Documents

SCAR EXCOM 2015 IP01: COMNAP Antarctic Roadmap Challenges (ARC) Workshop Guide

Research in the Antarctic requires substantial and sustained investments by governments to meet the challenges of conducting science in one of the most remote and extreme environments on Earth. Our understanding of change in the Antarctic region and why it is happening is important to informing the global debate about the future of our planet. Wide community involvement and advice was solicited to assist in translating the highest priority Antarctic research questions into actionable requirements for critical supporting technologies, access, infrastructure, and logistics. The ‘enabling’ of the Antarctic science roadmap is intended to inform those that fund research and provide science support about what will likely be needed in order to deliver Antarctic science over the next two decades and beyond.

In 2014, the 1st SCAR Antarctic and Southern Ocean Science Horizon Scan assembled world leading Antarctic scientists, policy makers, leaders, and visionaries to identify the most important scientific questions that will or should be addressed by research in and from the Antarctic over the next two decades. The outcome was publication of the 80 most important Antarctic research questions identified by the community. The list was published in the journal Nature as a COMMENT (Appendix vii) and Antarctic Scienceas “A roadmap for Antarctic and Southern Ocean science for the next two decades and beyond” (Appendix viii).

Delivery of the “roadmap” faces a range of important challenges. Therefore COMNAP is leading the second stage in the process with the Antarctic Roadmap Challenges (ARC) project1. This project will focus on answering the question: “How will national Antarctic programs meet the challenges of delivery of Antarctic science in the next 20 years or more?”

Using the SCAR Horizon Scan roadmap as one indication of future science, a review of the highest priority scientific questions reveals the challenges for national Antarctic programs are of a practical and technical nature. The COMNAP ARC Project focuses on three of the challenges identified: 

• Challenge 1: Extraordinary Logistics Requirements
• Challenge 2: Technology
• Challenge 3: Infrastructure

To address these complex and challenging issues a series of community involvement activities have been conducted and will culminate in a workshop of experts and experienced Antarctic scientists and engineers, logisticians, National Program Directors and Managers, and technologists. The product of the workshop, and ultimately of the ARC Project itself, is a reference document which will be a tool for the community in regards to the likely science support requirements needed to answer the highest priority Antarctic-related questions over the next 20 years.

SCAR EXCOM 2015 IP02: The SCAR Products

SCAR EXCOM 2015 IP03: The Monaco Assessment

Background

In 2010, parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. Its vision: “By 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people.” To realise this vision 20 targets within five strategic goals were agreed to. They form the basis of a global agreement to address biodiversity loss. In consequence, much of the world’s biodiversity is the subject of global action, or at the least intended action, for its conservation.

By contrast, the Antarctic region is largely an international space governed predominantly through the Antarctic Treaty System. Environmental matters are the main concern of its Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) and the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). While environmental conservation is a key concern within the Antarctic Treaty System, how strategic initiatives in the region align with those identified through the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 has not been ascertained.

To this end, a meeting of biodiversity and Antarctic experts, entitled ‘Antarctica and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020: The Monaco Assessment’, was convened for three days in Monaco, with the support of the Monaco government, the Centre Scientifique de Monaco, SCAR, and Monash University.

The central purpose of the meeting was to examine the extent to which conservation of the biodiversity of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean is realizing the set of ambitions agreed for the world as part of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. The meeting also aimed to provide guidance for action that can effectively help deliver further conservation successes for Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. An additional goal was to identify key areas for work and indicators to help guide that work.

One of its first outcomes is a statement by the participants, on Antarctic and Southern Ocean conservation in the context of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, based on an expert elicitation process, and entitled The Monaco Assessment.

SCAR EXCOM 2015 IP04a: Antarctic Environments Portal: Project Completion and Next Steps (ATCM XXXVIII WP21)

Paper presented at: ATCM XXXVIII and CEP XVIII 2015, Sofia, Bulgaria

WP021: Antarctic Environments Portal – Project Completion and Next Steps (joint paper with Australia, Belgium, New Zealand and Norway)

Submitted: 16/04/2015

Summary:

Wise management of the Antarctic environment requires access to high quality scientific information. Pressures on Antarctica, through a changing Antarctic climate and increasing human activity means that there is a pressing need to improve the availability of, and access to policy-ready information to support the effective implementation of the Protocol. The Antarctic Environments Portal (www.environments.aq) meets this need by placing policy-ready information on Antarctic environments at the fingertips of those involved in Antarctic management and governance. The Portal also supports SCAR’s scientific advisory role to the Antarctic Treaty System.

The Portal development project is concluding. The Portal is being transferred to the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand from where it will be managed for an interim period of time. A Management Board will be established to oversee the Portal. An Editorial Group has been established to support the Editor. Funding to support the ongoing operation of the Portal is actively being sought.

Members are invited to: lend their support to the Portal; consider how it can be used to support the work of the CEP; consider whether and how it might engage with the Portal by providing Editorial Group members in the future, and provide thoughts on long-term management arrangements for the Portal.

