The 4th XBT Workshop: XBT Science and the Way Forward

11-13 November 2014, 2014
Beijing, China

Meeting Organizers: Jiang Zhu (朱江, IAP/CAS), Lijing Cheng (成里京,IAP/CAS), Gustavo Goni (NOAA/AOML), Tim Boyer (NOAA/NODC), and Rebecca Cowley (CSIRO).

Local contacts: Lijing Cheng (chenglij@mail.iap.ac.cn)

This Workshop will be held during 11-13 November, 2014, at the Yuanchenxin International Hotel in Beijing. The meeting will be hosted by the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Schedule

The registration for this workshop is now open. To register please send us an email with the following information:

  • Application for financial support deadline is August 31, 2014
  • The registration deadline is August 31, 2014
  • The abstract submission deadline is September 20, 2014
  • A draft agenda will be available no later than October 10, 2014

Objective

The main objective of this meeting is to bring together scientists working on XBT data. Presentations and discussions will include scientific and operational uses of XBT observations, such as Meridional Overturning Circulation, ocean currents, and ocean heat budgets; and the synergy of XBT data with data from other observational platforms, such as Argo floats, satellites, surface drifters, etc. This meeting will also focus on discussing recent advances in assessing XBT biases and their impact in ocean heat content studies, and on reaching a consensus to recommend a unique XBT bias correction to the global XBT data set. Abstracts on the above topics are encouraged.

The topics of the meeting include:

  1. XBT scientific and operational applications.
  2. Presentations are encouraged on the main use of XBT data, geared to estimate, monitor, and analyze global ocean heat content, transport and location of ocean currents, and Meridional Heat Transport. This meeting will highlight how XBT observations supplement and are supplemented by other hydrographic and remote sensing observations. We encourage the participation of non-XBT specific experts, to encourage understanding and support of multiplatform and multidisciplinary studies.

  3. Reaching a consensus on recommended XBT corrections.
  4. Participants will make presentations and hold discussions on XBT bias correction methods and results with the objective of providing recommendations towards correcting XBT biases for climate research (eg. ocean heat content) and physical oceanography studies. Attendees will discuss:

    • The biases in XBTs and how they contribute to the uncertainty in the historical ocean temperature dataset.
    • Identification of barriers that prevent further refinements (or improved convergence) of XBT bias corrections.
    • Recommendations of how to reduce XBT biases in the future.
    • The role that programs, such as IQUOD, may play in enhancing our understanding and quantification of XBT bias corrections.

Meeting Outcomes

  • A white paper summarizing the meeting outcomes.
  • A manuscript discussing the recommendations for correcting XBT biases, focusing on the various XBT bias correction methods and schemes.

Registration

The registration for this workshop is now open. To register please click here. The registration deadline is August 31, 2014.

Abstract Submission

Please submit one-page abstracts in Word or text format through the link. Participants not making presentations are also welcome.

The deadline for abstract submission is 20 Sep 2014. Please limit the abstract length to 200-500 words and no more than one figure. Font should be in 12 point Times New Roman. For questions about abstracts, send an email to Lijing Cheng (chenglij@mail.iap.ac.cn). Authors of accepted presentations will be notified on the website.

Presentations

The workshop will be very focused, therefore, presentations are by invitation only. However, abstracts can be submitted for consideration by the organizing committee. Please include abstracts in the registration email. No poster session will be held.

Financial Support

There is limited financial support available for participants that wish to attend this meeting. If you wish to apply for financial support, please contact Dr. Lijing Cheng (chenglij@mail.iap.ac.cn) and include your name, affiliation, address, telephone number, and your CV in the email. The financial support includes travel and accommodations.

The deadline to apply for financial support is August 31, 2014.

Agenda, Abstracts, and Presentations

November 10 Registration
November 11 XBT Science
9:00am to 12:00pm
Lunch
12:00pm to 1:00pm
XBT Science
1:00pm to 3:30pm
Discussions (XBT Science)
3:30pm to 5:00pm
Dinner
5:30pm to 7:00pm
November 12 XBT Fall Rate: Reaching a consensus and recommending XBT bias correction to the user community
9:00am to 12:00pm
Lunch
12:00pm to 1:00pm
Discussions (XBT Fall Rate)
2:00pm to 4:00pm
November 13 Ocean heat content
9:00am to 12:30pm
Lunch
2:30pm to 4:00pm
Discussions (Ocean Heat Content)
2:00pm to 4:00pm

Lunches will be provided on November 11, 12, and 13; and dinner on November 11.

The detailed and final agenda will be available before October 10, 2014

Venue and Accommodations

The Yuanchenxin International Hotel is located at No. 12 Yumin Road in Chaoyang District, near the Olympic Village and Beijing Zhongguancun High Technology Area.

Hotel Webpage: http://www.ycxhotel.com/
Hotel Phone Number: 86-010-82024488



Larger map

The hosts will not arrange for airport pick-up or see-off service for your visit.

The hosts will provide you with:

  • Taxi fee / shuttle bus fee reimbursement (200 CNY Maximum in total)
  • Breakfast Buffet (7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.)
  • High speed Internet access

LOC will not cover:

  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Mini-bar
  • International calls

Check-out: 2:00 p.m. (NOTE: for late check-out, there is a 50% additional daily fee)

Local contacts

Dr. Lijing Cheng
Research Assistant
International Center for Climate and Environment Sciences
Institute of Atmospheric Physics
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Tel: +86-13466723988
Tel: +86-010-82995206
Email: chenglij@mail.iap.ac.cn

Ms. Ting Tong
Secretariat
International Center for Climate and Environment Sciences
Institute of Atmospheric Physics
Chinese Academy of Sciences
P. O. Box 9804, Beijing 100029, China
Tel: (86 10) 82995124
Fax: (86 10) 82995123
Email: tongting@mail.iap.ac.cn

Additional information

Taxi
The Yuanchenxin International Hotel is approximately 20 kilometers away from the Beijing Capital International Airport. It takes approximately 40-50 minutes and the ride costs about CNY 100 (about USD 15). Please follow the taxi signage of the airport to take the official taxi of Beijing. The genuine taxi invoice is enclosed below for your reference. Please print the following cards when you are taking the taxi to the hotel and airport:

Money
In China, only Chinese Yuan (CNY, or say Renminbi, RMB) is used. Currency exchange can be made at banks or exchange agencies at airports, hotels and large shopping centers. At present, the exchange rate is about CNY 6.2 for 1 US Dollar. We advise you to keep your receipt in case you wish to change RMB back to foreign currency. Major international credit cards such as Visa, Master Card, American Express, Diners Club, JCB are accepted in many department stores and hotels. However, it might be difficult to draw cash by using credit cards.

Weather
November is the late autumn season in Beijing. There is usually no rain, and the outdoor temperature ranges from about 10°C high to 0°C low. The temperature in the hotel is about 16 to 20°C.

Power supply
The power supply in China is 220-240V, 50Hz. In hotels the power supply for shavers is 110V or 220V. We suggest you bring transforming sockets.

Beijing Tourism
Beijing is a modern city with profound history and marvelous culture. Places to visit in Beijing include: The Forbidden City, the most magnificent palace in China; Ming Tombs, an imperial tomb cluster for thirteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644); Great Wall, one of the seven wonders of the world; Temple of Heaven, the worshipping site for the emperors; Summer Palace, the grandest imperial garden in China etc. For more tour information, please visit: http://english.visitbeijing.com.cn.