Report of a Workshop on Theoretical and Observational Studies of Polar Lows” of the European Geophysical Society Polar Lows Working Group

Abstract

A workshop on theoretical and observational studies of polar lows was held in St. Petersburg, Russia, 23–26 September 1996. An international group with scientists and students from Canada, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States participated in the workshop. The papers presented covered the fields of climatological studies, studies using numerical models, and satellite studies for the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Two polar low cases were investigated in more detail during working groups sessions: The polar low “Le Cygne” occurring 13–16 October 1993 over the Norwegian Sea, and a Southern Hemisphere polar low occurring 30 July–1 August 1986 over the Weddell Sea. Programs related to polar low research were presented in order to coordinate the international efforts in investigating polar mesocyclones. The workshop showed the progress achieved by using 1) the synergetic combination of the satellite data presently available, and 2) mesoscale numerical models for the understanding of the development and the physical processes of polar mesocyclones.