SCAR EXCOM 2015 IP04b: Antarctic Environmental Portal Content Development and Editorial Process (ATCM XXXVIII IP11)

Paper presented at: ATCM XXXVIII and CEP XVIII 2015, Sofia, Bulgaria

IP011: Antarctic Environmental Portal Content Development and Editorial Process (joint paper with Australia, Belgium, New Zealand and Norway)

Submitted: 16/04/2015

Summary:

In order to ensure that the scientific contributions to the Portal meet the required standards a number of key principles have been adopted and a rigorous content development and editorial process has been put in place to support the Portal. Key elements of the content development and editorial process are described in this paper. A flow chart illustrating the editorial process is attached as Appendix 1. Details about the content development and editorial process can be found in the Antarctic Environments Handbook, available from the Portal editor upon request.

SCAR EXCOM 2015 IP05: The Martha T Muse Prize

Executive Summary

Title: Martha T Muse Prize for Science and Policy in Antarctica

Authors: E Griffin

Introduction/ Background: The Martha T. Muse Prize for Science and Policy in Antarctica is a prestigious US$100,000 unrestricted award presented to an early or mid stage career researcher in the fields of Antarctic science or policy. The award recognizes and honours individuals with the potential for sustained and significant contribution that enhance the understanding and/or preservation of Antarctica. The Prize is a legacy of the International Polar Year 2007-2008. It is administered by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and awarded by the Tinker Foundation. The Selection Committee for the Prize consists of six members of the Antarctic Community representing as highly respected and diverse backgrounds (geopolitically, by discipline and by gender) as possible.

Important Issues or Factors: Established in 2009, the Muse Prize has gained global recognition within the Antarctic and general science community. Prize recipients have had international representation with winners from South Africa (2009), USA (2010), Portugal (2011), Australia (2012), UK (2013), New Zealand (2014) and France (2015).

Recommendations/Actions and Justification: In 2013, funding was confirmed for years, 2014-18 inclusive, with a total funding of USD >1 million (for 2014-18). An External Review is in progress in 2015, with a Review Committee meeting having taken place in Washington D.C. in February. The Review report is still awaited.

Expected Benefits/Outcomes: The contribution of the Muse Prize towards honoring early and mid career leaders in Antarctic science and policy is in line with SCAR’s aims. The SCAR mission is to “be the leading non-governmental, international facilitator and advocate of research in and from the Antarctic region, to provide objective and authoritative scientific advice to the Antarctic Treaty and others, and to bring emerging issues to the attention of policy makers”. The Muse Prize allows SCAR to contribute towards its mission by meeting strategic plan aims to: i) encourage excellence in Antarctic and Southern Ocean research, II) developing the capacity of early career scientists, and III) identify evolving issues and emerging frontiers in Antarctic science.

Partners: The Tinker Foundation

Budget Implications: The Muse Prize pays a Management fee to SCAR (USD 9,031) and for salaries of EO and AA (USD 15,535), a total of USD 24,566 for 2015.

SCAR EXCOM 2015 IP08: Update on SCAR 2016 XXXIV SCAR Open Science Conference and Biennial Meetings

SCAR EXCOM 2015 IP09: SCAR Biology Symposium 2017

Executive Summary

Title: 2017 SCAR Biology Symposium Update

Authors: Anton P. Van de Putte

Introduction/Background: The SCAR Biology Symposium will be organized in the Brussels area in 2017. Preparations of the Symposium are underway. Initial estimates of the cost have been made. The venue will be determined is September.

Important Issues or Factors: Plans are progressing as planned.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification: Organizers ask to liase with the SCAR secretariat regarding budget, programme, etc.

Expected Benefits/Outcomes: The aims of this Symposium are to Highlight the importance of cross-disciplinary approaches and to help the SCAR community improve its understanding of the processes underlying the structure and function of Antarctic living systems, from gene to ecosystem with emphasis on spatio-temporal trends. As such, this Symposium forms an opportunity to consolidate the community and create new bindings between SCAR biologists and the society.

Partners: Secretariat, LOC and ISC.

Budget Implications: The aim is to have all the expenses of conference covered by the registration fee. Additional funding will be sought in order to reduce the cost of the conference.

SCAR EXCOM 2015 IP09: IP10: Update on POLAR2018

SCAR EXCOM 2015 IP11: IASC Performance Survey

Survey in Microsoft Word format

SCAR EXCOM 2015 IP12: Update on Southern Ocean Acidification

Summary:

An update on Southern Ocean Acidification, including major future initiatives and actions, major activities and significant progress and budgetary implications.

SCAR EXCOM 2015 IP13: WCRP Polar Challenge Endorsement Letter

Letter inviting SCAR to become a partner and co-sponsor of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation (FPA2) Polar Challenge.

SCAR EXCOM 2015 IP14: YOPP Implementation Plan

Executive Summary

The Year of Polar Prediction (YOPP) is planned for mid-2017 to mid-2019, centred on 2018. Its goal is 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”.

YOPP is a major initiative of WMO’s World Weather Research Programme Polar Prediction Project (WWRP-PPP), and is being planned and coordinated by a Planning Group comprising the PPP Steering Group together with representatives from partners and other initiatives, including the World Climate Research Programme’s Polar Climate Predictability Initiative (PCPI).

