YOPP Arctic Science Workshop – Short Meeting Report

(04-03-2019)

(by Kirstin Werner and Helge Goessling)

More than one hundred participants discussed recent progress and ways toward improved polar prediction at the Arctic Science Workshop that took place from 14 to 16 January 2019 in Helsinki, Finland. The meeting was jointly organized by the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), the Year of Polar Prediction (YOPP) International Coordination Office, and the Finish Meteorological Institute as host.

The first day of the meeting was dedicated to keynote lectures to set the stage on current efforts to bring together observations and modelling during the Year of Polar Prediction. One of the foci during the following science sessions was the analysis of additional observations that have been obtained during the first two YOPP Special Observing Periods (SOPs) in the Arctic. Extra polar observations during the SOPs captured several extreme weather events that provide useful benchmarks to assess current forecast capabilities and to understand how such events unfold. A Sudden Stratospheric Warming during the Arctic winter SOP (February-March 2018) occurred ahead of the rare event of a polynya opening north of Greenland. While warm anomalies prevailed over the Labrador region as well as the Beaufort and Bering seas in March, northern Russia and large parts of Europe experienced a 'Beast from the East', or what the Finns whimsically call a 'Finnish Wednesday', with extremely low temperatures and heavy snowfall. Interestingly, the polynya north of Greenland re-opened during the Arctic summer SOP (July-September 2018), resulting from another period of anomalously warm southerly winds. 

Results presented from first data denial experiments capitalising on the SOP data indicate that the polar observing systems clearly have impacts on forecast skills not only in polar regions but also in the mid latitudes, and that in particular conventional (i.e., surface, wind profiler, and upper-air) observations are most influential during winter.

A too simplistic, or partly completely missing, surface snow component in state-of-the-art numerical prediction systems has been highlighted as a prevailing cause of surface warm biases, both over land and on sea ice. The use of multi-layer snow schemes is a promising way to improve near-surface temperatures and the energy budget in models in cold atmospheric conditions.
During parallel breakout sessions on predictability, processes, verification, and user engagement, the workshop participants discussed current questions and topics that are particularly relevant to help shaping the YOPP Consolidation Phase (July 2019 to 2022). During this final phase, YOPP data and research will be synthesized to ensure sustained improvements in environmental prediction capabilities for the polar regions and beyond. Recommendations from the breakout groups included: to further promote and maintain YOPP observational and model data; to put focus on case studies with regard to extreme events captured by the SOP observations, and Arctic process understanding; to work toward specific and practical recommendations for the polar observing system; and to ensure the transfer of YOPP outcomes into operation and services, including the securing of funds for service development.

YOPP Arctic Science Workshop – Online Survey

(01-02-2019)

We would love to hear your feedback about the YOPP Arctic Science Workshop that was held from 14-16 January 2019 at FMI in Helsinki, Finland, and about the ways you receive information about the Year of Polar Prediction. We therefore kindly ask you to please respond to a short survey developed to help improve another such workshop and addressing the right groups with YOPP updates. It should only take 5 minutes, and your responses are completely anonymous.

Please find the survey via this link: https://goo.gl/forms/sMNjkNGkFBjj4AYD3 (survey closed)

For any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact office@polarprediction.net.

YOPP Arctic Science Workshop – Presentations Available Online

(31-01-2019)

Presentations from the YOPP Arctic Science Workshop are now available for download.

Oral presentations
Please download the agenda which includes links to the different presentations in dropbox.

Poster presentations
Some of you have sent us their posters as a pdf file which we are happy to provide as well. Please download the poster list (here) with links to posters from dropbox.

For any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the authors directly or us via office@polarprediction.net.

YOPP Arctic Science Workshop – Abstract Book

(22-01-2019)

The final abstract book for the YOPP Arctic Science Workshop can now be downloaded from here. Please direct any questions to office@polarprediction.net.

Web streaming available

(08-01-2019)

We are delighted to announce that all sessions (except for the group discussion sessions) will be streamed online. If you want to follow the workshop remotely, please contact us at office@polarprediction.net.

List of Posters Online

(08-01-2019)

The list of posters is now available here.

Re: US Government Shutdown

(07-01-2019)

Regarding the current US Government shutdown, for organizational reasons we would like to ask our colleagues working for the US government to please send a note to office@polarprediction.net whether you will be able to start your journey to Finland to attend the workshop and give your presentation. 

We will try to cope with the situation as flexible as possible, but do hope to see you next week in Helsinki.

Draft Agenda Available

(21-11-2018)

A draft agenda for the YOPP Arctic Science Workshop is now available here.

For any questions, please contact the International Coordination Office for Polar Prediction office@polarprediction.net.

Abstract Submission Closed

(13-09-2018)

Abstract submission is closed now.

Notifications about acceptance of your abstract are currently sent out to successful participants. For any questions, please contact the International Coordination Office for Polar Prediction office@polarprediction.net.

Call for Abstracts

(18-06-2018)

Abstract submission is now open for the YOPP Arctic Science Workshop to be held from 14 to 16 January in Finland, Helsinki.

The workshop is jointly organized by the Polar Prediction Project and its International Coordination Office, the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), and the Finnish Meteorological Institute who is hosting the meeting. It will bring together YOPP scientists to discuss first results from the Arctic Special Observing Periods, providing a vivid forum for exchange and networking. We invite studies on coupled atmospheric, ocean, sea ice, and land processes in the context of latest Arctic observations, modelling and prediction efforts including their benefits to society on time scales from hours to seasonal. 

Confirmed invited speakers are:

  • Elizabeth C. Hunke
  • Jim Doyle
  • Machiel Lamers
  • John Marshall
  • Pierre Rampal
  • Ian Renfrew
  • Greg C. Smith
  • Gunilla Svensson

See the Call for Abstracts here (pdf).

Please direct any questions to the YOPP International Coordination Office office@polarprediction.net.

Organizing Team

International Arctic Science Committee:

  • Thomas Spengler (University of Bergen, Norway)
  • Kent Moore (University of Toronto, Canada)
  • Allen Pope (IASC Executive Secretary, Iceland)
  • Manisha Ganeshan (APECS, USRA)

Finnish Meteorological Institute:

  • Timo Vihma
  • Riina Haavisto

YOPP International Coordination Office Alfred Wegener Institute (Germany):

  • Thomas Jung
  • Kirstin Werner
  • Katharina Kirchhoff

PPP Steering Group:

  • Jonathan Day (ECMWF, UK)
  • Machiel Lamers (Wageningen University, The Netherlands)

First Circular

From January 14-16, 2019, the Arctic Year of Polar Prediction (YOPP) Science Workshop will take place at the Finnish Meteorological Institute in Helsinki, Finland. It will be jointly organized by the Polar Prediction Project and its International Coordination Office (ICO), the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), and the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI).

The workshop will bring together YOPP scientists to present and discuss the first results from the Arctic Special Observing Periods in winter and summer 2018, providing a vivid forum for exchange, networking, and interaction. Studies of coupled atmospheric, ocean, sea ice, and land processes will be addressed to share feedback on the latest Arctic observations, modelling and prediction efforts including their benefits to society on time scales from hours to seasonal.

See the first circular here (pdf).

More information on the workshop including session topics will be announced soon. Please direct any questions to the YOPP International Coordination Office office@polarprediction.net.