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From the Director:

Dear IOOS Community,

April is now upon us and the IOOS Office continues to be busy working on grants administration and execution, expanding data capabilities, and preparing for summer meetings. Please see below for information on an important grants management workshop coming up later this month. 

This week, I’ve participated in two workshops focused on Coastal Resilience and Inundation. Tuesday, the National Ocean Service held a workshop to develop a vision for near-term actions and longer-term priorities to respond to congressional guidance to create a National Coastal Data Information System. This system will address threats posed to coastal communities and assets by sea level rise and increased coastal flooding risks. 

Wednesday, NOS Acting Assistant Administrator Nicole LeBoeuf and I provided opening keynote remarks for the Coastal Solutions Workshop - “Coastal Flood Modeling, Prediction and Observations for the U.S. West Coast”. This workshop provides a forum for assembling the research community working on these various west coast efforts to improve integration and collaboration among these entities to better serve coastal stakeholders.  The workshop will also showcase case studies for how these products are evolving to meet a range of coastal stakeholder needs for addressing contemporary and future coastal flood hazards.

I’m looking forward to engaging on these topics as work moves forward. I am also excited to announce that NOAA has launched two coastal models for mariner safety on the West Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. Read more about this below and in the NOAA Press Release.

Thanks,
Carl

From the U.S. IOOS Office:

  • 2021 NOAA Financial Assistance Workshop (Grants Management Workshop) - April 20-22, 2021:  Regional Association Directors and their grant/financial staff are invited to attend the 2021 NOAA Financial Assistance Workshop. This workshop will provide information on NOAA Grants Management Division post grant award processes. Attendees are welcome to participate virtually by webinar on April 20-22, 2021. 
  • U.S. IOOS to mentor during Google's Summer of Code: The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System has been accepted as a mentor organization for Google's 2021 Summer of Code (GSoC).  Established in 2005, GSoC invites students to propose programming projects to vetted open source organizations.  Accepted projects, to be announced in May, commence in June following a short introductory period for the student to get to know their mentors and the organization they’re partnered with.  GSoC students can make direct contributions and functionality enhancements to the software projects they work on, and may continue to stay involved as regular contributors after their GSoC projects are completed. IOOS has suggested several possible areas for proposals that include topics in machine learning, cloud storage, ERDDAP, and more.  Interested students can learn more on IOOS's organization page, https://summerofcode.withgoogle.com/organizations/5147392992608256/ andhttps://github.com/ioos/gsoc. More information on IOOS’ open source oceanographic data software can be found on the IOOS GitHub site: https://github.com/ioos/.
  • IOOS Advisory Committee - March Meeting: The Advisory Committee had a successful public meeting March 17-19 to finalize their recommendations report to NOAA and the IOOC. Final comments are being adjudicated and a final draft is being completed. Planning is underway for a public meeting in May to deliver/present the recommendations and findings to the NOAA and IOOC leadership.

Observation Subsystem and Sensor Technologies:

  • Gliders (IOOS POC Kathleen Bailey, kathleen.bailey@noaa.gov; Underwater Glider User Group (UG2) POC Bill Lingsch, bill.lingsch@noaa.gov); Click here to join UG2: 

    • UG2 Survey: The following survey is derived from the suggestions of the Coordinated Operations and Private Sector Engagement Steering Committee focus groups to facilitate further foster collaboration across the UG2 and glider community. Access the Coordinated Operations and Private Sector Engagement Survey. Your inputs are greatly needed and appreciated to help us foster collaboration through sharing of relevant information. To minimize double counting assets, please coordinate responses within your applicable projects leads and/or PI’s.  If you have not received the survey link please go to www.underwatergliders.org and click on  “Join UG2” to be put on dissemination of this and future surveys.

