Terms of Reference for WMO CAS
Commission for Atmospheric Sciences (CAS)
President:
Prof. Anton Eliassen (Norway)
OPAG on Environmental Pollution and Atmospheric Chemistry
Chair: T.B.A.
7.1
GAW Strategy Planning Expert Team (ET-GAW SP)
(a) To monitor and make recommendations on the
implementation of GAW Strategy 2001-2007, capability and utilization of GAW measurements to meet the requirements of WMO and international
conventions;
(b) To develop long-term objectives for atmospheric
composition observations and environmental pollution matters and elaborate GAW Strategic Implementation Plan for 2008-2015.
Back
to All Expert Teams page
GAW
Scientific Advisory Groups on:
7.2 Ozone (SAG-Ozone)
7.3
UV Radiation (SAG-UV)
7.4 Greenhouse Gazes (SAG-GHG)
7.5 Aerosols (SAG-Aerosols),
7.6 Precipitation Chemistry (SAG-PC)
Back
to All Expert Teams page
7.7 Reactive Gases (SAG-RG)
(a) To develop scientific priorities based on user
requirements;
(b) To implement actions and recommendations related to respective measurables as defined in the GAW Strategy;
(c) To develop measurements procedures and
guidelines, data quality objectives and, when applicable, Standard Operating Procedures;
(d) To monitor operations at sites, recommend development of networks, observation methodologies, and techniques, and to report
to the ICT-EPAC on the progress and critical problems.
Back
to All Expert Teams page
7.8 Scientific Advisory Group on GAW
Urban Research Meteorology and Environment Project(SAG-GURME)
To implement the GAW Urban Research Meteorology and Environment Project in different
regions and to develop guidelines and training material for distribution to Members.
Back
to All Expert Teams page
7.9 Scientific Advisory Group on GAW Data Management
(SAG-GAW DM)
(a) To coordinate the activities of GAW World Data Centres (WCD), and the GAW Station
Information System (GAWSIS);
(b) To formulate GAW requirements for the WMO Information System, contribute to defining and coordinating services for
operational, time-critical applications so that GAW and other environmental observational data be available to users on-line and, when possible, in
near real-time.
Back
to All Expert Teams page
7.10
Integrated Global Atmospheric Chemistry Observations Implementation Team (IGACO-IT)
(a) To develop an implementation plan for Integrated Global
Atmospheric Chemistry Observations (IGACO);
(b) To promote the development of a plan with two types of activities: thematic foci and cross-cutting issues;
(c) To develop initially four thematic foci for ozone, greenhouse gases, aerosols (climate-chemistry interactions) and air
quality/long range transport based on administrative support in a major WMO Member or partner research institution and an ad-hoc International
Scientific Advisory Panel with strong representation from the appropriate GAW Scientific Advisory Group;
(d) To focus on activities leading to research and development that would strengthen the ability of the next generation GAW
programme: 2008-2015 to deliver global atmospheric chemistry observations and better services and products;
(e) To ensure that a central role is taken by GAW and the WMO Space Programme with support from the WWW, WWRP, GCOS and GEOSS;
(f) Through the co-chairs as IGOS Theme Leaders, liaise and communicate with IGACO progress to CEOS and to IGOS at annual
meeting;
(g) To effectively communicate progress to all other partners.
Back
to All Expert Teams page
7.11
WMO/IUGG International Aerosol-Precipitation Science Assessment Group (IAPSAG)
To lead the research community in a Science Assessment of Aerosol Effects on Precipitation
and prepare an assessment report in 2006, which will be reviewed by an Independent Review Group and completed in time for the next WMO and IUGG
Congresses in 2007.
Back
to All Expert Teams page
OPAG on Weather Research and Development
Chair: T.B.A.
7.12 Joint CAS – JSC/WCRP Working Group on Numerical Experimentation
(a)
To advise the JSC for WCRP and CAS on progress in atmospheric modelling;
(b)
To review the development of atmospheric models for use in weather prediction and climate studies on all scales, including the diagnosis of
shortcomings;
(c) To propose numerical
experiments aiming to refine numerical techniques and the formulation of atmospheric physics processes, boundary layer processes and land surface
processes in models;
(d) Design and promote
coordinated experiments for:
(i) Validating model results against observed atmospheric
properties and variations;
(ii) Exploring the intrinsic and forced
variability and predictability of the general circulation of the atmosphere on short to extended ranges;
(iii) Assessing the intrinsic and forced
variability of the atmosphere on climate time-scales;
(e)
Promote the development of data assimilation methods for application to numerical weather and climate predictions, and for the estimation of
derived climatological quantities;
(f)
Promote the development of new methods for numerical weather prediction and climate simulation;
(g) Maintain scientific liaison
with other WCRP and CAS groups as appropriate;
(h) Promote the timely exchange
of information, data and new knowledge on atmospheric modelling through publications, workshops and meetings.
