1.1.1 Dr. Josef Cihlar opened the meeting by welcoming the participants: the chairs of the GCOS Joint Scientific and Technical Committee and the GTOS Steering Committee, TOPC members, and representatives of other groups. He also thanked the Environmental Protection Agency for providing the facilities and the local organisers (Drs. Kibby and Solomon) for making the necessary arrangements.
1.1.2 Dr. Cihlar emphasised the working nature of the meeting and the need for dealing with a number of issues, in part as a result of a 2-year gap between the meetings. He identified the following broad objectives for the meeting:
Review the current situation in areas of importance to TOPC and developments since the last TOPC meeting in 1996
Complete or significantly advance tasks undertaken for 1998
Discuss priorities and important activities for the next 1-2 years
1.2.1 Dr. Cihlar reviewed the draft agenda distributed prior to the meeting. With some changes and refinements, the participants adopted the agenda. The final agenda is presented in Annex I.
