The focus of the training activities lies in the production of a handbook (or guide) to best procedures and practices for meteorological measurements at sea. This was first proposed by the WGASF (WGASF 2000) and adopted at the first workshop at FSU in 2003 (Smith et al. 2003). The handbook is aimed at the sea-going research community and ships' technical staff. Version 1 of the handbook is now available.

Future plans include:

• a dynamic, on-line handbook that is easily expanded and updated
• drill down capacity will keep the top level simple, allowing users to search for more technical details, as desired.
• technical contacts/experts for both data observers and users
• access to relevant computer code

An on-line version of the handbook will allow users to download technical information whether on land or at sea (as broadband ship-to-shore communication technology develops).

References
Bradley, F. and C. Fairall, 2006: A Guide to Making Climate Quality Meteorological and Flux Measurements at Sea. NOAA Technical Memorandum OAR PSD-311, NOAA/ESRL/PSD, Boulder, CO, 108 pp.

Smith, S. R., R. M. Reynolds, and J. J. O'Brien, 2003: Report and Recommendations from the Workshop on High-Resolution Marine Meteorology, COAPS Report 03-1, Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32306-2840, USA, 38 pp.

WGASF, 2000: Intercomparison and validation of ocean-atmosphere energy flux fields. Final report of the Joint WCRP/SCOR Working Group on Air-Sea Fluxes, WCRP-112 (WMO/TD 1035), Geneva, Switzerland, 308 pp.