The freshwater budget of the Arctic Ocean

Following a decision by the Arctic Ocean Sciences Board (AOSB) in July 1996 the then chainnan, Geoffrey Holland, wrote a letter of invitation to a meeting to plan a "Symposium on the Freshwater Balance of the Arctic".

The meeting was held in Ottawa on November 12-13 1996 and was attended by representatives of various organisations, including the U.S.

National Science Foundation (NSF), as well as individual scientists.

Results of this meeting included: * Co-sponsorship with AOSB by the Scientific Committee on Ocean Research (SCOR), the Arctic Climate System Study (ACSYS) and the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX). * A decision to apply for funding as a Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Scientific Affairs Division. * That expenses would be covered in part by funds available through an existing NSF grant to the SCOR Executive offices in Baltimore, MD. * The appointment of myself to be Chairman/Manager for the Symposium. * Provision of a recommended list of Scientific Advisors to assist the Chainnan in selecting key speakers.