Documents

SCAR XXXIV IP02: Partnerships between the WMO (including WCRP) and SCAR

Presentation: Agenda Item 4.3.5

Executive Summary:

Authors: Mike Sparrow, Etienne Charpentier, Miroslav Ondras

Important Issues or Factors: The paper provides a non-exhaustive summary of current WMO and WCRP activities of most relevance to SCAR, indicating where current as well as potential synergies and partnerships exist.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification: Delegates are asked to note the information, noting in particular current partnerships (e.g. with ISMASS, Southern Ocean Panel, AntON, YOPP) as well as future potential collaborations (e.g. with Antarctic Treaty papers, the Global Cryosphere Watch, Polar Regional Climate Centres, Polar CORDEX).

SCAR XXXIV IP03: SCAR Products

Presentation: Agenda Item 5.3

Executive Summary:

Author: J. Baeseman

For the benefit of SCAR scientists and the wider community (including the Committee for Environmental Protection), SCAR provides several products that support the work of SCAR scientists but are also made widely available to others. These products provide scientific information in a form that is useful to scientists and others, for example providing meteorological data (Met-READER) or biodiversity data (e.g. biodiversity.aq) in a more easily usable format or providing access to information on bathymetry in the Southern Ocean (IBCSO). SCAR products rely on national efforts to lead with the SCAR Products. Some Products are joint with other organisations e.g. IBCSO is SCAR, IODC and the IHO.

Highlights are provided on Quantarctic, the Southern Ocean Acidification Report, and the Antarctic Biodiversity portal and the very important Antarctic Master Directory, and others.

Important Issues or Factors:

SCAR groups produce many peer-reviewed articles and grey literature papers. For the first time in the SCAR Products report to the Delegates, we are also including a sampling of these publications, as they should also be considered products and achievements of SCAR.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification:

• SCAR should consider allocating a budget line to help with outreach of various products and to create and populate a ‘database’ of all SCAR publications.
• Delegates are asked to remind relevant national entities to contribute data for SCAR products.

Budget Implications:

Some Products receive support from the SSGs and SPRs. $2500 for 2017 and 2018 is requested to cover development and publication SCAR product outreach materials and for the creation of a database for SCAR publications. After initial development, the SCAR groups can maintain annual updates with help from the Secretariat.

SCAR XXXIV IP04: SCAR/IASC Think Tank Report

Presentation: Agenda Item 6.2

Executive Summary:

Authors: J Baeseman and V Rachold

Important Issues or Factors: SCAR and IASC have a long history of strong collaboration. As the Memorandum of Understanding between SCAR and IASC will be renewed at the SCAR OSC in 2016, this year was an opportune time to revisit this agreement and further strengthen this collaboration. A 2-day brainstorming retreat was held in Potsdam, Germany the last week of February 2016 to discuss continuing and potential joint activities.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification: 

A SCAR/IASC Polar Task Force should be established comprised of a few strategic thinkers and doers to prepare a suggestion of a small number of polar (both Arctic and Antarctic) overarching themes that would benefit from extended international research coordination. This will be chaired by Chuck Kennicutt and budgets from each organization should be allocated.

Chairs for the 2018 Conference were selected: Martin Schneebeli, Huigen Yang, Karin Lochte SCAR and IASC should work together on policy activities to maximize impact.

ISCU will set up a meeting between the ICSU, Future Earth, SCAR and IASC Executive Directors/Secretaries.

SCAR and IASC should look at further caring for the IPY legacy.

SCAR will establish a programme of Junior Officers such as IASC’s Fellows Programme. A Joint Polar Research fellowship and medal should be discussed to be part of the 2018 POLAR conference.

SCAR should consider a distributed secretariat similar to IASC supported by member countries.
The SCAR and IASC Secretariats should consider trying to share resources (i.e. calendar, conference abstract submission software, website technician).

Budget Implications:

IASC has set aside 10,000 Euro per year for the Polar Task Force. SCAR should do something similar. Funding should also be set aside from existing budgets for the SCAR Junior Officers Programme. Additional funds may be needed as these activities are developed.

SCAR XXXIV IP05: Antarctic Roadmap Challenges (ARC) and Horizon Scan Follow-up

Executive Summary:

Author: J Baeseman

Important Issues or Factors:

In 2014, the first SCAR Antarctic and Southern Ocean Science Horizon Scan assembled the world’s 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 result was the publication of a list of 80 of the most important Antarctic research questions identified by the community. COMNAP lead a follow up activity called the Antarctic Roadmap Challenges which focused on answering the question: “How will national Antarctic programs meet the challenges of delivery of Antarctic science in the next 20 to 30 years?”