Back
to All Expert Teams page
7.13 THORPEX Executive Board (THORPEX EB)
(a) The THORPEX Executive Board, established by
THORPEX International Core Steering Committee (ICSC), acts as the focal point and coordinates all THORPEX activities.
It is responsible for the day-to-day execution of THORPEX and ensures its implementation in accordance with the THORPEX International
Implementation Plan 2005-2015;
(b) The EB consists of Executive Director, chairs of THORPEX Regional Committees, and co-chairs of the following THORPEX working
groups:
(i)
Predictability and Dynamical/Physical Processes WG;
(ii) Observing Systems WG;
(iii) Data Assimilation and Observing Strategies WG;
(iv) Social and Economic Applications WG;
(v) Data Policy and Management WG;
(vi) Global Interactive Forecasting System/THORPEX Interactive
Grand Global Ensemble (TIGGE) WG;
(c) THORPEX Science and Technical Advisory Boards participate in the work of
the EB to, respectively, ensure the overall scientific integrity of the programme and conformity of THORPEX plans with operational capabilities and
the transition of research results to operations.
Back
to All Expert Teams page
7.14 Scientific Committee on Mesoscale Weather Research (SC-MWP)
(a) To promote, organize and/or endorse end-to-end weather research and development projects (RDP) including understanding of
weather processes, improving forecasting techniques and improving the utility of forecast information with an emphasis on high impact weather;
(b) To review and widely advertise guidelines and process of submission/acceptance of project proposals;
(c) To establish project committees, working groups, test beds and expert teams as required for the implementation of projects to
meet the objectives of CAS;
(d) To actively promote the applications of
improvements in weather forecasting capability through forecast demonstration projects (FDP) and the sponsoring of technical workshops and
conferences;
(e) To supervise the process of individual evaluation and quality assessment of each "pre-operational" type project (in
particular of each demonstration project), and to validate its conclusions, in light of the state-of-the-art.
Back
to All Expert Teams page
7.15 Scientific Committee on Tropical Meteorology Research (SC-TMR)
(a) To monitor the implementation of existing priority projects within the WMO Tropical Meteorology Research Programme (TMRP) and
to further develop other appropriate research projects as the need arises, under the following main programme components:
(i) Tropical
cyclones;
(ii) Monsoon studies (on
regional and global scales);
(iii) Tropical drought and
rain-producing systems;
(iv) Limited-area modelling
in the tropics;
(v) Interaction between
tropical and mid-latitude weather systems;
(vi) Tropical meteorology
and climate;
(b) To identify and support research initiatives of NMHSs in tropical countries, generally including collaboration with groups
in universities or research institutes, which are likely to lead to economic benefits, particularly in agriculture and water resources management;
(c) To keep under continuous review developments in research aspects of the WMO Tropical Cyclone Programme (TCP) by maintaining
close liaison with TCP regional bodies and to facilitate coordination of research at regional levels.
Back
to All Expert Teams page
7.16 Working Group on Verification (WGV)
(a) To plan and implement
the verification component of WWRP and TMRP projects;
(b) To serve as a focal point for the development and dissemination of new verification methods;
(c) To facilitate and encourage training and dissemination of information about verification methodologies;
(d) To encourage greater cooperation between users and verifiers of forecasts, to ensure the relevance and integrity of the
practice of forecast verification;
(e) To facilitate the development and application of improved diagnostic verification methods to assess and enable improvement of
the quality of weather forecasts including forecasts from numerical weather and climate models;
(f) To encourage the sharing of observational data for verification purposes;
(g) To encourage greater awareness in the research community of the importance of verification as a vital part of numerical and
field experiments, rather than an “afterthought”;
(h) To promote collaboration among scientists conducting research on various aspects of forecast verification, and with model
developers and forecast providers.
Back
to All Expert Teams page
7.17 Working Group on Nowcasting (WGN)
(a) To advance the science of nowcasting, including meteorology processes and predictability;
(b) To promote, and aid the implementation of nowcasting in the WWRP framework and within National Meteorological Services and
their end users;
(c) To organize international workshops and conferences on nowcasting;
(d) To develop and implement RDPs and FDPs to advance the underlying science as well as to develop, compare, validate and
exchange various nowcasting techniques, and to involve the operational evaluation outcomes.
Back
to All Expert Teams page
7.18 Advisory Group on Societal and Economic Impacts (AGSI)
Terms of reference to be developed by OPAG-WRD.
Back
to All Expert Teams page
