THORPEX A Global Atmospheric Research Program Pai-Yei Whung Acting Director THORPEX International Program Office NWS/NCEP, August

It builds upon ongoing advances within the basic-research and operational- forecasting communities It will make progress by enhancing international collaboration between these communities and with users of forecast products THORPEX-A Global Atmospheric Research Program An international research programme to accelerate improvements in the accuracy of 1 to 14-day forecasts of high impact weather for the benefit of society and the economy

Four Interrelated and Coordinated THORPEX Sub-programmes  Predictability and Dynamical Processes  Observing Systems  Data Assimilation and Observing Strategies  Societal and Economic Impacts.

THORPEX Program Structure  International Core Steering Committee (ICSC) PR appointed representatives from 11 Member Nations PR appointed representatives from 11 Member Nations  International Science Steering Committee (ISSC) WWRP/AREP WWRP/AREP Report to ICSC Report to ICSC  THORPEX International Program Office (IPO) Report to ICSC and support THORPEX international community Report to ICSC and support THORPEX international community  Regional Science Steering Committee, Europe and Southern Hemisphere Asia, North America, Europe and Southern Hemisphere

International Core Steering Committee  Established by the Commission for Atmospheric Sciences (CAS) in 2002  Members Canada (Chair, Dr. Michel Beland), China, US, UK, South Africa, Australia, Japan, Korea, India, Russian Federation, France and Germany Canada (Chair, Dr. Michel Beland), China, US, UK, South Africa, Australia, Japan, Korea, India, Russian Federation, France and Germany  Function Delivery of THORPEX to CAS Delivery of THORPEX to CAS Sets research priorities, approves science plan by ISSC Sets research priorities, approves science plan by ISSC Provides guidance to NMHSs on transition of THORPEX research and development to operations, Provides guidance to NMHSs on transition of THORPEX research and development to operations, Identify and mobilise national and international resources to support THORPEX activities Identify and mobilise national and international resources to support THORPEX activities  Meetings October 2002, April 2003 and December 2003 October 2002, April 2003 and December 2003

International Science Steering Committee  Established in 2002 by CAS  Membership Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom, United States, France, Norway, Iceland, Finland and Sweden Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom, United States, France, Norway, Iceland, Finland and Sweden  Function Develops scientific plan Develops scientific plan Guides the implementation of the programme Guides the implementation of the programme Provides recommendations to ICSC. Provides recommendations to ICSC.  Co-chairs Prof. Alan Thorpe and Dr Melvin Shapiro Prof. Alan Thorpe and Dr Melvin Shapiro

Progress on the International Programme  Version 1 of the Science Plan is complete  WMO approval granted, new WMO web site  Two post-doctoral fellowships awarded under the Vaisala THORPEX Fellowship Program  Regional committees formed in NA and Asia  Chair to soon be named for the EU committee  Framework for the upcoming Atlantic experiment

North American Science Steering Committee  US (Co-chair) David Parsons, NCAR (Co-chair) David Parsons, NCAR Zoltan Toth, OAA/NCEP/EMC Zoltan Toth, OAA/NCEP/EMC Tim Miller, NSSTC/GHCC/MSFC - NASA Team Leader Tim Miller, NSSTC/GHCC/MSFC - NASA Team Leader Bob Atlas, NASA/GSFC/DAO Bob Atlas, NASA/GSFC/DAO John Murray,NASA/LaRC John Murray,NASA/LaRC Carolyn Reynolds, ONR Carolyn Reynolds, ONR Joe Tribbia, NCAR/CGD Joe Tribbia, NCAR/CGD Eugenia Kalnay -- U of Maryland Eugenia Kalnay -- U of Maryland Berrien Moore -- U of New Hampshire Berrien Moore -- U of New Hampshire Dan Keyser- State U NY at Albany Dan Keyser- State U NY at Albany Rebecca Morss, NCAR – Temp appt. Rebecca Morss, NCAR – Temp appt.  Canada (Co-chair) Pierre Gauthier, Met Service Canada (MSC) Jim Abraham, MSC Mark Buehner, MSC John Gyakum, McGill University Laurie Neil, MSC/Marine Canadian Societal Impacts Rep – TBD

THORPEX Observing System Test (TOST) for North Atlantic Two efforts: Start in Oct on Extratropical (ET) transition of tropical cyclones Begin shift to winter cyclones in Nov, ops to mid-Dec. 2 nd planning meeting to be held on September 8-9 Description: Scheduled for mid Oct / mid Dec 2003 EUCOS and other European/NA observational assets will be targeted on sensitive areas Analysis complete by the end of 2004 Observing Systems: 600+ European AMDAR aircraft 16 European ASAP ships Additional radiosonde ascents (Canada, US, Europe) Research aircraft - dropsondes and other measurements (Germany, US and Canada) Additional drifting buoys (Western and Eastern Atlantic areas) Driftsonde flights from US East coast Meteosat 6 - rapid scan winds

TOST Primary Science Goals  Test ability to select appropriate cases for data targeting  Test ability to predict sensitive areas  Test ability to target these areas with additional observations  Test of new instruments potentially useful for targeting and/or future operations (e.g. driftsonde, wind lidar, etc.)  Tests, design and validation studies of proposed experimental satellite techniques  Conduct in real-time with operational centers

Contribution to the Atlantic TOST from Operational Centers  Multiple targeting inputs (ECMWF, UK Met Office, METEO France, NRL, NCEP)  Decision by “targeting czar”  Impact studies using ECMWF, UK Met, METEO France, Swiss, Danish, Italian, and German Met. Services, NRL (for ET Storms), NCEP

Additional NA Activities  North American Science Steering Committee Meeting to be held on August at the U of Maryland  Communication established with WMO, Intl Committees, US Core Committee reps, USWRP THORPEX subgroup and IPO, web page plan  US members contributed to Intl Plan  Served on the Panel for Vaisala THORPEX Fellowship Selection  Draft of North American plan set for 1 November 2003

International Program Office  14 th WMO Congress ( World Weather Research Programme) endorse the establishment of the THORPEX International Program Office (IPO)  Term of Reference for IPO was established during the 14 th WMO Congress  Acting Director was appointed by Chair of ICSC with the concurrence of US PR (temp location: US NCEP)  Structure of IPO Director and Officers are seconded by Member Nations Director and Officers are seconded by Member Nations Trust fund (US$200K annual, Canada $30K) Trust fund (US$200K annual, Canada $30K)  The role of the IPO is to coordinate THORPEX on behalf of the members such that the overall THORPEX Programme goals are achieved  The IPO will execute the ICSC priorities in THORPEX

Planned IPO Activities  Organize ICSC December 2003 meeting  Potential sponsor TOST workshop in Spring 2004  Establish interactive website jointly with WMO  Bi-monthly newsletter  Strengthen Southern Hemisphere membership  Coordinate with CBS, CAS and WCRP