The summary is also attached to this paper for your convenience.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification:

The Delegates are asked to note the report and suggest continued activities based on the Horizon Scan.

SCAR XXXIV IP06: The SCAR/COMNAP Fellowship Scheme

Presentation: Agenda Item 8.1

Executive Summary:

Authors: E. Griffin, K. Lochte, J. Baeseman

Important Issues or Factors: The Fellowship program is one of the key capacity building activities undertaken by SCAR. Initiatives such as a mentoring webinar and improved guidance notes have been introduced in 2016 to help applicants improve their proposals and also to expand the base of potential reviewers for the Scheme. In 2015 five fellowships were awarded (see below). In 2016 the scope of the Fellowships has been extended to include applicants from the Humanities subjects.

Recommendations: Delegates are requested to consider making voluntary contributions to the Fellowship Scheme and to widely advertise the scheme nationally and internationally. An effort should also be made to secure additional funding from other donors. The impact of the mentoring provided in support of applicants could be enhanced through the translation of key material in to other languages.

Budget Implications: Total budget for SCAR Fellowships is USD $30,700 for 2016 (level compared to 2015 budget), with future budgets proposed at USD $33,700 subject to approval by Delegates. Funds will be made available from the Prix Biodiversité awarded to SCAR by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation for the Prince Albert II of Monaco Fellowship addressing biodiversity topics.

SCAR XXXIV IP07: The SCAR Visiting Professor Scheme

Presentation: Agenda Item 8.2

Executive Summary:

Author: E Griffin

Important Issues or Factors: The Visiting Professorship scheme is intended to facilitate capacity building for mid- to late career stage scientists and academics, whose work contributes to the scientific objectives of SCAR, and complements the SCAR Fellowship scheme.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification: Delegates are asked to consider ways to help with the funding and advertising of the scheme.

Budget Implications: The budget for the scheme is fixed annually at $5,000, providing funds for 2 Visiting Professorships.

SCAR XXXIV IP08: The Tinker-Muse Prize

Presentation: Agenda Item 8.3

Executive Summary:

Author: E. Griffin

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), France (2015) and the USA (2016). In 2016 the Prize has been renamed the “Tinker-Muse Prize” from the “Martha T. Muse Prize” at the request of the Tinker Foundation.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification: The Tinker Foundation approved funding for the 2013-2017 period in 2013 with total funding exceeding USD$ 1 million. Further approval beyond this period will be subject to application in 2017.

Budget Implications: The Tinker-Muse Prize pays a management fee to SCAR (USD$ 9,333) and a contribution to the salaries of the Executive Officer and Administrative Assistant (USD$ 16,311), a total of USD$ 25,644 in 2016.

SCAR XXXIV IP09: Summary of XII ISAES in India

Executive Summary:

Title: Report on the 12th International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences

Author: Naresh C. Pant, University of Delhi, India

Important Issues or Factors: The ISAES 2015, the first Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) symposium in India, was held at Marriott Spa and Resort, Goa from 13-17th July 2015. ISAES symposium at Goa represents truly an international effort with participation from 27 countries of around 400 scientists nearly equally divided between the overseas and the Indian participants.

Reccommendations/Actions and Justification: The delegates are asked to read the short report on ISAES and thank India for their wonderful job of hosting the symposium.

Budget implications: None.

SCAR XXXIV IP10: Plans for Biology Symposium 2017

Executive Summary:

Authors: Anton Van de Putte, with support from the Local Organising Committee

Important Issues or Factors: Belgium is organising the 2017 SCAR Biology Symposium, which will take place at the University of Leuven from 10-14 July 2017. The overall theme of the Symposium is “Scale Matters”. The organisation is progressing as planned, though additional sponsorship is always welcome.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification: We would ask that all Delegates promote this Symposium in their countries. If Delegates, SRPs, or other SCAR groups, need to meet in the context of this meeting, rooms are available at no charge at the university.

Budget Implications: No additional budget is requested as SCAR has already committed $5000 dollars in sponsorship.

