Weather has no regard for political or geographic boundaries, making the timely and accurate prediction of extreme weather events a collective goal that bridges meteorological and ocean observing agencies worldwide. To encourage collaborative science and expand the network of ocean-atmosphere observations, scientists with NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) participated in a series of workshops and discussions across the Republic of Korea.
The importance of collaborative workshops cannot be overlooked, as they are an indispensable tool to spark new partnerships, share technology and scientific advancements, problem solve, and brainstorm new ideas. The first of the three workshops was hosted by Seoul National University (SNU) on June 24 to collaborate on tropical cyclone observing and modeling research across NOAA, Rutgers University, and SNU. Lev Looney, a University of Miami doctoral candidate at AOML, presented on the successes and challenges of observing extremes at the air-sea interface. He was joined by Cheyenne Stienbarger, manager of the Tropical Pacific Observing System and Extreme Events Program with NOAA’s Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing (GOMO) Program; Dr. Scott Glenn, a distinguished professor at Rutgers University and Co-Director of the Center for Ocean Observing Leadership; and Dr. Travis Miles, an associate professor with Rutgers University. Together, they represented the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) Tropical Cyclone Exemplar – a project under the UN Ocean Decade that aims to better observe ocean conditions beneath tropical cyclones to improve tropical cyclone forecasts and warnings regionally and globally.
On June 25, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) hosted the KMA-NOAA Joint Collaboration Workshop in Seoul, Glenn, Miles, Looney, and Stienbarger participated in more focused discussions on the Tropical Cyclone Exemplar, especially as it relates to observing and modeling activities in the northwest Pacific Ocean. They were joined by Ms. Staci Rijal, Director of NOAA Research Office of International Activities; Ms. Mikayla Basanese, NOAA Research International Program Analyst and Co-Chair of the NOAA-Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Joint Project Agreement Ocean Research Panel; and Dr. Jai Tiarks, a Sea Grant Knauss Marine Policy Fellow. KMA participants included representatives from the National Institute of Meteorological Sciences, the National Typhoon Center, the Numerical Model Diagnosis Team, and the International Cooperation Division of KMA. This workshop initiated collaboration on extreme weather forecasting and conversations to further our understanding of ocean-air interactions that aid operational forecasts and modeling efforts for tropical cyclones.
The final portion of the trip was dedicated to the 2024 Korea-U.S. Joint Project Agreement (JPA) Ocean Research Panel Workshop hosted by the Korea Institute for Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) in Busan from June 26-28. The JPA Workshop united scientists and program managers across cooperative institutes, universities, the Republic of Korea, and NOAA – including representatives from NOAA’s OAR Office of International Affairs, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. Day one focused on ocean observations, including measurements of ocean acidification and deployments of surface drifters, while day two honed in on improving forecasts. Each project funded under the Ocean Research Panel was responsible for providing a presentation, the Tropical Cyclone Exemplar being one of them. AOML’s Hurricane Research Division lead meteorologist for emerging technologies, Dr. Joseph Cione, co-presented on improving tropical cyclone forecasts through air-sea interactions while Looney supported Stienbarger who presented on the Tropical Pacific Observing System (TPOS) Equatorial Pacific EXperiment (TEPEX).
There is only so much you can present in 30 minutes, so Looney views each presentation as an advertisement for future collaboration on extreme weather events, as well as a snapshot for evaluating ongoing U.S.-Korea joint projects.
These workshops serve many purposes, but analyzing progress and learning from failures and successes are what propel advancements in understanding ocean-atmosphere observations.
“Everyone is trying to reach the same goal,” said Looney. “We want the most accurate, most timely forecasts and that includes things like understanding uncertainty and probability.”
To conclude the JPA workshop, attendees toured the Republic of Korea with highlights being the Tongyeong Floating Research Base, the South Sea Research Institute, and KIOST’s Research Vessel Onnuri. Onnuri translates to “the whole world,” a subtle ode to the connectivity of our planet through water, weather, and partnerships. Despite geographical separation, the partnerships formed during the workshops transcend continents and highlight the importance of how international collaboration is critical for advancing the way we observe, model, and forecast extreme weather events around the world.
“This workshop represented another great example of fruitful interactions between the USA and the Republic of Korea in the area of ocean and atmospheric research,” said Cione. “I look forward to many more positive collaborations that focus on improved scientific understanding and advancements to operational forecasting.”