TECO-2014

WMO TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON METEOROLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INSTRUMENTS
AND METHODS OF OBSERVATION

Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, 07-09 July 2014

PROGRAMME

(available in English only)

REGISTRATION

O P E N I N G

WELCOME & INTRODUCTION
Jeremiah Lengoasa, Deputy Secretary-General, WMO
Bertrand Calpini, President of CIMO
Bruce Forgan, Conference Director

12 x 1 minute presentations of ‘best Session 1 posters’ (1 overhead each)

PANEL DISCUSSION SESSION 1: IMPROVING GLOBAL STANDARDIZATION AND TRACEABILITY OF SURFACE-BASED OBSERVATION

The CIMO RICs have performed a valuable role over the last decades in improving the quality and traceability of in-situ surface observations on a global scale. However, increasingly, we are seeing replacement of simple in-situ observing equipment and techniques with more complex remote sensing systems, yet there is little global standardization of operations, maintenance and calibration of this equipment and the techniques they employ.

Also, some RICs have been more successful than others. How can we improve standardization and traceability of all observations on a global scale? The aim of this discussion session is to explore possible answers to these questions, in preparation for a three day CIMO/WIGOS Workshop on this topic which is to be held in Langen, Germany in December 2014

SESSION 2A – DEVELOPMENTS IN STANDARDIZATION AND TRACEABILITY

Chairperson: Bruce Forgan (Australia)

6 x 1 minute presentations of ‘best Session 2 and 4 posters’ (1 overhead each)

SESSION 3A – INTERCOMPARISONS

Chairperson: Volker Lehmann (Germany)

6 x 1 minute presentations of ‘best Session 3 posters’ (1 overhead each)

PANEL DISCUSSION SESSION 2: FUTURE INTERCOMPARISSONS

Two CIMO international instrument intercomparisons are currently underway, SPICE and RQQI. In addition, plans will soon be underway for IPC XII in 2015. All three of these are expected to be completed during the coming intersessional period. Experience shows that two major intercomparisons in addition to IPC is a practical limit for each intersessional period. But what should be next?

SESSION 3B – INTERCOMPARISSONS
Chairperson: Alexander Gusev (Russian Federation)

SESSION 3C– INTERCOMPARISSONS
Chairperson: TBA

6 x 1 minute presentations of ‘best Session 3 posters’ (1 overhead each)

SESSION 4A – CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT TO OTHER PROGRAMMES

Chairperson: Bruce Baker (USA)

SESSION 4B– CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT TO OTHER PROGRAMMES

Chairperson: Mario Garcia (Argentina)

PANEL DISCUSSION SESSION 3: CENTENNIAL STATIONS, SITING & SUSTAINABILITY CLASSIFICATIONS

Since CIMO-15, the Commission has developed the siting classification to enable surface observing sites on land to be rated according to their suitability for making environmentally-representative observations. Progress has also been made in drafting a follow-on classification: the Sustained Performance Classification, which is intended to provide a simple assessment of instrument quality, maintenance and calibration state, leading to a further indication of the likely quality of observational data produced at the site. At the same time, CCl has been working with CIMO and the other technical commissions to develop a scheme whereby special recognition (Centennial Station) can be given to observing sites with long records of high quality data, so that their owners might use this to help protect the sites from relocation or encroachment.

How can we best implement these schemes together to provide protection for the better sites, and how do we determine the quantitative differences to be expected in data quality from sites with different siting and/or sustainability classifications? This discussion session will address questions such as these, to provide guidance for the relevant CIMO Expert Team in further developing these schemes during the coming intersessional period