SCAR Standing SCAR Standing Scientific Group Scientific Group

on Physical Scienceson Physical Sciences

Report to the DelegatesReport to the Delegates

John Turner, Maurizio CandidiJohn Turner, Maurizio Candidi

and Jo Jackaand Jo Jacka

Bremerhaven, Germany, October 2004

OutlineOutline

• Overview of major activitiesOverview of major activities• Some science highlightsSome science highlights• Outcomes of recommendations from Outcomes of recommendations from

ShanghaiShanghai• Re-organisation of our groupsRe-organisation of our groups• Plans for the next two yearsPlans for the next two years• Budget proposalsBudget proposals• New recommendationsNew recommendations

Major ActivitiesMajor Activities

• A period of transitionA period of transition• Continuation of successful projects from Continuation of successful projects from

the old Working Groups and new short the old Working Groups and new short term projects through 7 Action Groups term projects through 7 Action Groups and 6 Expert Groupsand 6 Expert Groups

• Planning of programmesPlanning of programmes– Antarctica & the Global Climate System Antarctica & the Global Climate System

(AGCS)(AGCS)– Interhemispheric Conjugacy Effects in Solar-Interhemispheric Conjugacy Effects in Solar-

Terrestrial and Aeronomy Research (ICESTAR)Terrestrial and Aeronomy Research (ICESTAR)• Establishing links with other organisationsEstablishing links with other organisations

Image: Karim Agabi

Astronomy from Antarctica

• An exciting new field of research being An exciting new field of research being opened up from Antarcticaopened up from Antarctica

• Significant results being obtained from South Significant results being obtained from South Pole Station, including measurements of Pole Station, including measurements of cosmic microwave background radiationcosmic microwave background radiation

• More than 50 papers have come from these More than 50 papers have come from these datadata

• A successful workshop was held in Capri A successful workshop was held in Capri during 2003 on “during 2003 on “The Scientific Outlook for The Scientific Outlook for Astronomy and Astrophysics Research at Astronomy and Astrophysics Research at Concordia StationConcordia Station””

The International Antarctic Weather Forecasting

Handbook

• Grew out of a Grew out of a conference in conference in Hobart in 1998Hobart in 1998

• WMO provided WMO provided funds to get a funds to get a hardcopy version hardcopy version preparedprepared

• Being sent to all Being sent to all operators/nationaoperators/national programmes etcl programmes etc

Surfacetemperaturetrendsover the last50 years

Two papers have been publishedin the refereedliterature onAntarctic climatechange from theREADER data

Traverses of the International Trans-Antarctic Scientific Expedition (ITASE)

240 firn cores

collected

20,000 km of

snow radar

Numerous

publications

The Antarctic Wind FieldThe Antarctic Wind Field

A new, improved Antarctic near-surface wind field has been created using a 55 km resolution model driven by global meteorological analyses covering a 15 year period.

Winds Around Terra Nova Winds Around Terra Nova BayBay

Of value to those concerned with polynyas, sea ice, blowing snow, oceanography of the coastal zone.

The results have been published in the International Journal of Climatology

The ASPeCT ProjectThe ASPeCT Project

ASPeCT project has created one of the most valuable data sets of sea ice information, including ice thickness

Data from 81 voyages added over the last 2 years

CommunicationsCommunications

• SSG/PS web site created which SSG/PS web site created which provided information on all our provided information on all our activities and links to our Action and activities and links to our Action and Expert GroupsExpert Groups

• Mailing list createdMailing list created• We still have problems with some We still have problems with some

National Committees not telling us National Committees not telling us know their representatives are to the know their representatives are to the SSGSSG

OceanographyOceanography

• Action Group on Oceanography created in Action Group on Oceanography created in ShanghaiShanghai

• Meeting held on SCAR and Oceanography held Meeting held on SCAR and Oceanography held in Rome in October 2003in Rome in October 2003

• SCAR is now co-sponsoring the SCAR-CLIVAR-SCAR is now co-sponsoring the SCAR-CLIVAR-CliC Southern Ocean PanelCliC Southern Ocean Panel

• Established a new SCAR/SCOR Coordinating Established a new SCAR/SCOR Coordinating Group on Interdisciplinary Southern Ocean Group on Interdisciplinary Southern Ocean Science (ISOS)Science (ISOS)

• SCAR is also co-sponsoring the International SCAR is also co-sponsoring the International Programme for Antarctic BuoysProgramme for Antarctic Buoys

