Joint AMS 21st Satellite Meteorology, Oceanography and Climatology Conference and 20th AMS Conference on Air-Sea Interaction, 15–19 August 2016, Madison, Wisconsin

The Joint 21st AMS Satellite Meteorology, Oceanography and Climatology (SatMOC) Conference, and 20th Conference on Air-Sea Interaction, sponsored and organized by the AMS Committees on Satellite Meteorology, Oceanography and Climatology and Air-Sea Interaction, was held 15–19 August 2016 at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison, WI.).  

The conferences had separate sessions in satellite meteorology, oceanography, climatology, and air-sea interaction, as well as joint sessions highlighting the synergisms between the joint areas of interest.  To that point, this joint conference was motivated by the on-going development of observational capabilities and analysis techniques to observe air-sea interaction processes using satellite remote sensing. Physical processes occurring at the air-sea interface are critical to developing and interpreting satellite measurements over the ocean. A diverse array of Earth-observing satellites, meanwhile, provide unique sampling capabilities in space and time which have proven integral to understanding and predicting key interactions between the atmosphere and ocean. Examples include observations of coupled ocean-atmosphere variability on time-scales of hours to decades (e.g., ENSO, MJO, annular modes, tropical and extra-tropical cyclones, ocean eddies, and SST fronts), incorporation of satellite observations into models using data assimilation, and assessing skill in forecast and climate models. Comprehensive observations of small-scale processes at the ocean surface, including exchanges of heat, momentum, and gases, are critical for producing accurate geophysical datasets from satellite observations in which to study these larger-scale interactions. Process studies of a wide array of air-sea interaction phenomena using satellite-derived fields, often in combination with in situ observations or numerical models, contribute significantly to improved understanding and prediction of weather, ocean and climate variability.

Interdisciplinary topics were highly encouraged, including: interactions between the marine atmospheric boundary layer and SST and feedbacks onto large-scale oceanic and atmospheric circulation; analysis of satellite-derived ocean current dynamics; integration of in situ observations with satellite data; use of satellite data in weather and climate predictions over the oceans (including data assimilation and model skill assessment); applications of active microwave radar systems in observing air-sea interaction processes (e.g., altimeter, scatterometer, or synthetic aperture radar); satellite-derived air-sea heat and gas fluxes; satellite observations of sea surface temperature and salinity; and analysis of satellite observations in coastal regions.

Our planned joint sessions included ones focused on:

• The NASA Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System mission, scheduled for launch in October 2016
• Laboratory, field, and satellite measurements of air-sea interaction processes
• Satellite-derived air-sea flux measurements and parameterization development
• SST and surface salinity effects on air-sea interaction
• Integration of satellite-derived observations into data assimilation and climate modeling systems
• Development and analysis of satellite observations in coastal regions
• New generation of satellite systems that observe and help predict air-sea interaction processes
• Satellite-derived air-sea interaction processes associated with tropical cyclone systems

In addition to the proposed joint sessions listed above, both the SatMOC and Air-Sea committees hosted more individualized sessions.  The organizers of the 21st AMS SatMOC Conference were particularly interested in soliciting papers on improved use of satellite data for analyzing and predicting the weather, ocean/coastal/water regimes, climate, and the environment, as well as any relevant work regarding satellite observing processes related to air-sea interaction. Major areas of interest included:

• Research and operational satellite data applications for weather, ocean, and climate monitoring and forecasting;
• Potential of new generation satellite systems to improve weather, climate, and other environmental data products; enhance user application and services, and contribute to blended and fused satellite datasets;
• How satellite data are being used to advance our understanding of fundamental weather and climate processes in the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, and cryosphere;
• Development of applications and innovative methods of processing, combining, assimilating and analyzing satellite observations of the land, ocean/water, and atmosphere.
• Satellite data reprocessing and impacts of the reprocessed data on weather and climate applications

Planned sessions as part of the 20th Air-Sea Interaction Conference included:

• Air-sea interaction and its effects on electromagnetic wave propagation: Results from CASPER (Coupled Air-Sea Processes and EM ducting Research);
• Air-sea interactions in the emerging Arctic
• Sea surface processes, including waves, spray, bubbles, and aerosol (Special Session in Honor of Ed Andreas);
• Air-sea interaction at high latitudes;
• Tropical air-sea interaction;
• Extra-tropical air-sea interaction: linkages between annular modes, western boundary currents, and storm tracks;
• The role of air-sea interaction in climate variability and change;
• Surface wave effects on turbulence and air-sea interaction, from small to climate scale;
• Air-sea interactions in high wind conditions;
• Air-sea interaction and coupled ocean-atmosphere feedback process occurring in coastal regions, particularly sub-mesoscale variability (e.g., on spatial scales of 1-10 km).

Presenters were requested to please submit abstracts electronically via the Web by 8 April 2016.  An abstract fee of $95 (payable by credit card or purchase order) was charged at the time of submission (refundable only if abstract is not accepted). This fee covered the submission of your abstract, the posting of your extended abstract, and the uploading and recording of your presentation, which is archived on the AMS Web site.

            Authors of accepted presentations were notified via e-mail in early May 2016. All extended abstracts were to be submitted electronically and will be available on-line in the conference web program.  All abstracts, extended abstracts and presentations are available on the conference web program at no cost.

For additional information about the 21st SatMOC Conference please contact one of the following program co-chairs: Ken Carey (Earth Resources Technology (ERT), Inc., [email protected]); Brian Kahn (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory,[email protected]); Jordan Gerth (CIMSS-SSEC, University of Wisconsin-Madison, [email protected]), and Ethan Nelson (University of Wisconsin-Madison, [email protected]).

For additional information about the 20th Air-Sea Interaction Conference please contact one of the following program co-chairs: Larry O’Neill (Conference Lead Organizer: Oregon State University; [email protected]), David Richter (Conference Co-organizer and Student Competition Organizer: University of Notre Dame; [email protected]), and Justin Small, (Conference Co-organizer and Air-Sea Chair, NCAR; [email protected]).

There were several opportunities for students at the Joint 21st AMS Satellite Meteorology, Oceanography and Climatology (SatMOC) Conference, and 20th Conference on Air-Sea Interaction.