Improving Communication Between Meteorologists and Oceanographers: The American Meteorological Society’s Committee on Oceans, Coasts and the Blue Economy

The atmosphere and oceans are an inter-connected part of the larger Earth geophysical system and the associated scientific disciplines and the individuals involved in those disciplines could potentially benefit from improved opportunities for interaction and collaboration. 

The American Meteorological Society (AMS) has long had a goal of strengthening ties with the oceanography community above and beyond those engendered in long-standing existing AMS committees. There are several committees with the AMS STAC (Scientific and Technological Activities Commission) that deal partly with oceanographic/sea/coastal topics, however, it was thought that a new committee could be created to span a different and often broader space, focusing on communication, decision support and economic aspects as well as geophysics. Therefore, in Fall 2020 the AMS initiated a new Ad Hoc / Temporary Committee:  the Ad Hoc Committee on Oceans, Coasts and the Blue Economy. This became a permanent committee of the AMS in September 2022.

The overall objective of the Committee on Oceans, Coasts and the Blue Economy is to promote collaboration, bring together stakeholders, elicit input, and coordinate community feedback regarding atmospheric, oceanographic, and economic connectivity.  In addition, the committee seeks to  educate stakeholders on respective information needs, operational requirements and constraints, and current capabilities and emerging technologies that could be used to improve decision-making.  The topics of interest can be relatively wide-ranging, such as outreach to the broader maritime user community, maritime transportation, strategic initiatives that involve the broader weather, water and climate enterprise, and decision support.  

The Committee on Oceans, Coasts and the Blue Economy has thus far primarily focused on organizing sessions in conferences and symposia that stimulate and support information exchange by providing opportunities for the weather, water, climate, and oceanographic stakeholders to interact and discuss topics of mutual interest.  While it has been successful, especially for a relatively new committee, challenges remain.  This presentation will provide a summary of the committee, its successes, challenges, and future plans.