Recently, the Sea Ice Prediction Network-SOUTH (SIPN-South) project has collected seasonal forecasts of Antarctic sea ice aligned with the Year Of Polar Prediction Special Observing Period (austral summer 2018-2019).  Initial analysis of all the collected forecasts were released in the document 'An initial outlook at the austral summer 2018- 2019 sea-ice forecasts in the Southern Ocean'. Up to now, there are 10 contributors submitting the prediction and there will be two additional submissions within days (Table 1).

Two experts from CLIVAR community, Francois Masssonnet of the CLIVAR/CliC/SCAR Southern Panel and Johy Fyfe from the CLIVAR/CliC Northern Panel initiate and  lead the collection. The others of the SIPN South Leadership are P. Reid, J. Lieser, C. M. Bitz, and W. Hobbs.

The Sea Ice Prediction Network South (SIPN South) is an international project endorsed by the Year of Polar Prediction (YOPP). Its goal is to make an initial assessment of the ability of current systems to predict Antarctic sea ice globally and regionally, with a focus on the summer season. The project has three strategic objectives: 1. Provide a focal point for seasonal outlooks of Antarctic sea ice (winter and summer), where the results are exchanged, compared, discussed and put in perspective with those from the Arctic thanks to interactions within the (Arctic) SIPN, 2. Provide news and information on the state of Antarctic sea ice, highlight recent published research, report ongoing observational campaigns and disseminate upcoming events (conferences, workshops, webinars, et cetera), 3. Coordinate a realistic prediction exercise targeting austral summer 2019, in conjunction with the Year Of Polar Prediction (YOPP)’s Special Observing Period that will take place in November-February 2018-2019.