• SCAR Expert Group on OceanographySCAR Expert Group on Oceanography

Recommendations from Recommendations from Shanghai Shanghai

• XXVVII-6 King George Island Science. XXVVII-6 King George Island Science. Problem still with us. Recommend a new Problem still with us. Recommend a new Action Group, plus a 1 day workshop in Action Group, plus a 1 day workshop in HobartHobart

• XXVVII-12 Lack of meteorological data XXVVII-12 Lack of meteorological data from the plateau – Dome C ascents will from the plateau – Dome C ascents will start at end of 2004-05 seasonstart at end of 2004-05 season

• XXVVII-16 Importance of magnetometer XXVVII-16 Importance of magnetometer data – was important in obtaining funding data – was important in obtaining funding from national agencies. Most of data from national agencies. Most of data available from national programmesavailable from national programmes

SSG/PS Groups SSG/PS Groups

• If approved, AGCS would incorporate If approved, AGCS would incorporate READER, ATAC, ITASE, ASPECTREADER, ATAC, ITASE, ASPECT

• If approved, ICESTAR would If approved, ICESTAR would incorporate MADREP, APTIC, STEPSincorporate MADREP, APTIC, STEPS

• Continue as Action group – PASTA, Continue as Action group – PASTA, MOSAK, AAAMOSAK, AAA

• Continue as Expert group – Operational Continue as Expert group – Operational Meteorology, ISMASSMeteorology, ISMASS

New Groups New Groups • Expert group on Oceanography – will Expert group on Oceanography – will

work with the proposed AGCS work with the proposed AGCS programme and external bodiesprogramme and external bodies

• Cross-SSG Action Group on King George Cross-SSG Action Group on King George Island science. Mostly working by e-mail, Island science. Mostly working by e-mail, but plan a one day workshop in Hobartbut plan a one day workshop in Hobart

• New Expert Group on Ice Drilling New Expert Group on Ice Drilling Technology – to support the international Technology – to support the international drilling communitydrilling community

Other New Other New Recommendations Recommendations

• SCAR XXVIII – 4 Concerning site testing for SCAR XXVIII – 4 Concerning site testing for astronomical observations astronomical observations

• SCAR XXVIII – 5 Concerning drifting buoys SCAR XXVIII – 5 Concerning drifting buoys • SCAR XXVIII-6 Concerning continued support of SCAR XXVIII-6 Concerning continued support of

existing geospace observatoriesexisting geospace observatories• SCAR XXVIII - 7 On the transmission of space SCAR XXVIII - 7 On the transmission of space

weather data weather data • SCAR XXVIII - 8 Mesosphere-Stratosphere-SCAR XXVIII - 8 Mesosphere-Stratosphere-

Troposphere / Incoherent Scatter (MST/IS) Radar Troposphere / Incoherent Scatter (MST/IS) Radar • XXVIII - 9 On upper air meteorological data from XXVIII - 9 On upper air meteorological data from

the Antarctic Peninsula the Antarctic Peninsula • XXVIII-10 Concerning drilling above Lake VostokXXVIII-10 Concerning drilling above Lake Vostok

Officers and the Budget Officers and the Budget

• No changes in the officers of the SSGNo changes in the officers of the SSG• Jon Shanklin (UK) elected Chair of Jon Shanklin (UK) elected Chair of

Operational Meteorology Expert GroupOperational Meteorology Expert Group• Budget – a lot depends on the funding Budget – a lot depends on the funding

of the programmes. But we have of the programmes. But we have tended to allocate $1-2K per activity tended to allocate $1-2K per activity for funding of workshops and data for funding of workshops and data gathering/coordination activitiesgathering/coordination activities

Action Timetable for Next Action Timetable for Next Two YearsTwo Years

• Again, very dependent on the Again, very dependent on the programmes programmes

• Annual meetings of Programme Steering Annual meetings of Programme Steering Committees, but hold planning meetings Committees, but hold planning meetings in association with Science Conferencein association with Science Conference

• More co-sponsorship of conferences with More co-sponsorship of conferences with other organisations, e.g. IAMAS, CliC, other organisations, e.g. IAMAS, CliC, SCORSCOR

• Outreach – workshop on the Antarctic Outreach – workshop on the Antarctic wind field in Malaysiawind field in Malaysia

In SummaryIn Summary

• Have some good scientific outputs Have some good scientific outputs despite the period of change we’re in despite the period of change we’re in

• Have promoted SCAR and engaged in Have promoted SCAR and engaged in outreach through collaborations and outreach through collaborations and co-sponsorship with other co-sponsorship with other organisationsorganisations

• Have moved oceanography forwardHave moved oceanography forward• Prepared two programme proposalsPrepared two programme proposals

Thank YouThank You