Scoping Workshop on the Establishment of the Antarctic Climate Forum (AntCF) and Meeting of the Antarctic Advisory Group (AntAG) under the Executive Council Panel on Polar and High Mountain Observations (EC-PHORS)

Document

• Agenda
• Concept note
• List of participants
• Logistical information
• Final report

Opening session

• Executive Council Panel of Experts on Polar and High Mountain Observations, Research and Services (EC-PHORS), Robert Argent (AntAG)
• Briefing on logistical, housekeeping arrangements, Vito Vitale (CNR)

Background: setting the scene

• Global Framework for Climate Services: GFCS-nextGen, Chris Hewitt (WMO)
• Climate Services Information System (CSIS) concept and functions with a special focus on WMO Regional Climate Centres and Regional Climate Forums, Rupa Kumar Kolli (SC-CLI)
• WMO Integrated Processing and Prediction System (WIPPS) activities focusing on sub-seasonal, seasonal, annual to decadal climate prediction, climate reanalysis, and cryosphere datasets and products, with a focus on global information, Eunha Lim (WMO)

Opportunities for collaboration and contributions of regional and global partners

• Antarctica: unique stakeholders' landscape (both in terms of providers and users) and role of RCC to address their needs and requirements, Robert Argent (AntAG)
• Engagement with partners:
  • Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP), Jonas Mphepya (SAWS)
  • Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP), Vito Vitale (CNR)
  • Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) perspective, Chandrika Nath (SCAR)
  • Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM), Thamban Meloth (NSF), Rodica Nitu (WMO)
• WMO Annual State of Global Climate report: the opportunities of expansion to Antarctica and role of AntAG, AntRCC-Network and regional partners, Chris Hewitt (WMO)
• BAMS Annual State of the Climate (Antarctica and Southern Ocean), stakeholder needs and collaboration, Steve Colwell (BAS) and Matthew Lazzara (AntAG)

Data availability to address requirements for RCC-RCF in Antarctic region

• Fundamental role of data and data requirements for the WMO and BAMS Annual State of the regional climate reports and RCOFs/RCCs to deliver climate services to the users, Peer Hechler (WMO)
• WMO Integrated Global Observing System, Rodica Nitu (WMO)
• Overview of observational datasets for Antarctic region, Steve Colwell (BAS)

The Antarctic regional context

• Overview of the regional climate features, main drivers, sources of predictability over Antarctic region, Marcelo Leppe Cartes (SCAR)
• Antarctic RCC-Network background, concept and outcomes of Implementation planning meeting in Melbourne, Robert Argent (AntAG)
• Provisional products and services:
  • Operational activities for long-range forecasts, Jacob Phillips (BOM)
  • Operational activities for climate monitoring, Vito Vitale (CNR)
  • Operational data services, Steve Colwell (BAS), Matthew Lazzara (AntAG)

The Antarctic Treaty Members perspectives

• Argentina, Eugenia Garbarini (SMN)
• Chile, Marcelo Leppe Cartes (SCAR)
• China, Shoudong Zhao (CMA)
• India, Sourav Chatterjee (NSF)
• Russian Federation, Vasily Smolyanitsky (AARI)
• South Africa, Jonas Mphepya (SAWS)
• United States of America, Venkatachalam Ramaswamy (OAR)

Good practices in neighbouring RCFs

• Arctic Climate Forum: first RCF with polar focus - a flagship activity of the Arctic RCC-Network, Helge Tangen (ArcRCC-Network coordinator)
• Pacific Islands Climate Outlook Forum and Pacific RCC-Network, Simon McGree (BOM)
• SARCOF and coordination of SADC-RCC, Sunshine M. Gamedze (SADC-CSC)
• SSACOF, Eugenia Garbarini (SMN)

Key conclusions and recommendations for a way forward

• Conclusion and way forward, Robert Argent (AntAG)

Meeting of the Antarctic Advisory Group (AntAG)

Following up on the Scoping Workshop recommendations

• Opening: goals and objectives of the meeting, Robert Argent (AntAG)
• Engagement with the WMO Antarctic Community
  • PHORS survey on NMHSs engagements in Antarctica national activities, James Lunny (PHORS), Jordis Sonnhild Tradowsky (PHORS)
  • COMNAP engagement - reflecting on workshop outcomes, Jonas Mphepya (AntAG)
  • ATCM engagement - reflecting on worshop outcomes
• Group presentations
  • Group 1: Argentina
  • Group 2: China
  • Group 3: Russian Federation
  • Group 4: Australia
  • Group 5: Coordinators (annex)
• Summary of key outcomes and recommendations of the Scoping Workshop, Robert Argent (AntAG)

Useful links

• Scoping Workshop: Toward Implementing an Antarctic RCC-Network, 7-9 October 2019, Bologna, Italy
• Antarctic Regional Climate Centre-Network Implementation Planning Meeting, 12-14 December 2022, Melbourne, Australia