WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
PANEL OF EXPERTS ON POLAR OBSERVATIONS,
RESEARCH AND SERVICES
EC-PORS-3/INF.9
Submitted by: Secretarriat
Date: 18.I.2012
Third session
SODANKYLÄ, FINLAND, 6-8 FEBRUARY 2012
AGENDA ITEM: 9.5
CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT IN POLAR REGIONS
SUMMARY
ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED:
1. Availability of education and training resources for polar meteorology
2. Activities related to capacity development in polar regions
DECISIONS/ACTIONS REQUIRED: Nil
REFERENCES: Nil
EC-PORS-3/INF.9, p. 2
9.5
CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT IN POLAR REGIONS
9.5.1 The EC-PORS was informed that a number of Members and the WMO Regional
Training Centres (RTCs) were approached to provide EC-PORS with their activities related to
capacity development in Polar Regions; and training resources related to polar meteorology.
Obtained available training resources and capacity development activities were indicated in
Information Document, INF.9.
EC-PORS-3/INF.9, p. 3
APPENDIX I
EDUCATION AND TRAINING RESOURCES FOR POLAR METEOROLOGY AND CAPACITY
DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN POLAR REGIONS
A- Polar Activities of the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI)
The Finnish Meteorological Institute is an active institute in Arctic research and focuses on the
atmospheric composition and interaction between ice and atmosphere. FMI operates the
Finnish Antarctic Research Program FINNARP whose main responsibilities are to carry out the
Finnish Antarctic Research activities in accordance with the Finnish Antarctic Strategy, maintain
the Finnish research station Aboa, arrange field research and supervise that both national and
international legislation and obligations are complied with.
The fieldwork in the Antarctic is usually carried out in the Finnish research station Aboa and
from there to other areas in the western Queen Maud Land. If needed, FINNARP arranges
working facilities in the research stations of other countries as well. For marine scientific projects
FINNARP arranges transportation and working facilities on ships. FINNARP also manages
travelling expenses, transportation, health care and catering of Antarctic expeditions.
Finland has co-operated in Antarctic research with other countries, especially with Sweden and
Norway. Nordic co-operation has been implemented particularly in transportation arrangements.
A number of Finnish projects have contributed to large-scale international programmes. Finnish
researchers have also worked in the surroundings of the Australian research station Davis. The
Institutes of Meteorology of Finland and Argentina started co-operation in ozone research in
1987. This includes ozone measurements made in the Argentinean research station Marambio.
Antarctic research is a natural extension of Finnish research into the cold areas. Finnish
Antarctic research has focused on marine and structural technology, oceanography and marine
biology, meteorological studies, geology and geophysics.
The Arctic Research Centre (ARC) at Sodankylä and Climate change research group in main
office Helsinki form together FMI Arctic Research Division. Due to its high-latitude location ARC
provides ideal facilities for versatile observations of arctic low temperature conditions. The
environmental effects of human activities are most pronounced in the Polar Regions. The
research work at ARC currently focuses in the polar ozone and arctic snow coverage under the
influence of global warming. An additional feature specific for Polar Regions are auroras which
the Helsinki group of Arctic Research division studies. FMI has conducted systematic auroral
observations in the Finnish Lapland since late 1950's. Today observations are made with the
MIRACLE network whose data have central role in the FMI's geospace research.
Arctic research of FMI has a long history as the Arctic Research Centre at Sodankylä dates
back to the mid-nineteenth century when Societas Scientarum Fennica founded the first
weather station at Sodankylä in 1858. Due to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream the area is
included in the boreal region. However, with regard to stratospheric meteorology, Sodankylä
can be classified as an Arctic site, often lying beneath the middle or the edge of the
stratospheric polar vortex and in the zone of polar stratospheric ozone depletion. Its strategic
location, coupled with ready accessibility from all parts of the world, makes the FMI-ARC an
excellent base for studying various themes of global change in a northern context.
EC-PORS-3/INF.9, p. 4
B- Russian State Hydrometeorological University (RSHU)
BSc and MSc programmes “Applied oceanography” offered by RSHU Faculty of Oceanography.
Specialized polar related disciplines included for study: sea ice, ice observations, physics and
dynamics of the ocean, ice-drift and ice-fields modeling, hydrological regimes of the arctic seas,
thermodynamics, atmosphere-ocean interaction, ice-cover impact on climate, climate change in
the arctic regions, formation of benthonic waters, sea-ice forecasting, ice patrol and data
processing, safe navigation in polar regions, chemistry of the arctic seas, measurement
methods of sea ice fields, dynamics of ice-fields, etc. 1 week field training and practical session
at the RSHU Training Forecasting Bureau under supervision are foreseen as well for students.
Joint MSc programme “Polar Oceanography” offered by RSHU Faculty of Oceanography and
Roshydromet Scientific and Research Institute of Arctic and Antarctic (AASRI). The aim of the
programme is providing additional practical skills and competencies in oceanological provision
of activities in the Polar Regions and early adaptation to the practical problems solved by
Russia in the Polar Regions.