SCAR XXXIV IP11: Plans for POLAR 2018

Executive Summary:

POLAR2018 is a joint event from the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research SCAR and the International Arctic Science Committee IASC. The SCAR meetings, the ASSW and the Open Science Conference will be hosted by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL under the patronage of the Swiss Committee on Polar and High Altitude Research. The WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF is organising POLAR2018, which will take place in Davos, Switzerland from 15 – 27 June 2018.

Author: Anja Schilling Hoyle

Important Issues or Factors: The organisation for POLAR2018 is on track, deadlines can be found below.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification: No actions need to be taken by SCAR on behalf of POLAR2018 at this stage, apart from the usual promotion and support of an upcoming SCAR meeting.

SCAR XXXIV IP12: Structural Review Report (Bulletin 192)

Presentation: Agenda Item 11.1

Executive Summary:

Context for this report within the SCAR Structural Review Process

At the 2014 Delegates Meeting in Auckland, New Zealand, SCAR President J. López- Martínez led a discussion on a possible review of the SCAR structure (Agenda item 11.1, Working Paper 26). As the current SCAR structure and Rules of Procedure are those approved following the major SCAR review in 2004, it was considered timely to evaluate if possible improvements could or should be made. The President proposed the establishment of an ad hoc group to examine the SCAR structure and Rules of Procedure. Vice President for Administration, T. Wilson, was to lead the review, with SCAR science leadership and external representation included in the group. Early discussion was undertaken via email and teleconference, followed by a meeting of the Review Group in Cambridge, UK in April 2015.

The following report, produced from the Cambridge meeting, has been used as input, and considered for further development, at the SCAR EXCOM 2015 meeting in Tromsø, Norway in August 2015. The report also served as valuable background for the “Strategic Plan 2017-2022” discussions and drafting, undertaken in parallel with the EXCOM meeting.

The changes and updates to the Structure Review recommendations resulting from the EXCOM meeting will be included in the full EXCOM Meeting report, to be published as a separate Bulletin (number 194). A final report, including recommendations and resulting changes to the SCAR Rules of Procedure, are to be presented to the SCAR Delegates Meeting at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2016.

SCAR XXXIV IP13: EXCOM 2015 Report (Bulletin 194)

SCAR XXXIV IP14: Expression of Interest from India in Hosting 2022 Biennial Meetings

Letter from the National Centre for Antarctic Ocean Research, Goa, expressing interest in hosting the SCAR 2022 Biennial Meetings.

SCAR XXXIV IP15: ICED (Integrating Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics in the Southern Ocean) Report

Presentation: Agenda Items 4.3.7-4.3.8

Executive Summary:

Authors: Rachel Cavanagh, Eugene Murphy and Nadine Johnston on behalf of the ICED Scientific Steering Committee

Important Issues or Factors: ICED is a regional programme of Integrated Marine Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research (IMBER) and is closely linked with SCAR. ICED is undertaking integrated circumpolar analyses to improve our understanding of change and the implications for Southern Ocean ecosystems and their management. Progress has been made in understanding the structure and functioning of ecosystems, modelling species and food webs, and with qualitative assessments of change. We are building on this to more comprehensively assess (and where possible quantify) key impacts of change on Southern Ocean ecosystems and to ensure this informs management and policy.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification: We would like SCAR to particularly note the mutually beneficial opportunities for strengthening interactions and collaborations with ICED. This includes (i) our recent (and upcoming) work with CCAMLR and the CEP, and (ii) our work on models, scenarios and projections (including our upcoming workshop and conference).

Budget Implications: Key ICED activities planned for 2016-17 will benefit from SCAR involvement and expertise and as such may require SCAR funds; e.g. this could include attendance of key individuals involved in other SCAR groups at our planned workshop on projections, and ongoing work with CCAMLR and CEP.

SCAR XXXIV IP16: Looking Ahead: Future Multi-national Initiatives from ICED and SOOS

Presentation: Agenda Items 4.3.7-4.3.8

Executive Summary:

Authors: Andrew Constable (ICED, SOOS), Eugene Murphy (ICED), Louise Newman (SOOS)

Important Issues or Factors:

