|
The 8th International Conference on Southern Hemisphere Meteorology and Oceanography (8ICSHMO), to be held 24-28 April 2006 in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná State, Brazil, is being sponsored by the following organizations: American Meteorological Society (AMS), the Center for Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies (CPTEC) of the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE), the Brazilian Meteorological Society (SBMET), the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), the U. S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U. S. National Science Foundation (NSF), the U. S. National Weather Service, the State of São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), the State of Rio de Janeiro Research Foundation (FAPERJ), the Brazilian Projects and Studies Funding Agency (FINEP), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and Brazilian Commission on Post-Graduate Education (CAPES).
This event marks the return of the ICSHMO to Brazil. The first Conference on Southern Hemisphere (SH) Meteorology was held in São José dos Campos, Brazil on 31 July - 6 August 1983, and equally had INPE as the local organizer. That meeting brought together researchers from both hemispheres to facilitate information exchange and the transfer of methodologies. It was a very successful meeting. Since then, the AMS has organized seven international conferences on Southern Hemisphere meteorology and oceanography: in New Zealand, December 1986, in Argentina, November 1999, in Hobart, Australia, April 1993, in South Africa April 1997, in Santiago, Chile, April 2000, and in Wellington, New Zealand, April 2003. These meetings have been successful in promoting understanding of atmospheric and oceanic processes particular to the SH and their linkages to the Tropics and the global atmosphere and oceans.
The meeting is organized around a broad overarching theme: "Understanding and Predicting Climate and Water Resources, their Variability and Change in the Southern Hemisphere (SH)". Particular attention is given to: a) Monsoon systems and continental rainfall; b) Role of the SH oceans in climate. c) Addressing gaps in SH observing systems; d) Climate and weather forecasts: The challenge of seasonal, interannual, and interdecadal prediction in the SH; e) Understanding long-term climate variations in the SH; f) Hydrological variability and modeling; g) Climatic and ecological impacts of land cover and land use changes; h) Climate and Cryosphere of the Antarctic region; i) Climate change in the SH; j) Human influences on climate; and k) Atmospheric chemistry in the SH. Also, a special session is convened to celebrate the career of Harry van Loon, who has contributed a lasting legacy of highly original work towards the understanding of Southern Hemisphere meteorology over the past 50 years.
We also express our gratitude to the local organizing committee that has made a superb work making all the logistics of the meeting come together. Thanks to all those organizations and individuals who have made this meeting possible.
Carolina Vera and Carlos A. Nobre
8ICHSMO Co-Chairs
|
