EC-PORS-5/Doc. 8.8(6), p. 1

WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
PANEL OF EXPERTS ON POLAR OBSERVATIONS, RESEARCH AND SERVICES
Fifth session
Wellington, New Zealand, 25 – 28 February 2014 / EC-PORS-5/Doc. 8.8(6)
Date: 18 February 2014
ITEM: 7
Original: ENGLISH

REVIEW OF THE MANDATE, STRUCTURE AND MODALITIES OF EC-PORS

DRAFTING OF RESOLUTIONS FOR CG-17 AND EC-67 (2015)

DECISIONS/ACTIONS REQUIRED:
The Panel is invited to review the draft resolution and finalize it for submission to EC67 for approval.
content of document:
Draft Resolution x/x (EC-67) – EC-PORS

Res. Xx(EC-67)- EXECUTIVECOUNCILPANELOFEXPERTSONPOLAR (AND CRYOSPHERICHIGH MOUNTAIN ) OBSERVATIONS,RESEARCH ANDSERVICES

THEEXECUTIVECOUNCIL,

Noting:

(1)Resolution3(Cg-XVI)–GlobalObservingSystem,

(2)Resolution 50 (Cg-XVI) – Implementation of the WMO Integrated Global ObservingSystem,

(3)Resolution55(Cg-XVI)–AntarcticObservingNetwork,

(4)Resolution 56 (Cg-XVI) – Amendments to the Manual on the Global Observing System (WMO-No544),VolumeII,RegionalAspects–TheAntarctic,

(5)Resolution57(Cg-XVI)–GlobalIntegratedPolarPredictionSystem,

(6)Resolution58(Cg-XVI)–WMOPolarActivities,

(7)Resolution59(Cg-XVI)–InternationalPolarDecadeInitiative,

(8)Resolution60(Cg-XVI)–GlobalCryosphereWatch,

[MO1]

(9)Resolution 511 (EC-LXIII) – Executive Council Panel of Experts on Polar Observations,ResearchandServices,

Considering:

(1)Thatthepolarregionsareexperiencinganincreaseinhumanpresenceandactivities,requiring newor enhanced serviceslinkedto weather, climate, water and relatedenvironmental matters,

(2)That the cryosphere is global, existing in various forms spanning all latitudes and occurring in approximately one hundred countries in addition to the Antarctic continent,

(3)That the cryosphere is an integrative element within the climate system and provides one of the most useful indicators of climate change, yet it is arguably the most under-sampled domain in the climate system,

(2)That the polar regions, including the "Third Pole” are extremely important in terms of their global impacts on weather and climate, and the functioning of the Earth system,

(3)(4)Thatthereareconcernsaboutamplificationofanthropogenicclimatechangeathigherlatitudes,combinedwithanincreasinginterestinpolar regions by many governments,whichcallsforabetterunderstandingofweather,climate,waterandrelatedenvironmentalvariabilityandchangeinordertoimproveourabilitytomakereliable,quantitativepredictionsouttoseasons,decadesandcenturiesahead,

(5)Cryosphere-related feedbacks in the amplification of anthropogenic climate change causes impacts on weather, climate and water globally,

(4)(6)That thereremain keygapsinscientific understanding of processes and interactions inpolarregions ,includingboundarylayerbehaviour,polarcloudsandprecipitation,seaice/oceandynamics,hydrology,permafrostandicesheetdynamics,andthefunctioningoftheEarthsystem,

(5)(7)Thatthereisacontinuingneedforweather,climate,waterandrelatedenvironmentaldatafromthepolarregions,includingenhancementanddevelopmentofinstrumentsandmethodsofobservationsuitedtotheseareas;forthefullimplementationof the WorldWeatherWatch;andforthefullrealizationofthevalueofresearch,monitoringandpredictionofhydrology,climatechange,atmosphericcompositionandtheozonelayeroverthepolarregions,

(6)That successful implementation of the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007–2008 has resulted in a legacy of enhanced polar observing systems and research on the polar environment,

(7)(8)Thatarrangements ensuring the legacy of the IPY-enhanced observationalnetworks in pPolar regions are cross-cutting and should becloselycoordinatedwiththeimplementationoftheWMOIntegratedGlobalObservingSystem(WIGOS),anddesignedtoimproveinamostefficientwaythecapabilityofMemberstoprovidethewideningrangeofoperationalservicesandtobetterserveresearchprogrammerequirements,

(8)(9)ThatthereisanongoingneedtoformalizeresponsibilitiesfortheAntarcticasaregionnotcoveredbyanyoftheWMOregionalassociations,

