1. CAS MG1/Doc. 2.1 (Valid September 27, 2010) REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT of the COMMISSION FOR ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES Dr. Michel Béland

2. CAS MG1/Doc. 2.1 (Valid September 27, 2010) CAS XV Incheon, Republic of Korea 18-25 Nov. 2009 hosted by KMA Re-elected President Dr. M. Béland, Canada and elected Dr. T. Nakazawa, Japan, Vice –President. Drs. G. Brunet and O. Hov were reappointed Chairs of OPAG’s WWRP and EPAC, respectively. Endorsed a “seamless” approach to coordination of weather, climate, water and environmental prediction research and strong linkages to operational observations and predictions as well as users consistent with the EC Research Task Team Report (item 8.2(1)) Requested greater collaboration between CAS and WCRP. Requested the President to further explore collaborations and partnerships with other external scientific bodies such as ICSU ( for example see item 8.2(2))

3. CAS MG1/Doc. 2.1 (Valid September 27, 2010) The Commission agreed that: a review of the CAS mandate was needed. the CAS terms of reference needed to be reviewed and updated considering the many changes in the operating environment within WMO in the past four years. These changes are well documented in the analysis and recommendations of the Executive Council Research Task Team (EC-RTT) on Research Aspects of an Enhanced Climate, Weather, Water and Environmental Prediction Framework (WMO/TD-No. 1496; http://www.wmo.int/res).http://www.wmo.int/res The proposed new terms of reference (Resolution in this Agenda Item) take into account the desire of Members to better link programmatic activity to the Expected Results of the WMO Strategic Plan. The Commission agreed with the request of EC-LVIII (paragraph 3.3.1.2) that more emphasis should be given to the connection to climate research activities in CAS and made changes accordingly.

4. CAS MG1/Doc. 2.1 (Valid September 27, 2010) OTHER CAS XV ADVICE (I) Recommendation to subsume the Atmospheric Research and Environment Programme (AREP) into the 3 existing main research programmes of CAS (GAW, WWRP and THORPEX) as part of WMO programme simplification. The JSCs of the WWRP and the WCRP and also the THORPEX ICSC to set up an appropriate collaborative structure to carry out an international research initiative on sub-seasonal to seasonal forecasting. It recommended that this is coordinated with WMO climate service delivery and the Global Framework for Climate Services. In recognition of the growing importance of rapid and potentially catastrophic polar environmental changes, WMO needs to place emphasis in research facilitated by CAS on, not only tropical and mid-latitude processes, but also polar region processes. CAS XV supported the concept of a Polar Decade as a potential legacy of IPY 2007-2008.

5. CAS MG1/Doc. 2.1 (Valid September 27, 2010) OTHER CAS XV ADVICE (II) WMO work towards establishing an Integrated Global Carbon Observation Prediction and Assessment System, acknowledging that monitoring requirements may be forthcoming to support global emission reduction and mitigation policy. The considerable research necessary to support such a system would need to be compatible with what might ultimately become operational (as part of a GFCS) The Commission recommended that WMO Members, including NMHSs and their national partners in other agencies and the WMO Secretariat, play a leading role in enhancing environmental observations, predictions and service delivery (six specific actions)

6. CAS MG1/Doc. 2.1 (Valid September 27, 2010) CAS XV SUGGESTED SIX SPECIFIC GOALS FOR THE COMMISSION: 1.Implementation and successful completion of the Year of the Tropical Convection project; 2.Extension of capacity building programmes to the developing countries showing real evidence of progress and achievement; 3.Elevation of the Joint Scientific Committee (JSC) of WWRP to a status of international respect and recognition, 4.Implementation of a joint strategy in hydrometeorology that cuts across relevant programmes of this and other Commissions; 5.Implementation of a comprehensive initiative in air quality involving all programme areas of the Commission including regional aspects; 6.Achieve progress in strengthening the governance arrangements of the Commission, particularly in relation to broader participation and gender equity and the preparation of plans that include expected results and performance indicators for consideration at the next session.

7. CAS MG1/Doc. 2.1 (Valid September 27, 2010) MOVING FORWARD ( 1) Goal 1: YOTC moving forward as planned. Goal 3: CAS President meeting with ICSU ED to discuss CAS involvement in Earth System Visioning exercise and Belmont project. WWRP and GAW are part of the Belmont Panel Project report. Will be involved in 22-24 June discussions in Paris (see report last page). Goal 4: Participation of WWRP/THORPEX in HYMEX; consideration of Canada/USA Great lakes earth system and coupled modeling project with IJC as a potential RDP in hydrological forecasting out to seasonal time scales. Goal 6: Highest number ever of woman scientists involved in CAS/ARE Management Group and scientific steering committees.

8. CAS MG1/Doc. 2.1 (Valid September 27, 2010) MOVING FORWARD ( 2) Joint WCRP/WWRP/THORPEX workshop in Exeter on monthly to seasonal forecasting in December. Polar forecasting and prediction workshop to be convened in Oslo in October 2010 (Also links with IPY 2012 Conference in Montreal, April 2012)). THORPEX Africa initiative needs to be ramped up (RA-1 meeting in November 2010 in Marrakesh?). Needs to be discussed at this meeting (see also Action 3.1.47 from EC LXII.) Need to finalize WWRP/ICSU-IRDR formal collaboration MOU. Staffing of D-AREP and CAS VP: input needed. CBS/CCI linkages: are we happy...

9. CAS MG1/Doc. 2.1 (Valid September 27, 2010) ICSU Visioning Exercise I attended the meeting in Paris June 22-23 2010 with Len Barrie. Many interesting discussions on the goals pursued both by ICSU and the Belmont projects (i.e., National Funding Agencies such as NSF and NERC), and on what the meaning of an international strategy on global sustainability research. Managed, with the help of others (L. Barrie, A. Simmons,…) to get the following inserted in the final report on the meeting recently released: Furthermore, several participants argued that any new initiatives should as much as is feasible: 1) be targeted towards the development of operational, integrated, and end to end environmental services delivery systems, and 2) be managed in partnerships with those institutions, such as WMO (and a number of others), that ensure the appropriate operational international coordination between these service providers, and linkages with the stakeholders and less developed countries.