Tasks

Task 1: Management

Objective: To design the project web page for communication and project management, manage the project and organize meetings.

Task 2: Preliminary analysis

Objective: To conduct a comprehensive scientific and technical review of polar lows in the Nordic Seas and define the scientific and technical requirements for users, technical data sets, modelling and scientific analysis that will guide all subsequent tasks within the STARS project.

Task 3: STARS data set

Objective: To establish a multi satellite and in situ data set of ocean and atmosphere observations for the investigation of polar lows in the Nordic Seas region.

Task 4: Identify and catalogue polar lows in the STARS data set

Objective: To analyze the STARS-DAT data set to identify, catalogue, describe and characterize all polar low events within the data set for use in the STARS project.

Task 5: Polar Low Indicator (PLI)

Objective: Use the STARS data set to develop a Polar Low Indicator (PLI) and demonstrate its use

Task 6: Design description of a coupled model for investigation of polar lows in the Nordic Seas and, for a projection method for SST and SLA observations

Objective: To identify system requirements and implementation needs for a coupled Nordic Seas model. To design and describe the coupled Nordic Sea model. To investigate alternative methods for projecting SST and SLA observations into the ocean model.

Task 7: Implement and validate a coupled model of ocean-atmosphere system for investigation of polar lows in the Nordic Seas.

Objective: To implement, configure and validate the NS-MODEL for use in STARS Task 8.

Task 8: Coupled atmosphere ocean simulations of polar low events

Objective: To conduct coupled ocean-ice-atmosphere model simulations of polar low outbreaks over the Nordic Seas and to investigate

Ordered List Itemwhether such coupled simulations have greater prediction skills than corresponding uncoupled atmospheric simulations and

the influence of polar low events on upper ocean hydrography and Atlantic Water transformation in the Nordic Seas

Task 9: Prepare utility report, final report, data pack and a final presentation of results

Objective: To report to ESA a final Technical Data Package, final Report and a final presentation of this project.