(9)(10)Thattheestablishment and maintenanceof anAntarcticObservingNetwork(AntON) ofsurfaceandupper-airstationstomeettherequirementsofMembersareamongthemostimportantobligationsofMembersunderArticle2oftheWMOConvention,

(10)(11)That the density of the current Antarctic Observing Network of surface and upper-airstationsismuchlessthanwhatisneededtoproperlycharacterizeAntarcticweatherandclimate,

(11)(12)ThatCryospheric operationalandresearchobservingnetworks in polar regions, (inincluding AntON,) shouldbeintegratedwithintheframeworkofWIGOSandtheWMOInformationSystem(WIS)andbeenhancedtoincludecryosphere-relatedvariables according to the GCW Implementation Plan,

(12)(13)ThattheSevenixteenthCongressdecidedtoembark on a decadal endeavour towards ………. aGlobalIntegratedPolarPredictionSystem(GIPPS)tobenefittheglobalcommunity[MO2],

(13)(14)ThattheSevenixteenthCongressapprovedparticipationbyWMOintheInternational PolarInitiativeDecade(IPID) should this initiative be endorsed by relevant international organizations as key stakeholders,[MO3]

(14)(15)ThattheSevenixteenthCongressdecidedtoembark on the development of implement theGlobalCryosphereWatch(GCW)withaviewtoward the establishment of an pre-operationalactivities starting in 2016GCW[MO4],

Decides:

(1)Tore-establishtheExecutiveCouncilPanelofExpertsonPolarObservations,ResearchandServices(EC-PORS);

(2)ThatthePanelwillbecomposedofmembersnominatedbythePermanentRepresentativesofMembers,includingPartiestotheAntarcticTreaty,and participants from other relevant organizations thathaveactivemeteorological,hydrological,oceanographicorcryosphericprogrammes,inparticularinthepolarregions;

(3)ThatobserversfromothergroupsmaybeinvitedtoattendmeetingsofthePanel;

(4)ThatthePanelshallmakerecommendationstotheExecutiveCouncilwithinitstermsofreference,includingtherecommendedAntarctic Observing Network and applicablestandardpractices,especiallyrecommendationsforupdatestotheManualontheGlobalObservingSystem(WMO-No.544),VolumeII,Chapter7“TheAntarctic”andtheManualontheGlobalTelecommunicationSystem(WMO-No.386),VolumeII,Chapter7“TheAntarctic”,andrelevantpartsoftheManualontheGlobalData-processingandForecastingSystem(WMO-No.485)andotherrelevantManualsandGuides,suchasthoseforWIS,WIGOSandservicestousersinthepolarregions;

(5)ThatthePanelwillundertakethefollowing:

Forbothpolarregions, including the “Third Pole” and high mountain regions:

(a)Todevelopandpromoteanintegratedapproachtounderstandingtheglobalimpactofchangesinpolarregionssothattherequiredservicesmaybeprovidedtousersandgovernmentsmaybeadvisedonaspectsofadaptation;

(b)Toensurethatoperational and research observing networks in polar regions(includingAntON)areintegratedwithintheframeworkofWIGOSandWISandareenhancedtoincludecryosphere-relatedvariables;

(c)ToengageinaconcertedefforttoinvolveWMOMembers,technicalcommissionsandregionalassociations,aswellasrelevantresearchandinternationalorganizationsandbodies,inimprovingpredictivecapabilityinpolarregionsontimescalesfromhourstocenturies;

(d)Toestablishahigh-levelWMOpartnershipinactivitiesaimedatsecuringtheIPYobservingsystemlegacy inclose cooperationwithoperationalagencies inMembercountriesandinternationalorganizationsthathaveagreatinterestinpolarregions,suchastheSustainingArcticObservingNetworks(SAON);

(e)Tooversee and guidethedevelopment,implementation and operations oftheGlobalCryosphereWatch(GCW)incollaborationwithtechnicalcommissions,regionalassociationsand relevant WMO and internationalprogrammes,organizations, institutionsandbodies;

(f)To oversee and guide the Polar Space Task Group (PSTG) that should provide coordination across space Agencies to facilitate acquisition and distribution of fundamental satellite datasets, and to contribute to or support development of specific derived products in support of cryospheric scientific research and applications;

(f)(g)ToguidethedevelopmentoftheGlobalIntegratedPolarPredictionSystemincollaborationwith technicalcommissions,regionalassociations and relevantinternationalprogrammes,organizationsandbodies;

(g)(h)TocoordinateWMOparticipationintheInternationalPolarDecade Iinitiative;