    • UG2 Webinar #3: UG2 Updates and Industry Representatives (Part 1) – April 15th, 2-3:30 Eastern/11-12:30 Pacific Time: Please save the above date and time for our upcoming UG2 Webinar. The webinar will include updates on community activities and presentations from glider industry representatives from Teledyne (Slocum) and Huntington Ingalls Industries (formerly Hydroid and developer of Seagliders). We look forward to hearing from our industry partners on their current and future efforts related to glider development and support. To help facilitate this opportunity, we are asking the community to submit any topics and or questions they would like addressed by the representatives prior to the webinar. Please submit the topics or questions (via email: info@underwatergliders.org) by COB on April 1st, 2021. Thanks in advance!

    • Animal Telemetry Network (ATN) Ninth Steering Group Meeting, SG-9, convened on March 26, 2021: SG-9, co-chaired by Dr. Sam Simmons (Marine Mammal Commission) and Bill Woodward (ATN Network Coordinator), brought the SG Members together to: I) Review ATN program updates and report on Actions from SG-8,  II) Present Team Activity progress on developing ATN DAC Data Management Services to support Agency PIs, on preparation of the next 5-year ATN Implementation Plan and on implementing a Telemetry Hardware Loaner Program for ATN researchers and, III) Review and discuss revisions/updates to the Terms of Reference document that governs the SG. Dr. Megan McKinzie, the ATN Data Assembly Center (DAC) Data Coordinator, reported on the significant increases in DAC activity including 142 Projects now registered, with 3363 individual tag deployments representing 58 different species. Also, 21 datasets from the DAC have been DOI minted and permanently archived. Next meeting, SG-10, will be scheduled in the June-July 2021 time period.
    • AniBOS (Animal Borne Ocean Sensors) Network Update: The ATN Data Coordinator, Dr. Megan McKinzie, participated in the 2nd AniBOS Data Subcommittee meeting on March 24th.  The meeting focused on preparing the AniBOS Network’s desired data and metadata structure, and proposed management plan. Kevin O’ Brien (NOAA/PMEL) gave a presentation to the committee on ERDDAP, its utility as a data and metadata server, and its potential applications to the Network. The next Data Subcommittee meeting has been scheduled for April 28th. 
  • Using Marine Biodiversity to Measure Ecosystem Health: The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is one of the largest marine protected areas in the U.S. encompassing nearly 2,900 square miles (9,933 km). The South Florida MBON team is working with GCOOS and SECOORA to better characterize resource status so appropriate management responses can be made. Learn more about the work the South Florida MBON team and the national Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) are doing here: https://gcoos.org/mbon/
  • New publication on long-term vocalizations of bottlenose dolphins in the May River, SC: The paper“Long-term passive acoustics to assess spatial and temporal vocalization patterns of Atlantic common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the May River estuary, South Carolina” was published in the Journal Marine Mammal Science. This study was funded in part by SECOORA and U.S. IOOS. 
  • GeoBlue Planet Fisheries Working Group Meeting: Hassan Moustafid, IOOS Program, attended a working group meeting where the main discussion was focused on user requirements towards data catalogued in the NextGEOSS DATAHUB. As a target group (potential users) identified entities responsible for marine spatial planning. The working group also discussed Ecological Fisheries Forecasting Systems and the connection to OceanPredict.

Data Management and Cyberinfrastructure (DMAC) Subsystem and Tools Built on IOOS data (DMAC listserv – contact Micah Wengren, DMAC System Architect, data.ioos@noaa.gov or the 'ioos_tech' listserve: https://groups.google.com/g/ioos_tech):

  • QARTOD Project Plan Update: In preparation for the QARTOD project plan update, members of the Board of Advisors have helped to create and then complete a questionnaire. The results are being compiled now. They will be used to inform a broader audience and obtain additional suggestions for plans for the period 2022-2026.

Modeling and Analysis Subsystem (IOOS PO and IOOS Coastal and Ocean Modeling Testbed (COMT) POC – Tracy Fanara, Tracy.Fanara@noaa.gov):   

  • NOAA General Modeling Meeting and Fair announced: The second, all-virtual, NOAA General Modeling Meeting and Fair is being planned for 13-16 April 2021. We will engage the interests of all NOAA Line Offices to help move NOAA towards a more unified approach to modeling, as envisioned by NOAA's Research Council, facilitating exchange of best practices across all of NOAA's modeling enterprise. The event intends to focus on how the community is helping NOAA address science challenges and meet NOAA’s mission by:
    • Providing a forum to share best practices in community modeling.
    • Exploring opportunities for collaborative engagement to further growth in modeling expertise.
    • Developing state-of-the-art infrastructure and expanding R2O pathways.

