1. Observations Task Team
Summary of Discussions
March 23, 2017

2. Approach:
Take a risk management perspective at global and regional/local levels:
We have to answer the “so what”

3. Sendai framework for disaster reduction
Priority 1:
Understanding disaster risk.
Priority 2:
Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk.
Priority 3:
Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience.
Priority 4:
Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

4. Sendai framework for disaster reduction
Priority 1: Understanding disaster risk
Policies and practices for disaster risk management should be based on an understanding of disaster risk in all its dimensions of vulnerability, capacity, exposure of persons and assets, hazard characteristics and the environment.
To achieve this, it is important:
To promote the collection, analysis, management and use of relevant data and practical information and ensure its dissemination, taking into account the needs of different categories of users, as appropriate;
To encourage the use of and strengthening of baselines and periodically assess disaster risks, vulnerability, capacity, exposure, hazard characteristics and their possible sequential effects at the relevant social and spatial scale on ecosystems, in line with national circumstances

5. ASSESSING AND MANAGING THE RISKS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Hazard
The potential occurrence of a natural or human-induced physical event or trend or physical impact that may cause loss of life, injury, or other health impacts, as well as damage and loss to property, infrastructure, livelihoods, service provision, ecosystems, and environmental resources.
Exposure
The presence of people, livelihoods, species or ecosystems, environmental functions, services, and resources, infrastructure, or economic, social, or cultural assets in places and settings that could be adversely affected
Vulnerability
The propensity or predisposition to be adversely affected. Vulnerability encompasses a variety of concepts and
elements including sensitivity or susceptibility to harm and lack of capacity to cope and adapt.

6. ASSESSING AND MANAGING THE RISKS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Impacts
The impacts of climate change on geophysical systems, including floods, droughts,
and sea level rise, are a subset of impacts called physical impacts.
Risk
The potential for consequences where something of value is at stake and where the outcome is uncertain, recognizing the
diversity of values.
Adaptation
The process of adjustment to actual or expected climate and its effects.
Resilience
The capacity of social, economic, and environmental systems to cope with a hazardous event or trend or disturbance,

7. ASSESSING AND MANAGING THE RISKS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

8. ASSESSING AND MANAGING THE RISKS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

9. ASSESSING AND MANAGING THE RISKS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

10. Identification of Requirements
Invite the Services Task Team to lead the mapping of needs for observations from a societal benefit/risk perspective,
Link services to populations and socio-economic sectors
Develop an integrated view, not only cryosphere, promote the integration of observations.
Develop a knowledge and information dissemination strategy
Develop narrative to retain the Polar and High Mountain activities as a priority, building on the momentum to enable real change;

11. Observing networks and products (through GCW, PSTG, AntON)
Integration of observations in-situ and satellite to derive integrated products, with a focus on remote areas.
Use coordination and partnerships to meet the needs ;
Engage the research com to add value to existing observations
Build in the knowledge of local experts, indigenous communities
Observing network design:
observations gap: who else is providing similar observations?
promote multipurpose platforms, multi users, adding measurements to existing stations.
obs need to be sustained, based on the value added, including factoring in maintenance, and data quality.

12. Engagements
Engagement with hydrological community on observations and services, based on impact, e.g. changes on the water resources: regional needs
awareness on contributions of met services to achieving societal benefits
Recognize the strategic value of certain regions facing risks: enable the development of mechanisms to ensure access to data.
Lack of accurate information could damage international relations (water and food security)
Flexible approach is needed to attract a broader range of communities: work with WIGOS to develop flexible metadata to be inclusive of a broad range of data providers
Preparing WIS/GTS for the exchange of non-met data via GTS.

13. Proposed Changes to Polar Code
 Promote the modification of the Polar Code to request the inclusion of mandatory requirements for providing environmental observations on ships transitioning arctic waters. The could support critical emergency interventions.

14. World Water Conference
Re-energize the High Mountain focus through a WMO World Water conference: connect the cryosphere with the hydrology, before EC-70.
To promote the importance of the link cryosphere-water.
Consider projects: HKH HYCOS, AHECO, Pakistan proposed project (RA II) as a pilot project for integration of WMO engagement.

