BALTEX Phase II 2003 – 2012. Science Framework and ...

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BALTEX Phase II Science Framework and Implementation Strategy
7. Road map and Initial Implementation
7.1. Road Map and Milestones
BALTEX has moved into its second phase with both a renewed commitment to addressing Phase I
objectives, in particular to filling gaps in our knowledge related to basic processes of the water and
energy cycles, and new objectives related to climate variability and change, tools for water
management, and air and water quality studies. A detailed time plan including deliverables and
milestones related to the major goals and various potential activities defined within the four major new
objectives in chapters 1 to 4 is difficult to establish at present. Instead, a simplified time line is given
indicating the expected time periods with core activities contributing to meeting the major goals for
BALTEX Phase II (Fig. 7.1). For details on major goals please refer to Chapters 1 to 4. The
International BALTEX Study Conferences, planned following past traditions for the years 2007, 2010
and finally 2012 will establish natural milestones where progress will be reviewed and future plans
and implementation documents are expected to be established accordingly. Further milestones which
are defined in close agreement with a related draft road map established for GEWEX at the end of
2005 are indicated as numbered bullets for objectives 1 to 3 of BALTEX Phase II, which have direct
relevance for GEWEX Phase II.
GEWEX-related Milestones for BALTEX Phase II
Better understanding of the water and energy cycles
1 Establish and discuss independent estimates of the water and energy budgets over land and sea,
based on observations, re-analysis products such as ERA-40, and model results (2007).
2 Complete independent estimates of the water and energy budgets over land and the sea for the
period 1980 to 2005 4 as input to the GEWEX CSE-related activities (2008).
3 Active contribution to the pan-GEWEX collaborative global water and energy budget study
(2009).
4 A BALTEX “state-of-the-art” Baltic Sea basin energy and water cycle product complete with
error bars will be produced and discussed. This product will provide the best estimates of the
water cycle variables and analysis of the ability to close the Baltic Sea basin (and sub-basins)
water budget for the period 1980 to 2010 5 (2010).
4 Adjustments of this period according to final GEWEX plans and others such as for COPES may be necessary.
5 As footnote 1.