For more information, including how to register, please visit the Meeting's website: https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/ngmmf2021/. Please contact the planning committee for any questions at general.modeling.meeting.fair@noaa.gov. 

Interagency and International Collaboration/News:

  • Texas-Louisiana Regional Ocean Forecast System (TXLA ROFS): developed by the Texas A&M University Physical Oceanography Numerical Group with funding from the Texas General Land Office (TGLO), this model serves ocean data from the Texas- Louisiana shelf;

  • Hydrodynamic and salinity model (TxBLEND): developed by the Texas Water Development Board in partnership with the TGLO Oil Spill Prevention and Response effort, this model forecasts simulations of water circulation in the major bays;

  • U.S. National Ice Center (USNIC) Great Lakes ice concentration: shows ice concentration data produced from a daily analysis;

  • USNIC Northern Hemisphere ice coverage: shows ice coverage data produced from the Interactive Multisensor Snow and Ice Mapping System.

Great Lakes experimental ice forecast variables from NOS Operational Forecast Systems have also recently been added to the “In Development” section of the Model Viewer, to assist NOS developers with model evaluation.

  • NOAA Signs Data-share Agreement with Offshore Wind Energy Company: On March 29th, NOAA announced a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Ørsted Wind Power North America LLC, an offshore wind development company, to share physical and biological data in Ørsted-leased waters subject to U.S. jurisdiction. The MOA is the first of its kind between an offshore wind developer and NOAA, and it paves the way for similar data-sharing agreements with other developers. Read more here: https://www.noaa.gov/media-release/noaa-signs-data-share-agreement-with-offshore-wind-energy-company 
  • Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) News: 
    • Opportunity to preview Data Explorer 1.1, April 9th: OOI is looking for feedback. The Data Explorer has been operational for about six months now. During that time, OOI has actively sought input from users on what aspects were useful, ideas for what other options could be added, and what might be tweaked to serve users better. They have responded to that feedback and now are ready to launch Data Explorer v1.1. OOI would like to give the community an opportunity to preview this next iteration and give them your thoughts. You are invited to meet with the members of the Development Team to tell them what you think. A meeting has been scheduled for 9 April 2021 at 2 pm Eastern to briefly show the changes and solicit input. To register for the meeting, see https://whoi-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJItcOmqqj4vHNC20O0BR3pq5PgvHEiCiZh4 
    • Spring Expeditions: Keeping OOI Arrays Fully Operational: OOI teams were in the water on opposite coasts in late March to service the Pioneer and Endurance Arrays. The teams will “turn” the moorings (recover old and deploy new) to keep the arrays continually collecting and reporting data back to shore. The Endurance 14 Team set sail from Newport Oregon aboard the R/V Sikuliaq on 24 March for a 15-day expedition. The Pioneer 16 Team departed from Woods Hole, MA, a few days later on 29 March aboard the R/V Armstrong for a 21-day mission. Both expeditions will require two legs because of the need to transport a huge amount of equipment. The equipment for the Pioneer Array weighs more than 129 tons. The Endurance equipment tops the scale at 95 tons. Read more here: https://oceanobservatories.org/2021/03/spring-expeditions-keeping-ooi-arrays-fully-operational/ 
  • PIRATA Research Cruise Continues Tropical Atlantic Ocean-Atmosphere Monitoring: After 41 days at sea, the NOAA ship Ron H. Brown returned to Key West, Florida, marking a successful mission for the Prediction and Research Moored Array in the Tropical Atlantic (PIRATA) Northeast Extension (PNE). This was the longest and most remote cruise on a NOAA ship since the NOAA fleet was called home due to the Covid-19 pandemic. During the cruise, four PNE buoys and one Brazilian PIRATA mooring were replaced, and one French mooring was serviced. Sixty-one CTD cast profiles of the water column, from the surface to 1500-meters depth, were conducted along the ship's track to measure temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, seawater pressure and density, and velocity. Twelve Argo floats were also deployed. PIRATA is a collaborative effort between Brazil, France, and the United States to study and improve predictability of ocean-atmosphere interactions that affect regional weather and climate variability on seasonal, inter­annual, and longer time scales. PNE is part of the U.S. contribution to PIRATA and is a joint effort between NOAA's PMEL, AOML, and funded through GOMO. Read the full article. 
