pdf SCAR XXXIV WP18a: The Southern Ocean Observing System

SCAR XXXIV WP18a: The Southern Ocean Observing System

Presentation: pdf Agenda Item 4.3.3 (1.94 MB)

Executive Summary:

Authors: Louise Newman (Executive Officer), Anna Wåhlin (Phys Sciences Co-Chair), Oscar Schofield (Bio Sciences Co-Chair), Sebastiaan Swart (Phys Sciences Vice Chair), Andrew Constable (Bio Sciences Vice Chair)

Important Issues or Factors:

1. SOOS Progress and 5-Year Implementation Plan was externally reviewed
2. SOOS has developed 7 implementation working groups
3. An updated and restructured website was released
4. SOOS held its 5th Scientific Steering Committee meeting, 4rd Data Management Sub-Committee meeting, and a joint SOOS-SOCCOM scientific workshop
5. SOOS sponsors continued their support for the IPO
6. IMAS-UTas funding of the Executive Officer will end in August 2016. The Australian Research Council's Special Research Initiative for Antarctic Gateway Partnership (Project ID SR140300001), which currently funds the SOOS Data Officer, has agreed to support both the Executive Officer and Data Officer until mid-2018.

Recommendations/Actions and Justification: Jointly with SCOR, SCAR has provided financial support for the annual SSC meeting since 2011. This support is greatly appreciated by SOOS and is imperative to ensure participation of all international SSC members. SOOS requests that the SCAR support is continued for the 2017 SSC meeting (location TBA, likely EU). SOOS also invites the SCAR Executive Director to attend the 2017 meeting.

Budget Implications: SOOS requests 10,000 USD to support SSC members to attend the 2017 SSC meeting. SCAR is asked to support the SCAR Director to attend out of the central SCAR budget, not the 10,000 USD requested for SSC participation.