The 26th Session of the CLIVAR Scientific Steering Group was held virtually from March 8 to March 12, 2021. This is the first SSG session that was organized completely online.

This session brought together over 50 scientists from around the world including CLIVAR SSG members; co-chairs and members of CLIVAR panels, Research Foci (RF) and WCRP Grand Challenge (GC); as well as invited representatives from sponsors, partner projects and organizations including US CLIVAR, WCRP, OOPC, IOC-UNESCO, CliC, CORDEX, SPARC, GEWEX and IMBeR. There were also invited speakers from the five WCRP Lighthouse Activities and the two new “Homes” that are being proposed.

To accommodate the online mode and different time zones, the session was split into 4 days, with participants gathering for approximately 3 hours each day. The first day of the meeting focused on the “New WCRP”, including its new “Homes”, Lighthouse Activities and Regional Consultations. Activities and plans from all CLIVAR panels and RF/GC were reported by panel/RF/GC co-chairs on the second and third days. The CLIVAR leadership also had an excellent discussion on cross-panel activities on Day 3. Finally, on the last day, activities of partner projects and potential collaboration were reported by their representatives.

Comments and suggestions to panel/RF/GC business were given by SSG and will be sorted out and distributed to each panel/RF/GC soon by the ICPO, which covers the aspects of suggestions on future work and interaction with other groups or projects, decisions and comments on membership proposal, and budget request during 2021.

The report of this meeting is available online.