  • Annual Report Shows 53% of U.S. Waters Still Unmapped: The second annual Unmapped U.S. Waters report on comprehensive ocean mapping in the U.S. shows that 53% of U.S. waters remain unmapped as of January 2021. The report, released by the Interagency Working Group on Ocean and Coastal Mapping, showed roughly 36,000 square nautical miles of new data since the last analysis. Data on the depth, shape, and composition of the seafloor is necessary to explore, sustainably develop, conserve, and manage our coastal and offshore ocean resources. The 2020 National Strategy for Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the United States Exclusive Economic Zone and the global Seabed 2030 initiative make comprehensive ocean mapping a priority for the coming decade. The Unmapped U.S. Waters report tracks progress toward these important goals in U.S. coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes waters.
  • CO-OPS Research Uses Artificial Intelligence to Detect Rip Currents: NOAA’s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OP) contributed to a journal article in Coastal Engineeringdemonstrating a new approach to using artificial intelligence to detect hazardous rip currents in coastal video imagery. The article details how a machine learning technique called convolutional neural networks can successfully identify rip currents in video of the coastal ocean. The authors show that this technique can detect rip currents accurately and even more effectively than minimally trained observers. This research was supported by the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System Ocean Technology Transition fund, through the Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association, and will be utilized to improve the NOAA Rip Current Forecast Model.
  • CO-OPS Collaborates with Coastal Studies Institute: CO-OPS is working with the Eastern Carolina University Coastal Studies Institute on deploying new subsurface mooring to measure currents at the Gulf Stream edge, off the coast of North Carolina. CO-OPS designed and developed the mooring to meet an emerging need of its National Current Observation Program (NCOP) — obtaining current measurements just below the sea surface in challenging, high current environments. NCOP periodically conducts current surveys to ensure the accuracy of tidal current predictions for safe and efficient marine navigation.
  • NGS Publishes Paper on International Height Reference System: National Geodetic Survey (NGS) scientists published a paper in the Journal of Geodesy on how to construct a global physical height system, or International Height Reference Frame (IHRF). The IHRF, which is based on the Earth's gravity field, will provide the basis for obtaining highly accurate physical heights, globally. Orthometric heights are used to calculate the direction that water flows and have many applications in mapping, engineering, and construction. The paper considers four main issues: methods to determine IHRF physical coordinates; standards and conventions needed to ensure consistency; criteria for network design and station selection; and operational infrastructure to guarantee the reliability and long-term sustainability of the IHRF.
  • SanctSound: Listening to the (Not So) Silent World: Sound is one of many ways that marine animals experience their environments and one of many ways that we can study the underwater world. Underwater sound recordings, when made over long periods of time, can greatly add to the suite of measurement systems that characterize the diversity and health of marine environments. The SanctSound project, managed by NOAA and the U.S. Navy, helps NOAA understand underwater sound within seven national marine sanctuaries and a marine national monument. Standardized measurements across the sanctuary system assess sounds produced by marine animals, physical processes like wind and waves, and human activities. ONMS is elevating this research through a series of web stories highlighting specific efforts at each site. This web portal will become a shared resource for those interested in understanding and protecting marine sanctuaries. Read more here: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/feb21/sanctsound-overview.html 