There is also Educational and Scientific Centre “Polar University” established jointly by RSHU
and AASRI aimed at studying and development of the Polar Regions. Education through
experiments and scientific researches is the approach used. RSHU students and professors,
AASRI scientists are involved in joint practical researchers and expeditions, results of which are
also used for graduation thesis of students. Curricula for students includes additional (to the
fundamental subjects) 8 special courses: technology of high-performance computing, Arctic
marine technologies, up-to-date methods of receiving, express analysis and graphical
representation of oceanographic information, ecological bio-monitoring of coastal zone of the
Arctic seas, preparation of materials of environment impact assessment based on national and
international standards, glaciology, integral variability assessment of biotic characteristics of the
Arctic seas, the history of investigation and opening of the Arctic Region, current activities
of the AASRI, maintenance of free running and shipboard oceanological measuring
equipments, specific themes of advanced mathematics for solution of hydrometeorological
problems. Polar University also provides opportunity for staff qualification improvement in the
polar-related issues. A lot of training materials on methods of observations, data processing and
generalization of regime characteristics and multimedia-course (Methods and software for
analyzing and processing of expeditionary observation data) are developed and used in the
educational process.
There is new pilot Scientific and Educational Centre “Ladoga” on the coast of Ladoga Lake on
the base of Roshydromet station available for field training (work with equipment for
observations and monitoring) of RSHU students studying at the Faculty of Oceanography incl.
polar specialization.
C- The COMET Programme of the United States of America
The MetEd website provides education and training resources to benefit the operational
forecaster community, university atmospheric scientists and students, and anyone interested in
learning more about meteorology, weather forecasting, and related geoscience topics. MetEd is
populated and maintained by the COMET® Program, which is part of the University Corporation
for Atmospheric Research's (UCAR's) Community Programs (UCP). The MetEd website is
made possible by the sponsors of the COMET® Program.
EC-PORS-3/INF.9, p. 5
Training consists of modules and courses. A module is targeted toward one focused subject,
whereas a course is a collection of modules that pertain to a broader subject area. Participants
can receive certificates of completion for both modules and courses. Courses are entirely selfpaced and available for open enrollment.
The COMET® Program's virtual classroom provides access to material in support of residence
and virtual courses. These courses are generally available by invitation only and are hosted at
UCAR facility in Boulder, Colorado.
There are a lot of modules available at the MetEd Website located at www.meted.ucar.edu.
Some of these modules, which are related to Polar Meteorology or have sections applicable to
Polar Meteorology, are listed below:
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Polar Lows Ungava Bay 01 December 2000
Topics in Polar Low Forecasting
Feature Identification Exercises: Clouds, Snow, and Ice Using MODIS
Antarctica: Challenging Forecasts for a Challenging Environment
A Forecaster's Overview of the Northwest Pacific
Mesoscale Aspects of Winter Weather Forecasting Topics
Sea Ice and Products and Services of the National Ice Center
Blowing Snow: Baker Lake, Nunavut, Canada 04-10 February 2003
Advances in Microwave Remote Sensing: Ocean Wind Speed and Direction
Microwave Remote Sensing: Clouds, Precipitation, and Water Vapor
Microwave Remote Sensing: Land and Ocean Surface Applications
Remote Sensing of Land, Oceans, and Atmosphere with MODIS
Remote Sensing of Ocean Wind Speed and Direction: An Introduction to Scatterometry
Volcanic Ash
Arctic Meteorology and Oceanography
Arctic Ecosystems
Sea Ice
Convective Weather
D- Antarctic/Island Training at the Meteorological Training Institute (MTI) of South Africa
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) is responsible for the weather observations at
Marion Island, Gough Island and SANAE IV (South African base on Antarctica).
SAWS, in association with the Department of Environment Affairs, appoints personnel
(temporary, non-SAWS personnel) to perform these functions/duties on Antarctica and the
Islands to ensure that we capacitate other scientists interested in the field of meteorology and
who can in the future be recruited into the organisation.
To make the process of recruiting these non-SAWS personnel into the SAWS organisation,
specific Learning Programs for the Islands and the Antarctic have been designed. These are
based on the accredited Unit Standards of the National Certificate: Weather Observation course
(for Meteorological Technicians) and only the content necessary for the Island/Antarctic training
EC-PORS-3/INF.9, p. 6
has been used in the programs along with any other aspect that needs to be covered, such as
basic Computer knowledge.
As deployment of new personnel at each of these three Observation Posts occurs at different
times of the year, three specific eight week training events take place that addresses the
necessary observational functions [as specified in the Learning Programs] at these Observation
Posts as well as on the research vessel during the annual relief voyages.
The training of these personnel has been conducted in such a manner that they will be able
perform normal observational duties, climate record checking and instrument verification, twice
daily upper air soundings, Ozone related readings as well as conducting some research with
regards to weather related instruments and processes which is then shared with all other
scientists in the South African Antarctica base.
Additional functions performed on the research vessel during the annual relief voyages drifting
weather buoy deployments.
