EC-PORS-4/Doc.3.2.7, p. 2

WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
PANEL OF EXPERTS ON POLAR OBSERVATIONS,
RESEARCH AND SERVICES
Fourth session
Lanzhou, China, 13-15 March 2013 / EC-PORS-4/Doc.3.2.7
Submitted by: IAATO
Date: 05.03.2013
AGENDA ITEM: 3.2

International Association of Antarctica tour operators (IAATO)

SUMMARY

ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED:
Reporting from ships operating in Antarctica
DECISIONS/ACTIONS REQUIRED:
1. For discussion and potential follow-up action by EC-PORS Antarctic Task Team and Panel in co-operation with WMO Secretariat.
REFERENCES:
1. The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) www.iaato.org.

International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO)

1.  The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) is a member association whose mission is to promote and practice safe and environmentally responsible private sector travel to the Antarctic. More information can be found at www.iaato.org.

2.  IAATO vessels account for approximately a quarter to one third of the regular shipping activity in Antarctic waters. In addition IAATO land and air operators operate across the west Antarctic ice shelf and in the Dronning Maud Land area of the continent. The attached ATCM35 IP039 IAATO Overview of Antarctic Tourism: 2011-12 Season and Preliminary Estimates for 2012-13 Antarctic Season gives additional information on the scope of IAATO member activities.

3.  As reported to EC-PORS-3 in recent years the level of WMO reporting from IAATO member activities has decreased, with only a few vessels regularly reporting data. It is believed that this level of activity can be increased. During this past season there has been an increase from five to seven participating ships.

4.  Currently IAATO vessels have a fairly heavy burden of voluntary reporting for various events (hydrographic data, position reports, post visit reporting, whale sightings etc.). Experience has shown that voluntary reporting is successful when it is simple and does not place more than a very minor level of additional work on officers or crew – and will not distract them from their key duties. The most successful form of reporting is that which is done automatically.

5.  With this in mind, it would be useful if the group could review our information sent to members (defined in Appendix 2) to ensure that the reporting is clear and straightforward.

6.  IAATO, notes the importance of the meteorological information being gathered by WMO and stands ready to work with WMO to endeavour to improve the level of reporting from their member’s operations, within the constraints noted in paragraph 4 and 5.


Appendix 2: A Reminder about Meteorological Observations for the WMO

The World Meteorological Organisation, through Steve Colwell from the British Antarctic survey, is requesting meteorological observations taken by ships. The meteorological observations collected are usually done every six hours at 00, 06, 12 and 18 UTC. The basic information to be collected is:

· Ship’s position

· course,

· pressure,

· temperature,

· wind speed and

· wind direction

If you have further information that you think may prove useful, this can also be included.

The objective is to increase the number of observations that come from ships, as this data is then fed back into the forecast models that produce online products that the operators can then use, such as AMPS at http://www.mmm.ucar.edu/rt/amps/ and also the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC) charts at https://www.fnmoc.navy.mil/wxmap_cgi/index.html#global

The observations can be sent using the turbowin program which can be downloaded for free at http://www.knmi.nl/turbowin/ and then emailed to Larry Hubble