  • Grants & Funding Opportunities
    • National Coastal Resilience Fund: The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with NOAA, released a request for proposals for the FY2021 National Coastal Resilience Fund. Funded projects will restore, increase, and strengthen natural infrastructure — the landscapes that help absorb the impacts of storms and floods — to ultimately protect coastal communities and enhance fish and wildlife habitat. This year the fund will invest approximately $33 million in these projects. A new category as of last year, Community Capacity Building and Planning, will support the development of prioritized coastal resilience plans and projects. Pre-proposals are due April 7. Click here for the complete request for proposals and information on the informational webinar. 
    • American Lobster Research Program: This program will support research to address critical gaps in knowledge about how the American Lobster and its fishery are being impacted by environmental change. Applications are sought from research teams and encourage research partnerships between state agencies, academia, and/or industry stakeholders that address life-history parameters, including but not limited to impacts of ocean acidification; distribution and abundance, including but not limited to ecosystem shifts; species interactions; and/or bait alternatives in the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, and/or southern New England. Pending appropriation of funds, Sea Grant anticipates awarding between five to ten research projects totaling between $1 million and $2 million dollars in FY2021. Projects must have a maximum duration of two years. Eligible applicants are any individual; any public or private corporation, partnership, or other association or entity (including any Sea Grant College, Sea Grant Institute or other institution); or any State, political subdivision of a State, Tribal government or agency or officer thereof. Application due date: April 20, 2021. Read formal announcement on Grants.gov NOAA-OAR-SG-2021-2006808
    • NSF Convergence Accelerator Broad Agency Announcement: The NSF Convergence Accelerator program addresses national-scale societal challenges through use-inspired convergence research. Using a convergence approach and innovation processes like human-centered design, user discovery, and team science and integration of multidisciplinary research, the Convergence Accelerator program seeks to transition basic research and discovery into practice—to solve high-impact societal challenges aligned with specific research themes (tracks). NSF Convergence Accelerator tracks are chosen in concordance with the themes identified during the program’s ideation process that have the potential for significant national impact. The NSF Convergence Accelerator implements a two-phase program. Both phases are described in this solicitation and are covered by this single solicitation and corresponding Broad Agency Announcement. The purpose of this parallel activity is to provide increased opportunities for proposals that are led by non‑academic entities. Proposals that are led by Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), non-profits, independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations should respond to this solicitation. Proposals led by for‑profit or similar organizations should respond to the BAA. Phase I awardees receive significant resources to further develop their convergence research ideas and to identify important partnerships and resources to accelerate their projects, leading to deliverable research prototypes in Phase II. This solicitation for FY 2021 invites proposals for the following Track Topics: Networked Blue Economy and Trust & Authenticity in Communications Systems. Read more here: https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505795 Letters of Intent are due May 5, 2021 and full proposals are due June 14, 2021. 

