01 Jul 2009
12th Session of the VAMOS Panel
The 12th Session of the CLIVAR VAMOS Panel (VPM12) was held on 3-5 June 2009, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA. It was hosted by the Department of Physics of the University of Puerto Rico and the PR Space Grant Consortium from NASA with joint support from WCRP, NOAA/CPPA and US CLIVAR. The presentations given by the meeting participants are available at the meeting webpage (http://www.clivar.org/organization/vamos/Meetings/VPM12_meet.php). The meeting focused on the progress of the VAMOS projects, particularly the VOCALS Regional Experiment, ,the Monsoon Experiment South America, the Intra-American Seas study of Climate Processes (IASCLIP) and in the La Plata Basin. The panel also addressed the VAMOS contributions to the WCRP cross-cutting themes, other WCRP projects, such as GEWEX, and IGBP programs and activities. In particular, efforts by the VAMOS modeling group, the recently established VAMOS Extremes WG, and the group that is analyzing the current status of the Anthropogenic Climate Change related research for the Americas were evaluated. Following the recommendations of CLIVAR SSG-16, linkages with WGSIP, WGCM and the WCRP/WWRP Monsoon Task Force were also explored. The VAMOS panel meeting was preceded by an IASCLIP workshop, held on 2-3 June at the same venue. Further information about the meeting and VAMOS activities can be found at http://www.clivar.org/organization/vamos/vamos.php.

16 Jun 2009
16th meeting of the CLIVAR Scientific Steering Group (SSG)
CLIVAR SSG-16 took place in the meeting rooms of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Madrid, Spain, from 19-22 May 2009. Some 35 delegates attended the the meeting was focused around building consensus on the near term imperatives for CLIVAR in terms of its science implementation over the coming 5 years as a contribution of CLIVAR to the WCRP’s plan for implementing it’s 10 year strategic framework overall. The SSG further considered reports from its panels and working groups outlining progress with CLIVAR science by these groups. It also heard, in particular, of developments in climate research at the Spanish Met Service (AEMET), which the SSG were pleased to have the opportunity of visiting, at the Institute of Geosciences, Universidad Complutense, Madrid and at the new Catalan Institute of Climate Sciences. Papers for the meeting can be found at http://www.clivar.org/organization/ssg/ssg16/ssg16.php and presentations at http://www.clivar.org/organization/ssg/ssg16/SSG16-presentations.php.

12 Jun 2009
6th Session of the CLIVAR/GOOS Indian Ocean Panel
The 6th Session of the CLIVAR/GOOS Indian Ocean Panel was held on 3-5 June 2009, hosted by Météo-France, La Réunion with joint support from WCRP and IOC-Perth. The presentations given by the meeting participants are available on the following webpage (http://www.clivar.org/organization/indian/IOP6_presentations.php). The meeting focused on the major project that is underway for which the panel is responsible, namely the Indian Ocean Observing System (IndOOS). With the global ARGO density now at target level the panel discussed mechanisms by which the array could be sustained and endorsed continued support for the Ship of Opportunity XBT transects in the Indian Ocean. A substantial component of IndOOS - the Research Moored Array for African–Asian–Australian Monsoon Analysis and Prediction (RAMA) is described in detail in a recent publication: McPhaden, M.J. et al., (2009). The array is currently 47% complete, with 22 of the 46 mooring sites occupied. Nations that have provided mooring equipment, ship time, personnel, and/or logistic support so far include Japan, India, the United States, Indonesia, China, France, and nine African countries that comprise the ASCLME Project. Completion of the array is currently hampered by illegal activity in the western part of the Indian Ocean basin leading to a moratorium on research vessel activity in the area. IOGOOS has endorsed the establishment of an Indian Ocean Resources Forum and the panel are keen to collaborate with this group on IndOOS matters. Reports were received from the Agulhas and Somali Current Large Marine Ecosystems project (ASCLME) and the Sustained Indian Ocean Biogeochemical and Ecological Research project (SIBER) providing the panels first links with biogeochemical and ecological research communities in the Indian Ocean.

05 Jun 2009
The State of the Art of Seasonal Prediction
Outcomes and Recommendations from the First World Climate Research Program Workshop on Seasonal Prediction. Read the article from the April 2009 issue of BAMS.