HR: 13:55h
AN: C23B-02    [Abstracts]
TI: WMO Role In The International Polar Year 2007-2008
AU: * Sarukhanian, E
EM: esarukhanian@wmo.int
AB: The Fourteenth World Meteorological Congress in May 2003 had approved the idea of holding an International Polar Year in 2007-2008. The ICSU Executive Board in February 2004 decided to establish an IPY in 2007-2008 and invited WMO to jointly sponsor the IPY. In June 2004, ICSU and WMO agreed to act as cosponsors for the IPY. WMO contributions to the IPY would be focused on the areas of activities that are closely related to five themes of IPY Science Plan. One of the most important areas is the enhancement of observing components in Polar Regions. It includes re-activation of existing or establishing of new meteorological stations, increase the number of drifting buoys, ships and aircraft in Polar Regions. The existing satellites and new operational satellites with observational capabilities for Polar Regions will be used. In the atmospheric research area WMO plans to enhance integrated monitoring of the ozone layer, using ground-based optical remote sensing instrumentation and ozone sondes aircraft and satellites. It is also planned to intensify integrated measurement and modelling of the transport of greenhouse gases and aerosols. The period of IPY will overlap with the timeframe of Global Atmosphere Research Programme /(THORPEX/) carried out by WMO. Its implementation in Polar Regions is considered as part of IPY that would increase knowledge of global to regional influences on the initiation, evolution and predictability of high-impact weather, and contribute to the design and demonstration of interactive forecast system that allow information to flow between users, numerical modellers, data assimilation system and observations to maximize forecast skill and enhance the utility of forecasts. In the area of climate assessment WMO is intended to participate in the development of an IPY data management plan and coordinate establishment of a database of historical polar climate and related data, investigate teleconnections between polar regions and the lower latitudes and assess future climate change in Polar Regions. WMO as cosponsor of WCRP is also intended to intensify polar climate studies addressing the role of cryospheric processes and feedbacks through which the cryosphere interacts with other components of the climate system, assess the impacts of past and future climatic variability on components of the cryosphere and their consequences. In polar oceanography, it is planned to extend the study of physical processes in polar oceans as well as the role of polar oceans in climate change. For this purpose it would be necessary to establish the Arctic Ocean and the Southern Ocean Observing Systems and collect IPY observational data containing a snapshot of the polar oceans. To achieve quantitative understanding of fresh water input to the Arctic Basin WMO would initiate the project to provide data on river input to the Arctic basin over the entire Arctic drainage area by the establishment of the observational network with Data Collection Platforms. Recognizing that the overall concept on IPY addressed a broad range of scientific issues, including strong climate and environmental monitoring components, the WMO and ICSU decided to act jointly as leading agencies for the preparation and implementation of the IPY and establish an IPY Joint Committee for planning and coordination of the IPY 2007-2008 with participation of relevant international organisations.
DE: 9315 Arctic region
SC: Cryosphere [C]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting