Expert Team on Sea Ice (ETSI)

Vasily SmolyanitskyArctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI)

ETSI chair

THE JOINT WMO/IOC COMMISSION FOR OCEANOGRAPHY AND MARINE METEOROLOGY

ETSI within the JCOMM structureETSI within the JCOMM structure

12 members, including the chair, representing Northern and Southern ice services, presently: Argentina, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Russian Federation (chair), Sweden, United Kingdom, USA

Representatives of regional and international sea ice bodies in particular: the Baltic Sea Ice Meeting (BSIM), the Global Digital Sea Ice Data Bank and the International Ice Charting Working Group (IICWG)

ETSI composition (2001-2009)ETSI composition (2001-2009)

ETSI-III & GDSIDB-XI – 28-31 March 2007

The ETSI-III & GDSIDB-XI sessions took place in Geneva, Switzerland, in March 2007. The final report is available at http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/amp/mmop/publications.html

ETSI-III & GDSIDB-XI – Agenda

2 THIRD SESSION OF EXPERT TEAM ON SEA ICE

2.1-2.3 Reports of the SPA Coordinator/ETSI Chair/Secretariat

2.4-2.5 Reports by the members of ETSI, BSIM and IICWG reports

2.6 Provision of Marine Safety Information related to sea ice2.6.1 IHO report2.6.2 Proposals for the new potential Arctic NAV/METAREAS2.6.3 Ice Information for Electronic Navigation Systems (ECS)2.6.4 Ice Objects Catalogue

2.7 WMO sea ice documents and publications2.7.1 Sea ice nomenclature2.7.2 Sea ice services in the World (WMO No.574)2.7.3 Review of common abbreviations list for NAVTEX messages related to sea ice2.7.4 Guidelines for sea ice information in WMO manuals and guides (WMO No.558,

WMO No. 471, GMDSS guides, etc.)

2.8 Status and future formats for operational and historical sea ice data exchange

2.8.1   Proposed Amendments to SIGRID-32.8.2 Vision and strategy for the standards for sea ice coding and presentations

ETSI-III & GDSIDB-XI – Agenda

2.9 Requirements for sea ice information and products (services and users)2.9.1 Requirements for sea ice services2.9.2 User feedback

2.10 IPY activities2.11 Relations to other JCOMM bodies2.11.1 Relations with other SPA bodies2.11.2 Support for JCOMM CB (input for OceanTeacher, Bilko etc.)

3. ELEVENTH SESSION OF THE STEERING GROUP FOR THE GDSIDB

3.1 Reports of the GDSIDB centers3.2 Development of sea ice historical data processing3.3 GCOS report on SST&SI WG activities3.4 Submission of new sea ice data to the GDSIDB3.5 Sea ice products based on GDSIDB data3.5.1 Sea ice atlases3.5.2 Sea ice climatology3.5.3   Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment (AMSA)

3.6 New Contributions to the GDSIDB from Member States

4. RELATIONS TO OTHER WMO/IOC AND INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

ETSI-III & GDSIDB major outcomesETSI-III & GDSIDB major outcomes

The Team elaborated its strategy in further development of the new updated version of the WMO Sea Ice Nomenclature and Illustrated Glossary of Sea Ice Terms (target date – 2008)

The Team agreed on its approach towards updating relevant WMO publications including publication No. 547 "Sea Ice Information Services in the World"

The Team agreed on the joint actions with JCOMM ETMSS regarding the provision of ice information by SafetyNET, in particular for the NAVAREAs/ METAREAs in the South Hemisphere, and formed a new Task Team on provision on information in Polar Regions

The Team agreed on its approach to sea ice NAVTEX abbreviations (recommended to use plain text)

The Team agreed on actions to improve content of GMDSS website (http://weather.gmdss.org) regarding sea ice products and recommended that the appropriate links to ice services in each NAVAREA/METAREA would be included in this website based on the information provided in the WMO-No. 574.

ETSI-III & GDSIDB major outcomesETSI-III & GDSIDB major outcomes

The Team agreed on additions to SIGRID-3 format and its Vision and Strategy for the Standards for Sea Ice Coding and Presentations

The Team adopted Version 4.0 of the Ice Objects Catalogue for subsequent submission to the IHO Registry of Marine Information Objects.