Delivering the Benefits:

  • GCOOS takes over data management of Gulf of Mexico oil/gas platform Ocean Currents Data: The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) requires lessees and operators of federal oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico outer continental shelf to report ocean currents data to the NOAA National Data Buoy Center (NDBC).  On March 31, NDBC transitioned these data management responsibilities to GCOOS. Oil/gas industry platform operators are required to submit their data to GCOOS, where the data are quality controlled and published to the GCOOS website (https://data.gcoos.org/) and made available via the GCOOS ERDDAP server (https://erddap.gcoos.org/erddap) and a Web Accessible Folder (https://ntl.gcoos.org/data/).  As a formally Certified Regional Coastal Observing System (RCOS) of the U.S. IOOS, GCOOS meets NOAA data management standards and satisfies BSEE needs for quality assurance and oversight of the ocean currents data. The NDBC station pages of the Gulf of Mexico oil/gas industry stations will be removed on June 1 and historical data will be transferred to GCOOS.  For more information and points of contact, see https://gcoos.org/bsee-ntl-data-moves-to-gcoos/.
  • Shipwreck City of Genoa examined by ultra-high resolution underwater lidar in southern Lake Huron: Last November, the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) partnered with ASI Group and 2G Robotics to perform a dual-purpose survey of a portion of southern Lake Huron, including the wreck of the City of Genoa. In support of Lakebed 2030, GLOS tasked the crew with both a surface survey using ship-mounted sonar and an ultra-high resolution laser survey using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). Laser surveys represent a type of newer mapping technology that can improve understanding of underwater features and benthic habitats by creating extremely detailed 3D images. Read more here. 
  • Buoy Turnaround Cruise off the Carolinas: In early February, the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Coastal Ocean Research and Monitoring Program (UNCW CORMP) replaced buoys off the coasts of North Carolina and South Carolina. These buoys provide real-time weather, sea state, and water quality data for use by the public, as well as the scientific and public safety communities. The team went to sea on the RV Savannah and swapped the FRP2, CAP2, SUN2 and SUN2wave buoys for new moorings. For each deployed mooring, CORMP has a spare mooring at UNCW.  This allows the CORMP technicians to swap out deployed buoys after they have spent a year at sea, ensuring continued accurate measurements. Read more here. 
  • Waimea Wave Buoy Back on Station: The PacIOOS wave buoy off Waimea on the North Shore of O‘ahu was redeployed during a short weather window in mid March. The wave buoy is located approximately 4 miles offshore of Waimea Bay and moored in a depth of 200m. The buoy provides real-time information of significant wave height, wave direction, and period, as well as sea surface temperature. The wave buoy team also swapped out the wave buoy off Lana‘i to allow for continuous data collection. Wave buoy batteries last approximately 18 months before they need to be replaced. Data management is made possible through long-term partnerships with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Coastal Data Information Program (CDIP). 
  • New Acoustic Receivers Help FACT Network Track Marine Animals: Soon an acoustic receiver will be added to the C12 buoy maintained by the University of South Florida Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction System (USF COMPS). This acoustic receiver will provide data to the FACT Network, a group of marine scientists using acoustic telemetry and other technologies, to better understand and conserve our region’s important fish and sea turtle species. The FACT Network has tagged over 5,000 animals from 83 species. Each receiver provides animal location data by registering the date and time tagged animals swim within a few hundred meters of the receiver. Read more here. 

Congressional:

  • No update.

Communications/Outreach/Education:

  • Public comment period for draft Arctic Research Plan: The Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC) is developing the next five-year Arctic Research Plan. The new plan will span from 2022 to 2026 and aims to improve the collective impacts of federal agencies in Arctic research. Federal agencies have drafted a plan taking into consideration input from Arctic communities, federal agencies with a presence in Alaska, federal agencies with Arctic investments, the state of Alaska, and other non-federal partners. IARPC is now asking for the public to comment on this draft. The comment period is open through June 11, 2021. Visit iarpccollaborations.org/draft-plan.html to learn more about the plan and how to comment.
  • New NANOOS briefing doc: Curious about who NANOOS is and what they do? Check out this new briefing sheetwhich features quotes from users about how NANOOS efforts strengthen regional science, as well as a map of their 5-year observing effort vision. 

Upcoming Meetings with IOOS Participation (Please check links as we move forward as things may change quickly for planned events):

  • NOAA General Modeling Meeting and Fair, 13-16 April 2021, virtual: The second, all-virtual, NOAA General Modeling Meeting and Fair is being planned for 13-16 April 2021. We will engage the interests of all NOAA Line Offices to help move NOAA towards a more unified approach to modeling, as envisioned by NOAA's Research Council, facilitating exchange of best practices across all of NOAA's modeling enterprise. The event intends to focus on how the community is helping NOAA address science challenges and meet NOAA’s mission by:
    • Providing a forum to share best practices in community modeling.
    • Exploring opportunities for collaborative engagement to further growth in modeling expertise.
    • Developing state-of-the-art infrastructure and expanding R2O pathways.

For more information, including how to register, please visit the Meeting's website: https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/ngmmf2021/. Please contact the planning committee for any questions at general.modeling.meeting.fair@noaa.gov. 

