US CLIVAR POSP

Phenomena, Observations & Synthesis last updated February 28, 2008
*Name*	*Affiliation*	*Service Through*
Michael Alexander - co-chair	NOAA - CDC	Dec 2009
Jim Carton	University of Maryland	Dec 2008
Rong Fu	Georgia Institute of Technology	Dec 2009
Sarah Gille, co-chair	Scripps	Dec 2008
Sirpa Hakkinen	NASA GSFC	Dec 2010
Alexey Kaplan	Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory	Dec 2009
Gabriel Lau	NOAA GFDL	Dec 2008
Tony Lee	NASA Jet Propulsion Lab	Dec 2009
Gudrun Magnusdottir	University of California - Irvine	Dec 2009
Chris Meinen	NOAA AOML	Dec 2009
Sig Schubert	NASA GSFC	Dec 2008
Dan Vimont	University of Wisconsin	Dec 2009

Mission Statement: To improve the understanding of climate variations in the past, present, and future; develop syntheses of critical climate parameters; and sustain/improve the global climate observational system

POS GOALS

Phenomena - Advance understanding of the structure and mechanisms of climate variability in the past, present and future. Priorities include:
- Climate Change: Detection, Attribution
- Regional hydroclimate variability: Droughts, Monsoons, Western Water
- Role of Tropical Oceans in Global Climate
- Climate variability modes (ENSO, PDV, TAV, NAO, Annular modes, MJO) and their interaction in 20th Century observations and simulations
Observations - Sustain and improve the Global Climate Observing System and the US Climate Reference Network

Maintain continuity of satellite altimetry and climate data records
Help achieve current deployment objectives (Aquarius, ARGO, hydrography, WSOA, GPM)
Expand the US Climate Reference Network
Help plan future observing systems: remote sensing of sea ice, observing system simulation experiments, sensitivity analysis

Synthesis - Improve and Develop consistent ocean-atmosphere-land data sets for climate studies: Climate Data Assimilation
- Reanalysis for climate studies (ocean, atmosphere, land, coupled)
- Large-scale synthesis of ocean and ocean-atmosphere observations (data only)
- Development of coupled data assimilation techniques

Terms of Reference

Review, prioritize, and coordinate US plans for relevant studies needed to identify and elucidate observable physical coupled ocean-atmosphere-land mechanisms, processes, and phenomena in the global climate system. Studies such as diagnostics and evaluation of observations and model results, characterization of the coupled system, and others are envisioned to be addressed.
In consultation with other groups, assess elements of, identify needs of, and coordinate plans for the sustained climate observation system especially for the ocean (including the development, assemblage, and curatorship of climate records), to improve monitoring, prediction, and simulation of the coupled ocean-atmosphere-landsystem. Additionally, guide and assess efforts to extend the record of past climate variability through assembly of quality-controlled instrumental data sets & paleoclimatic data.
Identify, review, and prioritize regional observational efforts that should be pursued through limited deployments (aka enhanced monitoring) to advance our understanding of climate-relevant processes and phenomena.
In consultation with other groups, assess and prioritize plans, and coordinate activities that lead to syntheses of observations and models in order to develop consistent four dimensional climate products (e.g. climate reanalyses)
Develop and encourage mechanisms (e.g. community workshops, commissioned studies, Working Groups) to further the development and implementation of a research strategy, including filling gaps. Advise on the adequacy and effectiveness of Working Group plans and implementation.
Advise U.S. CLIVAR on research priorities, identify research gaps, and develop suitable milestones to promote funding opportunities. Help foster and coordinate joint agency participation and support of relevant activities
Coordinate with other national and international activities to develop integrated, efficient, and effective overall international plans and activities.
Publicize accomplishments and demonstrated progress in contributing towards a sustained observational system, identifying and understanding critical observable coupled phenomena, and developing assimilation/synthesis capabilities of the coupled ocean-atmosphere-land system.
Liaise with other US CLIVAR panels and Working Groups to insure relevant needs are considered in their efforts

The entire POS Strategic Plan can be found here.

Phenomena, Observations and Synthesis Panel
Item		Links
TACE		(Whitepaper reviewed by US CLIVAR) [http://www.clivar.org/organization/atlantic/TACE/]
Indian Ocean OSSE (in support of Inidan Ocean array)		IPRC held Indian Ocean modeling workshop and developed plans for conducting OSSEs; Possibility of having an OSSE working group that might focus on the Indian Ocean? (proposed by Waliser) NSF formed executive committee to write a report on the role of OSSEs for ORION (led by Rothstein). [IOP meeting report- http://www.clivar.org/organization/indian/docs/92_IOP2.htm]
Observational Strategies/ systems beyond tropical Pacific
Satellite Observing System
Coupled Data Assimilation		Coupled Data Assimilation Workshop 2003 [http://www.usclivar.org/Meeting_Files/SSC-11/CoupledDA_rept_final.pdf]
Ocean Data Assimilation		2 workshops over past few years. Most recent was NSF-ONR workshop inWilliamsburg: http://www.clivar.org/organization/gsop/implementation/ocean_reanalysis/ US_Data_assim_12.14.031.pdf ECCO-GODAE, proposal submitted to NASA to extend implementation to a coupled ocean-atmosphere model
Atmospheric ongoing reanalysis		http://www.ofps.ucar.edu/joss_psg/meetings/climatesystem/
Climate Data Records		Recent NRC report [http://www.nap.edu/openbook/0309091683/html/]. How/when should climate data records be developed and distributed?
PDV and ENSO		ENSO modeling studies concerning ENSO prediction using data assimilation; PDV studies should focus on the processes that determine the low frequency variations in the tropics, and the dynamics of the SST response in the Kuroshio extension; modeling strategy for PDV; Decadal Variability Modeling Intercomparison (DMIP) (From the Pacific Panel report – November 2004 – additional challenges listed) (http://www.usclivar.org/Pubs/report.html¬)
Aerosol impact on the monsoon water cycle
Western North Pacific monsoon and its connection to ENSO		An important process and regional focus of the AAMWG in the past.
International Polar Year		Proposed working group
INSTANT		Funded and implemented [www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/div/ocp/projects/instant/projinfo.html]

Referencess

Meetings

U.S. CLIVAR Summit 23-25 July 2007

POS Accomplishments (pdf)
POS Concluding Report (pdf)
Historical Climate Data presentation (ppt)

U.S. CLIVAR Summit July 2006 - Presentations from the POS breakout meetings at the summit are provided here:

U.S. CLIVAR Summit July 2005 - The POS panel met for the first time in Keystone, Colorado to discuss ongoing and future panel activities. Presentations made to the panel are provided below.

Proposed working group on Surface Fluxes
Indian Ocean observations and flux measurements