15. “High Mountain” Definition
Recommended approach:
Remove “High”
Definition: areas of the globe with mountains experiencing permanent or seasonal cryosphere which could affect human life and property
Incorporate the High Mountain Task Team into the Observations Task Team

16. Proposed Goals for the Observations TT following EC PHORS-7 (3.1)
Monitor innovation in observations from research, satellite, in-situ and new technologies, and facilitate the development of strategies for transfer to operations (technology transfer);
Provide oversight of the Polar Space Task Group, which will continue to provide coordination across space agencies in support of cryospheric and polar research and applications; additional focus is desired in high mountain areas;
Provide oversight of the Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW) implementation and develop strategies for its operationalization;
Coordinate with ICG-WIGOS the integration of AntON, CryoNet and space based observations in WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS), including the regulatory aspects, and ensure their interoperability with the WMO Information System (WIS);
Promote and support standardization of observing practices in polar and high mountain regions;
Liaise with WMO Programmes and international organizations and programmes on polar and high mountain observations.

17. Obs TT Decisions and recommendations from the breakout session

18. GCW related recommendations
Submit to EC-69, for approval for inclusion in the GCW Surface Observing Network, the list (doc 4.1(2)), of
11 CryoNet sites;
77 CryoNet stations;
43 Contributing stations.

19. Snow Data Exchange
Submit to EC-69 for approval an amendment to the Manual on the Global Observing System, Volume I: Global Aspects (WMO–No. 544) by adding new provisions as follows:
Members shall report snow cover1 and snow depth at least once a day at stations where snow is experienced and the capability to do so exists.
Moreover, Members should report snow cover and snow depth four times a day, namely 00, 06, 12 and 18 UTC where the capability to do so exists.
Members shall report values of zero snow depth2 (0 cm) from the above stations when snow is not present, for the entire period during which snow can be expected, where the capability to do so exists. This period shall be defined for each location by the relevant Region;
To request Members to exchange in situ snow measurements in real-time in BUFR through GTS/WIS in accordance with the Manual on the GOS (WMO-No. 544); 
This would supersede the Recommendation 41 of CBS-16

20. Proposed EC-69 Recommendation
EC reminds the National Hydro-Meteorological Services to continue supporting their national organizations contributing to the GCW Observing Network, on the adoption of WIGOS station IDs, on the implementation of data and metadata formats that would allow their distribution in [near] real time, though the GTS/WIS (for data), and to OSCAR/Surface (for instrument/platform metadata), through their OSCAR focal points.

21. GCW related decisions
EC PHORS is invited to clarify the role that the Panel and its Observation Task Team relative to GCW matters on:
Structure
Membership
ToR for task teams and working groups
Changes to procedural aspects within the Implementation Plan.
Partnership Criteria
Options:
approve,
delegate approval to the GCW Steering Group

22. Observations TT recommendations to GCW
Use the terminology GCW Data Protocol instead of Data Policy, and note the fact that WIGOS is developing a similar protocol.
Consult with JCOMM-ETSI and IICWG regarding the inclusion in CryoNet of ship based stations
Networks reporting cryosphere variables could become “affiliated networks” provided that data could, eventually , be exchanges on GTS

23. AntON
Develop a mechanism similar to AntON for stations north of parallel 70
Antarctic Task Team: requests the Panel to endorse an amended approach for including new stations in the network:
stations located at latitudes below 60 deg South, to automatically be included in the AntON once they are entered in OSCAR;
Explore the possibility of regular reporting by the Secretariat on the available sites.
3 new stations added to the network

24. PSTG
EC PHORS endorses
the PSTG Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Coordination Working Group (SAR CWG) to address SAR-specific issues
The Southern Ocean satellite data requirements collected by SOOS/SCAR/WCRP CliC, as input to the activities of PSTG and the wider Observation Framework.
the organization of a WMO PSTG /GCW Snow satellite mission concepts workshop; Piggyback on the proposed high mountain water conference
PSTG to develop a framework to organize inter-comparisons of other satellite-based product suites, and mobilise dedicated resources for carrying out inter-comparisons.