The aptly named 'Small Sea Changes: Big Business Impacts' full day workshop is being held on 31 October at the City Conference Centre, 80 Coleman Street, London. The workshop runs from 09:00 to 17:00, with a reception following from 17:00 to 19:30.

The one day event is being organised by IMarEST along with the Marine Information Alliance (MIA) and the Interagency Committee for Marine Science and Technology (IACMST). Sponsors include Shell, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Centre for Ocean Forecasting (NCOF) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) - Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC of UNESCO), Joint Commission on Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM), and The Met Office.

It is aimed at senior representatives across the insurance, energy, utilities, construction, leisure, tourism, agriculture, retail, transport, manufacturing and financial sectors and with involvement from representatives of regulatory organisations.

Visitors to http://www.imarest.org/events/climate/ can preview an impressive list of speakers which includes Dr Jim Baker, Former Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Prof Chris West, UK Climate Impacts Partnership (UKCIP), and Professor Lenny Smith of the London School of Economics.

The day consists of three sessions:

* Session I will introduce the science behind short, medium and long term forecasting and describe the degree to which improving forecasting and prediction and reducing uncertainties is reliant on knowledge of the oceans. Global, regional and local impacts of improved observations will be illustrated with particular emphasis on the three themes of extreme winds (and especially hurricanes), European Winter/Summer temperatures, rainfall distribution and sea level rise/storm surges.

* Session II will look specifically at the impacts of weather and climate on business and will provide case studies relevant to the industry sectors represented.

* Session III will consist of parallel workshops evaluating how enhanced weather and climate information better informs short, medium and long term business decisions for each sector and determining how business can help shape national and international investment priorities which improve ability to predict future weather and climate.

Attendance at the workshop is free of charge, but places are strictly limited, so prompt response is essential. The booking form is on the website at http://www.imarest.org/events/climate/