The Expert Group on Operational Meteorology in the Antarctic (OpMet) aims to establish and nurture links between groups working in the area of operational meteorology in Antarctica, such as the Antarctic Meteorological Observation, Modelling, and Forecasting Workshop Group, and the WMO EC-PHORS (Panel of Experts on Polar and High Mountain Observations, Research and Services), helping to facilitate monitoring of the meteorological observations that come from Antarctica.

Over the past couple of years this group has concentrated on establishing links between other groups working in the same area of operational meteorology in Antarctica. The main links are to the Antarctic Meteorological Observation, Modeling, and Forecasting Workshop group which holds annual meeting in June or July and SCAR provides some funds to pay for accommodation for representatives from some countries to attend. There is also a link between SCAR and the WMO EC-PORS (Panel of Experts on Polar Observations, Research and Services) through which it is possible to carry out monitoring of the meteorological observations that come from Antarctica via AnTON (Antarctic Observing Network), which helps to identify problems with the data that is currently coming out from Antarctica, for more information see:

http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/WIGOS_6_EC_PORS/EC_PORS_4/Doc3.2.1_AntON.doc

Establishing these links means that the groups are now working better together and we have seen an improvement in the quality and quantity of observations coming from Antarctica.

For further details see the OpMet website.