AMOS Expert Groups

AMOS has five expert groups covering a range of topics across the AMOS sciences.

The roles of Expert Groups include:

• Propose and chair special sessions at AMOS conferences
• Take the lead, or assist Council, in the authoring of submissions to relevant inquiries or reviews (see here)
• The creation of relevant AMOS position or policy statements as required (see here)
• Organize discipline-specific workshops or meetings
• Provide advice to Council on relevant topics as required

If you would like to join an AMOS expert group, get in contact with the Chair or admin@amos.org.au. Alternately, if you think there is a need for an additional Expert Group, you can apply to Council following the AMOS rules.

Climate Variability

This Expert Group focuses on the topic of Climate Variability. Climate variability encompasses variability of the ocean and atmosphere on time scales ranging from multi-week to seasonal and decadal, with an exploration of the role of climate change on these systems. This includes large-scale modes of variability and their teleconnections, as well as the occurrence and variability of climate extremes. Naturally our primary focus is on Australian climate which is influenced by the surrounding Pacific, Indian and Southern Oceans. The scope extends across observations and climate modelling, but importantly must also consider the utility of this information for the end user.  

Weather and Weather Prediction

The Expert Group on Weather and Weather Prediction (EGWWP) is interested in all aspects of weather prediction, but especially the prediction of Australian weather. The EGWWP also covers data assimilation, which is the process of estimating the current state of the atmosphere and incorporating this information in numerical weather prediction models, and how physical processes are represented in these models.

Physical Oceanography

The AMOS Expert Group on Physical Oceanography focusses on the sub-discipline of Physical Oceanography. Physical Oceanography is defined as the study of the physics of the ocean. It encompasses a broad range of properties, motions and processes, such as temperature, salinity and density, turbulence, surface and internal waves, tsunamis, tides, ocean circulation and their relationship to biogeochemical cycles. The relevant time scales of variability range from seconds (e.g. turbulence) to decades and beyond (climate variability and change).

Land Surface Processes

The land surface processes expert Group focuses on water, energy and carbon cycle processes occurring near the land surface that influence climate. The areas of expertise and research interests include evaporation, transpiration, soil infiltration, soil moisture transport including groundwater, surface hydrology, the reflection and absorption of radiation, surface heating, carbon fixation and release. Processes involving coupling between the land, atmosphere and vegetation are within scope, as are particular considerations of urban environments (and other man-made structures) and the coastal zone.

Atmospheric and Oceanic Composition

This Expert Group focuses on the sub-discipline of Atmospheric and Oceanic Composition. This is defined as both natural and anthropogenically influenced composition from the stratosphere to the deep ocean. The areas of focus include measurement and modelling of radiatively active gases (i.e. greenhouse gases, stratospheric ozone), chemically active gases (i.e. ozone and aerosol precursors), toxic gases, aerosols, air-sea gas and nutrient fluxes, ocean acidification and ocean nutrient reservoirs. Measures of atmospheric composition health (air quality) and oceanic composition health (water quality) are also considered within scope.