The Team elaborated its vision towards the relationships between the Sea Ice Nomenclature and Catalogue: Ice Objects catalogue represents the subset of the WMO Sea Ice Nomenclature being at the same time a driving force for amending sea ice Nomenclature with an intention of including the navigators’ feedback in the future.

In order to establish the appropriate link with IHO, the Team agreed that the Ice Objects Register Manager should be the WMO Secretariat; and approved the creation of an Electronic Navigational Chart Ice Objects Task Group with specific Terms of Reference.

The Team urged the Electronic Navigational Chart Ice Objects Task Group to make the necessary harmonization between this publication and the Ice Objects Catalogue.

ETSI-III & GDSIDB major outcomesETSI-III & GDSIDB major outcomes

The Team reviewed the observational and sea ice information requirements for its applications. The Team agreed that maintenance of complete and up to date requirements is essential for the provision of relevant and high-quality marine services and agreed on actions towards relevant additions in WMO questionnaires

The Team discussed the inconsistency between sea ice charts due to the slightly different analysis methods and procedures at different ice centres. In order to address this issue, a workshop was proposed to be held to compare sea ice analysis charts, methods and techniques in order to establish a common approach to sea ice charts to maintain consistency of operational sea ice charts from different centres (April – October 2008)

The Team agreed on its actions towards support for WMO and national activities during IPY 2007-2008, including supervision of Ice Logistics Portal for IPY

The Team agreed on joint activities within the Joint CCl/CLIVAR/JCOMM Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI), including already well-developed proposals from ETSI for sea ice indices

ETSI within WMO/IOC structureETSI within WMO/IOC structure

TASK TEAM ON PROVISION OF MSI IN POLAR REGIONS (PMSI)

TASK GROUP ON ELECTRONIC NAVIGATIONAL CHART ICE OBJECTS (TG ENCIO)

TASK TEAM ON SEA ICE REQUIREMENTS

EXPERT ON MET-OCEAN INFORMATION IN GRAPHICAL FORM

New ETSI cross-cutting sea Task GroupsNew ETSI cross-cutting sea Task Groups

Provide support (general and tailored) on national and WMO/IOC JCOMM level for IPY 2007/2008, including maintenance of Ice Logistics Portal

Track/develop (with IICWG) requirements for sea ice parameters, products and services for WMO/IOC/IGOS

Review and update WMO (No. 8, 471, 558) and IHO (S-53) Guides and Manuals on MSS in parts related to marine safety in ice infested waters

Develop updated version of “Sea Ice Nomenclature” and “Sea Ice Illustrated Glossary” (Dec 2008)

Develop open SIGRID-4 format (2009…) Manage, extend and coordinate testing process for

WMO/IHO “Ice Objects Catalogue” for ENC (IHO S-57 and S-100)

Annually update “Sea Ice Services in the World” Maintain strong linkages with relational groups:

GDSIDB, BSIM, IICWG, SCAR, GEO etc.

ETSI key challenges for the futureETSI key challenges for the future

““Ice Objects catalogue” for ENCIce Objects catalogue” for ENC

From November 2005 From November 2005 JCOMM ETSI is a formal JCOMM ETSI is a formal body responsible for “Ice body responsible for “Ice Objects Catalogue”Objects Catalogue”

The first version 1.0 of The first version 1.0 of the “Ice Objects the “Ice Objects Catalogue” was adopted Catalogue” was adopted March 28, 2007March 28, 2007

WMO Secretariat is the WMO Secretariat is the manager of the catalogue manager of the catalogue together with ETSI together with ETSI Electronic Navigational Electronic Navigational Chart Ice Objects TGChart Ice Objects TG

IHO <<>>ETSI & ETMSS&ETMAESIHO <<>>ETSI & ETMSS&ETMAES

Interact via ETMSS & ETMAES with IHO to ensure completeness of WMO (No. 8, 471, 558) and IHO (S-53) Guides and Manuals on MSS in parts related to marine safety in ice infested waters

The Team agreed to meet again in 2 years after the end of IPY 2007-2008 (March 2009) but before the third session of the JCOMM (Morocco, October 2009).

The Team suggested that ETSI and GDSIDB sessions might be timed to take place in Norway (Tromso or Longjir, Spitsbergen) or United Kingdom (Cambridge) in April - May 2009.

Plans for ETSI-IV & GDSIDB-XII meetingsPlans for ETSI-IV & GDSIDB-XII meetings