The first meeting of the YOPPsiteMIP team took place from 17 to 19 September 2019 at Stockholm University, Sweden. Amongst others, it has been agreed to hold on-demand Targeted Observing Periods (TOPs) when air mass transformations during MOSAiC occur. 

YOPPsiteMIP stands for the Year of Polar Prediction Supersite Model Intercomparison Project. As one of the key activities of the YOPP Task Team on Atmospheric Processes, YOPPSiteMIP aims to support detailed evaluation of the model representation of a range of physical processes, including the energy budget at the surface, momentum transfer and clouds and vertical profiles of a number of parameters. A workshop organized by YOPPSiteMIP leader Gunilla Svensson from the Department of Meteorology at Stockholm University brought together practitioners from the modelling and observational communities to discuss first results of the YOPPsiteMIP projects, future analysis and planned activities in connection to the MOSAiC ice drift campaign.

More on the meeting can be found in the News section (news item from 25 October 2019). The report including an Executive Summary is available here.

The fourth YOPP Southern Hemisphere meeting again has been aligned with the annual Workshop on Antarctic Meteorology and Climate. The meetings were held end of June in Charleston SC, United States.

The Workshop on Antarctic Meteorology and Climate was held June 25-27, 2019 in Charleston SC, USA, at the Charleston Marriott Hotel. The Year of Polar Prediction in the Southern Hemisphere (YOPP-SH) meeting followed on June 27 Thursday afternoon and Friday morning of June 28 at the Charleston Marriott Hotel. This workshop focused on bringing together all parties involved in Antarctic meteorology and the advancement of this discipline through research science and improving operational support.

The agenda with links to all presentations is available here.

The fifth PPP-SERA meeting has taken place from 8–12 April in Punta Arenas, Chile. On Wednesday, 10 April, an Open Session was held at the Universidad de Magallanes (Auditorium Australis).

The fifth meeting of PPP-SERA, held in Punta Arenas, Chile, in April 2019, focused on the development and planning of activities PPP-SERA promised to deliver during YOPP, including Special Services Projects and Weather and Society workshops. Furthermore, the PPP-SERA task team used the opportunity to develop joint funding proposals in response to the Belmont Forum call, worked on an editorial to a Special Issue in Polar Geography, and responded to requests by the YOPP Steering Group.

The PPP-SERA Open Session in Punta Arenas on 10 April has extended the PPP-SERA network within South America. During the session, PPP-SERA has been reporting on current research to generate awareness of relevant themes and approaches and to engage in discussions with researchers, service providers and end-users from South America.

A workshop report can be found here.

From 14-16 January, 2019, the Arctic Year of Polar Prediction (YOPP) Science Workshop was held at the Finnish Meteorological Institute in Helsinki, Finland. It was 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 brought 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 were 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.

For more information, see meeting website here.