Coordinating Committee on Hydrometeorology
and Pollution Monitoring of the Caspian Sea
Recommendations of the 13th Session

The 13th Session of Coordinating Committee on Hydrometeorology and Pollution Monitoring of the Caspian Sea (CASPCOM) was held in Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan, 4-5 November 2008. Representatives of NHMSs from the Azerbaijan Republic, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, international organizations as well as scientific, educational and industrial institutions of Kazakhstan participated in the Session.
The main results of activities of Coordinating Committee on Hydrometeorology and Pollution Monitoring of the Caspian Sea in 2007-2008 are as follows:

1. project of “Agreement on cooperation between the Caspian states in the field of the Caspian Sea hydrometeorology ” updated with the consideration of NHMS’s suggestions presented at the 12th Session;
2. sample tables of the General Catalogue of the Caspian Sea Level and Annual Reference Guide on hydrometeorological regime of the Caspian Sea prepared by NHMS and CASPCOM workgroup;
3. the survey of national activities on the development of information communication and the network of meteorological locators prepared by CASPAS coordinator based on the materials presented by NHMS;
4. national achievements in the field of hydrometeorology and monitoring of the Caspian Sea giving the basis for enhancing NHMS co-operation and increasing its efficiency.

1. CASPCOM activities and national activities towards solving high priority problems in hydrometeorology and pollution monitoring of the Caspian Sea (Agenda Items ## 2, 3)

Having assessed positively CASPCOM activities as well as national activities in solvinghigh priority problems in hydrometeorology and pollution monitoring of the Caspian Sea in 2007-2008, the Session recommended the following:

1. To display NHMSs’ reports on national activities in solvinghigh priority problems in hydrometeorology and pollution monitoring of the Caspian Sea presented at CASPCOM-13 on CASPCOM website;
2. CASPAS Coordinator is to elaborate and specify the prepared survey of the national activity to develop information systems and the network of meteorological locators with help of materials from NHMS reports and to display this survey on CASPCOM website;
3. Experts – members of CASPCOM workgroup and CASPAS Coordinator are to prepare the list of links to the websites containing information on hydrometeorology and pollution monitoring of the Caspian Sea, provide it with their comments and display it on CASPCOM website;
4. The following 14th CASPCOM Session is to discuss the suggestion to hold the regional scientific conference devoted to the issues of expected climate change in the Caspian Region and the ways of adapting to these changes in Astrakhan, Russia in 2010, taking into consideration the resolutions of the 3rd World Climate Conference.
5. Roshydromet is to present the opportunities of the geostationary artificial satellite “Elektro” for monitoring the water area and offshore area of the Caspian Sea at the 14th CASPCOM Session.
6. IRIMO is to present the national model used for forecasting anomalies of air temperature and precipitations in the Caspian Region within four months at the 14th CASPCOM Session.

1. Status of reconciliation process and preparation for signing the “Agreement on cooperation between the Caspian states in the field of the Caspian Sea hydrometeorology” in the Caspian states (Agenda Item # 4).

Having considered amendments to the Draft “Agreement on cooperation between the Caspian states in the field of the Caspian Sea hydrometeorology”suggested by the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Session recommended:

1. Meteorological Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran is to forward the text of the suggested amendments, related to the agreement text and the comments provided, to NHMS – CASPCOM participants through diplomatic channels by the end of the current year.
2. NHMS – CASPCOM participants are to prepare their remarks to the amendments suggested by IRIMO and forward them to CASPCOM Chairman by May 1, 2009.
3. CASPCOM Chairman is to summarize the remarks and then forward to the NHMS – CASPCOM participants the text of suggested remarks and amendments correlating to the agreement text by September 1, 2009.

3. On the activities of CASPCOM working bodies (Agenda Item # 5).
Having approved activities of CASPCOM working bodies, the Session recommended the following:
3.1. To continue work on the General Catalogue of the Caspian Sea level taking into consideration the following:
3.1.1. CASPAS Coordinator is to elaborate the project of observation stations included in the catalogue with the stations located at the Iranian Coast on the basis of the information presented by IRIMO.
3.1.2. NHMS are to:
3.1.2.1. agree on the suggestions of CASPAS Coordinator on the list of observation stations to be included into the Catalogue and on the distribution of functions of the Catalogue preparation among the NHMS in 3-month term.
3.1.2.2. to complete the preparation of the source tables of the General Catalogue and to exchange them with help of CASPAS Coordinator within the following 6 months.
3.2. To continue work on “Annual data and survey of hydrometeorological situation on the Caspian Sea in 2007”:
3.2.1 NHMSs (with the exception of Kazhydromet) are to prepare tables and texts of the reference guide sections on hydrometeorological conditions on the national coast and forward them to CASPAS Coordinator.
3.2.2. CASPAS Coordinator is:
3.2.2.1 to prepare the guide section which contains general characteristics of hydrometeorological conditions on the whole Caspian water area in 2007 jointly with Roshydromet scientific research institutes;
3.2.2.2. to unify all the materials and to provide translation of the reference guide into Russian and English and transfer them to NHMS.
3.2.3. NHMSs are to publish and distribute the reference guide (books or CDs) within their countries without using the Internet.
3.3 to organize the following meeting of CASPCOM workgroup in 2009 before the opening of the 14th CASPCOM Session.
3.3.1. To include the following issues in the agenda of the workgroup meeting:
3.3.1.1. On the preparation of the General Catalogue, data differences and altitude system used to measure sea level;
3.3.1.2. On the preparation of printed reference guide on hydrometeorological regime of the Caspian Sea;
3.3.1.3. On CASPCOM stations list and the advisability of creating regional system of CASPCOM telecommunication;
3.3.1.4. On condition and advances of marine hydrometeorological information exchange with the use of WMO global telecommunications system.
3.3.1.5. On hydrometeorological provision of the complex management of coastal areas (based on experience of PMO – Ports and Maritime Organizations of Iran);
3.3.1.6. On coordination of expedition research of the Caspian Sea conducted by the countries – CASPCOM participants.
3.3.2. CASPCOM Chairman is to address to WMO and other prospective sponsors for financial support of CASPCOM workgroup meeting.
3.4. NHMS are to take into consideration real-time data exchange while updating national networks of meteorological radars to advance in the field of warning about natural disasters, including navigation safety.
4. Issues of developing international cooperation in the field of hydrometeorology and environmental monitoring in the Caspian Sea region (Agenda Item # 6)
Taking into consideration the issues of developing international cooperation included in the Agenda, the Session recommended as follows:
4.1. NHMS are to participate in the preparation of the EU project, supported by WMO and aimed at the development of regional co-operation in the field of hydrometeorology of the Caspian Sea.
4.2 NHMSs are to use the experience of UNESCO-IHE in the capacity building in the field of application of hydrometeorological information to warn about natural disasters and water management in addition to the existing cooperation mechanisms.
5. Confirmation of CASPCOM-13 Recommendations (Agenda Item # 7)
The Session confirmed CASPCOM-13 Recommendations.
6. Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman of CASPCOM (Agenda Item #8).
The Session elected IRIMO Chairman Mr. Noorian as CASPCOM Chairman, and head of Roshydromet Mr. Bedritsky as CASPCOM Vice-Chairman.
7. Defining date and venue for holding CASPCOM-14 (Agenda Item # 9)
Following Azhydromet suggestion the Session recommended holding the next Session, CASPCOM-14, in November 2009, in Islamic Republic of Iran; the venue is to be defined afterwards.