The SCAR co-sponsored groups ICED (Integrating Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics in the Southern Ocean) and SOOS (Southern Ocean Observing System) are multi-national, trans- disciplinary programs that are planning large scale initiatives to facilitate information flow and foster international collaboration. ICED is organising a conference in 2018 (www.MEASO2018.aq) with a principle focus on assessing the status and trends of habitats, species and foodwebs in the Southern Ocean. SOOS is designing the biological component of its observing system to be complementary to the CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program and is in the process of developing an initiative to undertake a circumpolar benchmarking of the Southern Ocean ecosystem. These initiatives will be working in collaboration and with support of the SCAR groups: Standing Scientific Group on Life Sciences, including its expert groups, Standing Committee on the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), the Scientific Research Programmes on Antarctic Thresholds – Ecosystem Resilience and Adaptation (AnT-ERA) and State of the Antarctic Ecosystems (AntEco), the Action Group on Antarctic Nearshore and Terrestrial Observation Systems, and Biodiversity.AQ.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification:

Delegates should note these planned initiatives, encourage the development of them, and recognise their capacity to i) inform international bodies like the Antarctic Treaty System and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; ii) foster international collaboration and iii) highlight SCARs leadership in the provision of robust and independent scientific advice.

Budget Implications:

Preparation for the conference and the planning and development of the benchmarking program will be undertaken remotely and in conjunction with other meetings. Support from SCAR for participation in the conference by members of SCAR subsidiary bodies may occur, if funds are available, through contributions from those bodies who support this initiative.

SCAR XXXIV IP17: Report of the Joint CEP/SC-CAMLR Workshop on Climate Change and Monitoring, May 2016

Presentation: Agenda Item 7.2

Executive Summary:

Authors: Aleks Terauds (SC-ATS), Louise Newman (SOOS), Eugene Murphy (ICED)

Important Issues or Factors: SCAR was represented at the second joint CEP/SC-CAMLR Workshop on Climate Change and Monitoring, in Punta Arenas, 19-20 May 2016 by Aleks Terauds (Standing Committee on the Antarctic Treaty System), Eugene Murphy (Integrating Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics of the Southern Ocean)) and Andrew Constable (Southern Ocean Observing System). There was a clear recognition that SCAR has developed a very functional and productive relationship with the CEP, with the provision of climate related scientific advice effectively facilitated and coordinated through SC-ATS. It was also recognised that SCAR is communicating effectively with SC-CAMLR, through co-sponsored programmes such as ICED and SOOS who engage directly with both CCAMLR Working Groups and the Scientific Committee. The recommendations from the workshop indicated that SCAR is well placed to continue and develop the provision of relevant science to both the CEP and CCAMLR, and that if appropriately targeted, such advice will inform and assist in the formulation of policy and management decisions.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification: We request that Delegates note the active role that SCAR is playing in the provision of climate related science to both the CEP and CCAMLR, and recognise that this engagement is best facilitated through SC-ATS (with respect to the CEP) and SC-ATS, ICED and SOOS (with respect to SC-CAMLR).

Budget Implications: The continued financial and/or in-kind support of SCATS, ICED and SOOS is integral to the functioning of these groups and the ongoing provision of advice to the Antarctic Treaty System.

SCAR XXXIV IP18: Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty Report to SCAR on the XXXIX Antarctic Treaty Meeting in Santiago, Chile

Executive Summary:

Author: Manfred Reinke

Important Issues: The XXXIX Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) was held in Santiago, Chile, from 23 May to 1 June 2016. It focused on promoting scientific research and international collaboration; safety and operations in Antarctica; Antarctic inspections; tourism and non-governmental activities in the Antarctic Treaty area; information exchange; management and protection of historic sites; and general matters concerning the operation of the Antarctic Treaty System. The Meeting adopted a set of Measures, Decisions and Resolutions, including the revision of 8 of the 75 Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) and a revised List of Antarctic Historic Sites and Monuments. It commemorated the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty on Environmental Protection and adopted the ‘Santiago Declaration’ reaffirming the commitment of the Consultative Parties to the protection of the Antarctic environment. China will host ATCM XL in Beijing, tentatively from 15 May 2017.

SCAR XXXIV IP19: SCAR Executive Committee Election Procedure

Executive Summary:

Authors: J Baeseman, E Griffin and R Nash

Important Issues or Factors: The President and two Vice-Presidents (B Storey and K Lochte) will complete their appointed terms of office at the end of the meeting. The President will briefly review SCAR election procedures.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification: Delegates will elect a President and two Vice-Presidents for the period 2016-2020 (elections to take place on Tuesday 30 August at 12:30). A committee to conduct the elections will be established and will include the Secretariat.

Budget Implications: none.

SCAR XXXIV WP01: Summary Agenda

SCAR XXXIV WP02: Annotated Agenda and Timetable