SCAR OSC 2024 Workshop: Antarctic annual climate report concept and feasibility 

It is increasingly clear that there is a need for an annual report on the Antarctic climate system, describing both the state of the system and important science advances. This need comes from a range of Antarctic stakeholders including scientists, policymakers and logistics operators. In previous years annual reports were compiled as part of the legacy of the 2009 Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment (ACCE) report. These reports included short summaries of key science updates suitable for communicating to a wide audience of both scientists and non-scientists. However, in recent years they have ceased to be produced.

The need for an annual report has been discussed across a number of groups, both within and outside SCAR including: WCRP Climate and Cryosphere (CliC), CCAMLR, and the SCAR AntClimNow SRP. In recognising this need, it is important to discuss potential options for the concept of an annual report on the Antarctic climate system. This workshop will be a follow-on from a planned online meeting on this topic in early-mid NH summer. The main aim will therefore be to discuss the outcomes of this earlier online meeting and address any outstanding points that need agreeing. Representatives from interested groups (such as the above-listed) and individuals are welcome to contribute to this workshop.

Key points and questions for discussion will likely include:

1. Integration with the new Antarctic Climate Indicators project, which is an AntClimNow activity.

2. Assess what can be learned from existing relevant annual climate reports.

Key examples are:

• the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society annual State of the Climate report (specifically the section on Antarctica and the Southern Ocean),
• The NOAA Arctic report card, and
• Previous ACCE annual updates and reports.

3. How would an annual Antarctic climate report be organised? 

Specifically:

• Could a SCAR group be created, perhaps with cosponsors including WCRP-CliC?
• What would be the scope both scientifically and in terms defining the audience?
• How best to ensure that the community view is represented.
• How would a report be structured and how would the writing/input be organised?