(h)(i)Tofacilitatetheacquisition,exchangeandarchivingofobservationaldatafrompolarregionsincompliancewithWIGOSrequirements related to instruments, dataexchange(WIS)andtheQualityManagementFramework(QMF),andtounderpintheprovisionofservicesrequiredforsafe operations in thepolarregions;

(i)(j)Toprovideaforumfordiscussionofrelevantscientificissuesandmakerecommendationsonmeteorological,hydrological,oceanographicandcryosphericresearchandoperationsrelatedtothepolarregions;

(j)(k)Toprovideregularinputonissuesrelatedtopolarmeteorology,hydrology,oceanographyandthecryospheretosupporttheactivitiesofrelevantgroups orbodies,suchasthe World Climate Programme (WCP) that includes the Scientific Committees for the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), Global Climate Observing System (GCOS),World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and World Climate Services Programme (WCSP); theGlobalAtmosphereWatch programme (GAW) and THeObservingsystemResearchandPredictabilityExperimentoftheWorldWeatherResearchProgramme(WWRP/THORPEX);theInternational Arctic ScienceCommittee;theScientificCommittee onAntarctic Research(SCAR);theCouncilofManagersofNationalAntarcticProgrammes(COMNAP);theIntergovernmentalOceanographicCommission(IOC) ofthe UnitedNations Educational,ScientificandCulturalOrganization(UNESCO);theGlobalFrameworkforClimate Services (GFCS), andWMOtechnicalcommissions,regionalassociationsandprogrammes, including the World Climate Programme (WCP);

(k)(l)Toensureclosecollaborationwithotherinternationalorganizationsconcerned,suchastheAntarcticTreatyConsultativeMeeting(ATCM),theArcticCouncil,theScientificCommitteeonAntarcticResearch (SCAR),theInternationalArcticScienceCommittee(IASC),theInternationalAssociationofCryosphericSciences(IACS)andotherrelevantassociationsoftheInternationalUnionofGeodesyandGeophysics(IUGG),theCouncilofManagersofNationalAntarcticProgrammes,theForumofArcticResearchOperators(FARO),andtheIntergovernmentalOceanographicCommission (IOC) and the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) of UNESCO;

(l)(m)Toguide,incollaborationwiththeCommissionforHydrology,thedevelopmentoftheArctic-HYCOS Project;

FortheAntarctic:

ThePanelshouldcooperate,asappropriate,withotherrelevantinternationalandregionalentities:

(a)TopromotetheexecutionoftheresolutionsofCongressandtheExecutiveCouncilintheareafrom60ºSto90ºS;

(b)Tocoordinateprogrammesofsurfaceandupper-airmeteorologicalobservationsinthe Antarctic,workingwith relevant international scientific organizations, and liaisewithregionalassociationsinrelationtosub-Antarcticobservations;

(c)TocoordinatedesignoftheAntarcticObservingNetwork,comprisingsurfaceandupper-airstations,includingtheGCOSSurfaceNetwork(GSN),GCOSUpper-AirNetwork(GUAN),Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW)andotherrelevantobservingcomponents;

(d)Tocoordinatestandardizationofobserving,coding,dataexchangeanddatamanagementpracticesappliedfortheAntarctic;

(e)To propose recommendations to the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS);

FortheArctic:

Whileappropriatefunctionsarecoveredbyrespectiveregionalassociations,thePanelmayliaisewiththemindefiningappropriatecomponentsofArcticobservingsystemsandservices;

AuthorizesthePaneltoestablishsub-groupsandtaskteamsasandwhenrequired,includinginparticularanAntarcticTaskTeam, PSTG and GCW Steering CommitteeGroup, and the GCW Teams;

RequeststheSecretary-General:

(1)TomaintainthemembershipofthePanelinaccordancewiththerelevantRegulationsinconsultationwiththeCo-ChairsandMembersconcerned;

(1)

(2)To formally invite the AMAP of the Arctic Council, IASC and SCAR to participate in the Panel as members;

(2)(3)ToprovidethenecessarysupporttoactivitiesandsessionsofthePanel, including the GCW working structure, and includingliaiseonwithrelevantinternationalorganizations, programmesandbodies.

______

Note: ThisresolutionreplacesResolution115(EC-LXIII),whichisnolongerinforce.

[MO1]Text will be updated during Cg-17

[MO2]Text should be adapted to a decision of Cg-17 on GIPPS

[MO3]Text should be adapted to a decision of Cg-17 on IPI

[MO4]Text should be adapted to a decision of Cg-17 on GCW