pdf SCAR EXCOM 2013 IP04: Southern Ocean Observing System 2013

SCAR EXCOM 2013 IP04: Southern Ocean Observing System 2013

Executive Summary

Title: The Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS)

Authors: Louise Newman, Oscar Schofield, Michael Meredith, Mike Sparrow, Ed Urban

Introduction/ Background: The Southern Ocean influences climate, sea level, biogeochemical cycles and biological productivity on a global scale. Many of the most difficult and pressing issues faced by society—how to mitigate and adapt to climate change and sea-level rise, how to manage the effects of ocean acidification, and how best to conserve marine resources and biodiversity—cannot be addressed effectively without improved understanding of Southern Ocean processes and feedbacks and their sensitivity to change. The most urgent research challenges in the Southern Ocean often span traditionally separate scientific disciplines. The Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) provides the sustained, integrated, multi-disciplinary observations required to meet these challenges.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification: SOOS greatly appreciates the support provided by SCAR for the annual Scientific Steering Committee meeting, and requests that this support is continued for 2014.

Expected Benefits/Outcomes:  Continuation of the support for the SSC meeting will ensure participation by all SSC members, which is imperative for planning and implementation of SOOS objectives.

Partners: SCOR also provides support for the annual SOOS SSC meeting. Additionally, SOOS has received 2 offers to host the 2014 SSC meeting (for locations in Australia and Norway). A decision on location will be made by the end of June The level of support provided by the host is still to be determined and will be a contributing factor to the decision on meeting location.

Budget Implications: 8 000 USD are requested to support the 2014 SSC meeting.