17^th Session of CLIVAR Atlantic Region Panel (Vienna, Austria)

The 17^th Session of the CLIVAR Atlantic Region Panel (ARP17) took place in Vienna, Austria on April 13, 2019, following the 2019 EGU meeting. The panel reviewed the progress achieved since ARP16, specifically: on the Review of the Tropical Atlantic Observing System (TAOS); updates from international efforts on ocean observations (OceanObs’19, OOPC and GCOS) and their implications for the development of the Atlantic Observing system; and the status of preparations for the EUREC4A-OA/ATOMIC field campaign. The panel showed continued interest in studies of the AMOC, North Atlantic model biases, and the potential influence of tropical Atlantic variability on ENSO. New ARP members who are early-to-mid career scientists, presented their research, as well as their motivation for participating in CLIVAR and the areas where they can contribute most to the panel. The panel co-chairs led a discussion on preparations for the next CLIVAR-FIO Summer School on ‘Ocean Macroturbulence and Its Role in Earth’s Climate’, which will be organised by the ARP and will be held in summer 2020 in Qingdao, China. Panel members also brainstormed on proposals for new CLIVAR Research Foci; this will continue in a panel telecon June. Panel members agreed to strengthen their internal communications through more frequent telecons and by forming task groups within the panel. Panel membership and the time and venue for the next ARP meeting were also discussed.