JCOMM-II/Doc. 14.1, APPENDIX C, Res. 14.1/2 (JCOMM-II) - SERVICES PROGRAMME AREA

TERMS OF REFERENCE AND GENERAL MEMBERSHIP OF THE COORDINATION GROUP AND EXPERT TEAMS OF THE SERVICES PROGRAMME AREA

4. Expert Team on Sea Ice

Terms of Reference

The Expert Team on Sea Ice shall:

(a) Review and catalogue the products and services required by user communities in sea ice areas;

(b) Encourage and advise on the relevant numerical models and forecast techniques for products and services;

(c) Develop technical guidance material, software exchange, specialized training and other appropriate capacity building support with regard to sea ice observations and services and provide assistance and support to Members/Member States as required;

(d) Interact closely with the ETMSS and ETMAES on all aspects of the impacts of sea ice relevant to maritime safety, marine pollution response and search and rescue services;

(e) Maintain linkages with relevant international organizations and programmes, in particular BSIM, CLIC, IICWG, ASPeCt, GCOS and IHO

(f) Keep under review and provide guidance as appropriate on the operations of the Global Digital Sea Ice Data Bank, including appropriate QC, error analysis and archiving mechanisms, and encourage and facilitate enhanced submissions of sea ice data to the bank;

(g) Review and propose amendments to formats, nomenclatures and procedures for sea ice data and information exchange as well as to relevant terminology, coding and mapping standards, including management of an ice objects register within ECDIS, and requirements for sea ice information as an Essential Climate Variable (ECV) within GCOS;

(h) Provide advice to the Services CG and other Groups of JCOMM, as required on issues related to sea ice and the ice-covered regions;

(i) Play a key role in JCOMM involvement in major international polar projects such as IPY 2007-2008

General Membership

The Membership is selected to ensure an appropriate range of expertise and to maintain an appropriate geographical representation. Up to twelve members, including the Chairperson, representative of the range of activities related to sea ice and the ice-covered regions within JCOMM. (It is expected that, in general, the ETSI will be self-funding.)