-PORS

EC-PORS – moving forward observations, research, services EC-PORS “Services” are the driver that anchors the Panel’s work –Polar NWP, GMDSS, Polar Climate Outlook Forums (PCOF) Influence the Global Framework for Climate Services – Polar Regions are important Polar Prediction System – WMO programmes picked up the challenge –WWRP,THORPEX,WCRP Polar Prediction Workshop –WCRP Polar Predictability Workshop –CLW - Polar Climate Outlook Forum Strengthen the interface with users including research community, northern peoples, economic sectors, e.g. tour operators (IAATO) Need to position WMO to influence and sustain observing systems Implementation of a Global Cryosphere Watch

Further Considerations for EC-LXII EC-PORS should deal with the operational dimension of Antarctic activities Sustainability of polar observing networks is critical –Members support of the collaborative efforts with the Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks (SAON) is a key step in this process Highly desirable for international organisations to coordinate their efforts to secure and develop an IPY legacy process, potentially in form of an International Polar Decade (IPD), as proposed by WMO at EC-LX –continue to seek Members’ ideas for an IPD –organize a workshop to further scope IPD with other relevant scientific bodies and international organizations by early 2011 GCW implementation strategy to be developed under the auspices of EC- PORS for submission to Cg-XVI for consideration. –Members support for GCW activities, including development of reference sites and establishment of a CGW portal and virtual network, is essential EC-PORS

A Final Consideration: Polar Prediction System as a unifying focus There is a need for an immediate, high-level and sustained focus on a polar prediction system (PPS) that would: involve the Earth System approach, from daily to seasonal to decadal and longer timescales, responding to societal needs stimulate integration of environmental observations to enhance prediction systems provide forecasts, predictions, projections and related information to governments and relevant socio-economic sectors, in synergy with the outcomes of WCC-3 and the Global Framework for Climate Services A polar prediction system will draw and coordinate many research and operational elements of WMO and related agencies, of national modeling centers and of other polar science organizations into common purpose. A polar prediction system could represent the central motivating idea of an International Polar Decade. EC-PORS

Three time scales for a PPS Short-term prediction eg CAS/THORPEX –deterministic/ensembles? Medium-term (up to decades) prediction eg WCRP focus –ensembles approach? Long-term projection (in the IPCC sense) of ice sheet mass balance and sea level for the next few centuries –scenarios?

Gap analysis GAP analysis outcome # 1 –Meeting the requirements of ‘Users’ of a ‘Polar Prediction System’ GAP analysis outcome # 2 –Identifying major performance deficiencies in current operational predictions systems GAP analysis outcome # 3 –Identifying observational gaps in networks/systems serving the current prediction systems