Executive Summary

• Main Authors: Chris Fairall, James Cummings, Thomas Jung, Neil Gordon, Peter Bauer, Gregory Smith, Francisco Doblas-reyes, Keith Hines, Marika Holl, Trond Iversen
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Endeavour; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.269.2220; http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/arep/wwrp/new/documents/Fairall_AOSWhite_PolarPredObservations_19Jan2013.pdf

Project that will promote the improvement of polar prediction capabilities. This will involve advancement of the science in numerical models, data acquisition and assimilation, ensemble forecast methods, verification, and the production of prediction products – all with a polar emphasis. Observations are one key element in this endeavour. The polar regions are among the most sparsely observed parts of the globe by conventional observing systems such as surface meteorological stations, radiosonde stations, and aircraft reports. The polar oceans are also sparsely observed by the Argo array of automated profiling floats, implying problems in coupled forecasting. The polar regions are barely sampled by geostationary satellites, but generally have a denser sampling by polar-orbiting satellites. Using satellite-based observations of the polar surface is challenging partly due to the everchanging and highly heterogeneous sea-ice, which prohibits observations of ocean surface temperature and salinity, colour, altimetry/wave height, surface winds, precipitation, etc. Differentiating between snow and ice-covered surfaces and clouds in the atmosphere has also been a long-running challenge. The relative remoteness and harsh environmental conditions of the polar regions is always