The objectives of YOPP are to:

1. Improve the polar observing system to provide better coverage of high-quality observations in a cost effective manner, primarily by carrying out observing system (simulation) experiments.
2. Gather additional observations through field programmes aimed at improving understanding of key polar processes.
3. Develop improved representation of key polar processes in uncoupled and coupled models used for prediction, including those which are particular hindrances to high-quality prediction for the polar regions, such as those relating to stable boundary layer representation, surface exchange, permafrost, mixed phase clouds, winds, extreme thermal contrasts, and steep orography.
4. Develop improved data assimilation systems that account for challenges in the polar regions such as sparseness of observational data, steep orography, cryosphere uncertainties, model error and the importance of coupled processes (e.g., atmosphere-sea ice interaction and atmosphere-land surface interaction).
5. Explore the predictability of the atmosphere-cryosphere-ocean, with a focus on sea ice, on time scales from days to a season.
6. Improve understanding of linkages between polar regions and lower latitudes and assess skill of models representing these.
7. Improve verification of polar weather and environmental predictions to obtain quantitative knowledge on model performance, and on the skill of operational forecasting systems for user-relevant parameters; and efficiently monitor progress.
8. Improve understanding of the benefits of using existing prediction information and services in the polar regions, differentiated across the spectrum of user types and benefit areas.
9. Provide training opportunities to generate a sound knowledge base on polar prediction related issues.

During the YOPP Preparation Phase (until mid-2017) plans will be further developed through international workshops, there will be engagement with stakeholders and arrangement of funding, coordination of observations and models, and preparatory research. YOPP from mid-2017 to mid-2019 encompasses four major elements: an intensive observing period, a complementary intensive modelling and prediction period, a period of enhanced monitoring of forecast use in decision making including verification, and a special educational effort. The YOPP Consolidation Phase from mid-2019 to 2022 will provide a legacy of data and publications, as well as implementation of YOPP findings to achieve the significant improvement in environmental prediction capabilities for the polar regions – and beyond, because of linkages with lower latitudes.

SCAR EXCOM 2015 IP15: SOOS Comments on YOPP

Overview

Southern Ocean community comment on the Year of Polar Prediction Implementation Plan

Contributing Communities:

Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS):

• Louise Newman (SOOS International Project Office, Australia)
• Stephen Ackley (Snow and Ice Geophysics Lab, UTSA, USA)
• Matthew Mazloff (Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD, USA)

CLIVAR-CliC-SCAR Southern Ocean Region Panel (SORP):

• Ben Galton-Fenzi (ACE-CRC, Australia)
• Patrick Heimbach (UTexas Austin, USA)
• François Massonnet (Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium)
• Jiuxin Shi (Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China)
• Lynne Talley (Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD, USA)

SCAR:

• Mike Sparrow (SCAR; currently WCRP, Switzerland)

SCAR EXCOM 2015 IP16: CliC Plans for YOPP

Climate and Cryosphere Contributions for the Year of Polar Prediction (YOPP)

11 June 2015

Authors:

• Alice Bradley, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA ([email protected])
• François Massonnet, Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium / Catalan Institute of Climate Sciences, Spain ([email protected])
• Jenny Baeseman, CliC Director ([email protected]

SCAR EXCOM 2015 IP17: International Polar Partnership Initiative (IPPI) – 2015 Revision

Summary

Further to IOC Assembly and Executive Council decisions IOC- XXVI/Dec.6.4 and EC-XLVII/Dec.6.4, this document conveys the most recent version of the IPPI Concept, which was used as the basis for the Working Document 6.5 on IPPI of the World Meteorological Congress-17 (Geneva, Switzerland, 25 May–12 June 2015). The whole WM-cg-17 document (Cg-17/Doc. 6.5) serves as a reference for the decision of the Assembly.

Purpose of the document: The Assembly is invited to review the updated IPPI Concept after the World Meteorological Congress-17 and agree on participation of IOC in IPPI.

Financial and administrative implications: The Executive Secretary will define and secure IOC representation in relevant IPPI governing structures.

The proposed decision is referenced IOC-XXVIII/Dec.10.3 in the Action Paper (document IOC-XXVIII/2 Prov.)

SCAR EXCOM 2015 IP18: International Conference on Arctic Research Planning – Conference Statement

Summary

Arctic Science Summit Week 2015 in Toyama, Japan (23–30 April) brought together nearly 700 international scientists, students, policy makers, research managers, Indigenous Peoples and others interested in developing, prioritizing and coordinating plans for future Arctic research. The Conference was organized by the International Arctic Science Committee and the Science Council of Japan, with the support of many other international partners (www.assw2015.org). This paper outlines overarching messages emerged during the conference.

SCAR EXCOM 2015 IP19: Online Meeting Participation Instructions

Instructions for online participation for the 2015 SCAR Executive Committee Meeting, using the GoToMeeting Platform, courtesy of CliC.

SCAR EXCOM 2015 IP20: SCAR Strategic Plan 2011-16

SCAR EXCOM 2015 WP01: Agenda