The Meteorological Technician (Weather Observer) training is set up in such a manner that
learners must submit and present a research paper towards the end of their training. SAWS
ensure that some of these learners cover topics related to the Polar and Mid-Latitude Regions.
Forecasting
Special forecasting training techniques are shared with personnel when relief voyages are
undertaken to Antarctica ensuring that correct forecasts are provided at Antarctica or during the
voyage of the research vessel in the Antarctic waters. The main reason for this is that most
SAWS forecasters are not generally exposed to marine and or Antarctic related forecasts. This
action then ensures that we expose all forecasters to these functions and forecast for this period
is also evaluated ensuring improvement.
Research
The only research at present, due to limited capacity, is the research undertaken by
meteorologists at Antarctica with regards to Meteorological related topics which is then shared
with fellow scientists at the base and also with scientists back home through means of monthly
and or quarterly reports. The only other research is when the annual DBCP Capacity building for
West Indian Ocean countries are conducted, SAWS is then extremely involved during these
processes where knowledge is shared with other African countries on all aspects of Polar
activities when this is discussed.
Training
Apart from the training mentioned under observations and forecasting, training is also provided
by SAWS employees when they return from Expert panel and or Task teams meetings related
to the Polar regions to fellow SAWS employees within the marine unit as well as to scientists at
the University of Cape Town and our parent department viz. Department of Environmental
Affairs.
Future Training Proposal
With the arrival of the new South African research vessel during 2012, it is proposed that during
the three annual relief voyages, that closer links between the Observers on the ship and all the
Meteorological Trainers here in SAWS have more communication channels (via email) so that
more real time input by the Observers on the ship as the observations are being done that will
EC-PORS-3/INF.9, p. 7
assist in the development of case studies for use by both Forecasting and Meteorological
Technician Learners.
Additional input could involve photographs of the sea conditions, the different cloud types and
the present weather observed and any comments that are not able to be photographed. Short
video clips of rough sea conditions would also be beneficial as teaching aids.
E- WMO Regional Training Centres (RTCs) in the Members Active in Polar Regions
WMO RTC in ARGENTINA
Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)
Departamento de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y los Océanos
1428 Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA
Tel: (5411) 4576 33 56
Fax: (5411) 4576 33 64
Email: academica@at.fcen.uba.ar & direccion@at.fcen.uba.ar
Web: http://www.at.fcen.uba.ar
WMO RTC in ARGENTINA
Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN)
Departamento Capacitación Av. De los Constituyentes 3454
1427 Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA
Tel/Fax: 54 011 4514 8067
Email: capacitacion@smn.gov.ar
Web: http://www.smn.gov.ar
WMO RTC in CHINA
Nanjing University of Information, Science and Technology (NUIST)
Jiangsu Province
210044 Nanjing, CHINA
Tel: (86-25) 58 73 13 51
Fax: (86-25) 58 73 13 51
Email: rtc@nuist.edu.cn
Web: http://www.rtcnj.org
WMO RTC in CHINA
China Meteorological Administration Training Center (CMATC)
100081 Beijing, CHINA
Tel: 00 8610 6840 95 36
Fax: 00 8610 6840 92 25
Email: fanh@cma.gov.cn & intcmatc@cma.gov.cn
Web: http://www.cmatc.cma.gov.cn
WMO RTC in INDIA
India Meteorological Department (IMD) Training Centre
Mausam Bhavan, Lodi Road
New Delhi-110003, INDIA
Tel: (91-11) 461 18 42
Fax: (91-11) 469 92 16
Email: bhatnagarmk1@gmail.com
EC-PORS-3/INF.9, p. 8
Web: http://www.imd.gov.in
WMO RTC in INDIA
India Meteorological Department (IMD) Central Training Institute
Colony campus Dr.Homi Bhaba Road Pashan
Pune-411008, INDIA
Tel: +91 20 2586 5530
Fax: +91 20 2586 5530 & +91 20 25533201
Email: dutta.drsomenath@gmail.com & ddgmt@imdpune.gov.in
Web: http://www.imdpune.gov.in/training/training_index.html
WMO RTC in RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Advanced Training Institute of Roshydromet (ATI)
Str. Hydrogorodok, 3-a, City Zhelesnodorozhny,
Moscow Region, 143982, RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Tel: +107 495 522 02 11
Fax: +107 495 522 06 14
Email: rmtc@mecom.ru & rmtc@km.ru
Web: http://meteovlab.meteorf.ru & http://ipk.meteorf.ru
WMO RTC in RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Hydrometeorological University (RSHU)
98 Malookinsky Ave
195196, St. Petersburg, RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Tel: (7 812) 444 56 36
Fax: (7 812) 444 60 90
Email: rector@rshu.ru & mamaeva@rshu.ru
Web: http://www.rshu.ru & http://ums.rshu.ru
WMO RTC in SOUTH AFRICA
South African Weather Service (SAWS)
Meteorological Training Institute
Private Bag X097
Pretoria 0001, SOUTH AFRICA
Tel: +27 (0)12 3676016
Fax: +27 (0)12 3676316
Email: winifred.jordaan@weathersa.co.za
Website: www.weathersa.co.za