  • GCOOS Spring Meeting, 18 May 2021, virtual: Please mark your calendars and save the date for the next GCOOS Spring Meeting. We’ll be meeting virtually this year and we’re still planning the agenda, so watch this space, as well as our website and Facebook page for details. The meeting is open to all who are interested in ocean observing in the Gulf of Mexico and will include updates from some of GCOOS’s principal investigators. Registration & agenda coming soon!
  • SECOORA Annual Meeting, 24 May 2021, Virtual: SECOORA will host their 2021 Annual Meeting virtually on May 24 from 1:00 – 2:30 ET. The meeting will include a Board and Members business meeting, election updates, and a report out on SECOORA’s revised Strategic Plan. A Board Executive Session will be held from 2:00 – 2:30 PM. Click here to reserve your spot. 
  • Capitol Hill Oceans Week, 8 June 2021: We are excited to share the Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2021 program with you! This year’s conference will focus on the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in sustaining a healthy ocean, coast and Great Lakes. The future of our waters depends on all people and the actions we take now will have sweeping long term impacts. Our success will require the experience, expertise, perspectives and values of the communities most affected by environmental change and quality. We invite you to take a look at the detailed conference description and themes at the CHOW 2021 webpage.  Registration is now open!
  • 2021 IOOS DMAC Meeting, 15 – 17 June 2021, Virtual: We are pleased to announce that the 2021 DMAC Meeting will take place virtually on the afternoons (1:00 - 5:00 PM ET) of Tuesday, June 15 through Thursday, June 17. Please save these dates in your calendars.  We will reach out for agenda input for presentation and breakout discussion topics soon. Further information on event logistics will be coming out soon as well. Questions or suggestions about the agenda should go to Mathew Biddle (mathew.biddle@noaa.gov), Micah Wengren (micah.wengren@noaa.gov), Tiffany Vance (tiffany.c.vance@noaa.gov) and Kathy Bailey (kathleen.bailey@noaa.gov).
  • MTS 14th Buoy Workshop, 25 - 27 October 2021: The MTS 14th Buoy Workshop has been rescheduled for October 25 – 27, 2021 and will be held in Wilmington, North Carolina.  This year’s theme is Moored Systems for the Future. Areas and topics will include, but are not limited to: Ecosystems Monitoring, Long-Term Observing Systems, Reliability & Harsh Environments, Power Systems, Data, Sensors & Instrumentation, Mooring Design and Synergy.  Registration opens and the call for speakers begins April 15, 2021, and abstracts are due September 1, 2021. Please see the Buoy Workshop homepage for more information (https://buoytech.mtsociety.org/).

 

Other Upcoming Meetings:

  • ICOE 2021 - 28–30 April 2021, virtual: The International Conference on Ocean Energy (ICOE 2021) is taking place virtually 28-30 April 2021. In addition to unparalleled opportunities to network and learn from industry leaders from around the world, this event will provide a variety of forums for attendees to share advancements in ocean energy research and technology breakthroughs. Come discover how the ocean renewable energy industry is preparing to benefit the larger "Blue Economy" and the electrical grid, and identify the research needed to further advance the state of technology. Learn more here. 
  • SAVE THE DATE! 2021 Esri Imagery and Remote Sensing Educators Summit April 28–29, 2021, virtual: Join us at the second Esri Imagery and Remote Sensing Educators Summit. This summit is split into two half-day sessions where professionals in imagery, remote sensing, and higher education can learn together. During this summit, you will have the opportunity to collaborate, share results from their research, and discuss challenges. Registration is free, and we encourage all higher education instructors, research scientists, and others who engage with remote sensing technology to attend this inspiring summit. For more information:https://www.esri.com/en-us/about/events/remote-sensing-educators-summit/overview 
  • 9th EuroGOOS International Conference, 3–5 May 2021, virtual: The 9th EuroGOOS International Conference, Advances in Operational Oceanography: Expanding Europe’s Ocean Observing and Forecasting Capacity, will take place virtually on 3-5 May 2021. Held every three years, the conference aims to provide a review of present ocean monitoring and forecasting capacities and oceanographic services, and identify new science and technology priorities. The event brings together a wide range of developers and users of operational oceanography services, and provides a platform to exchange ideas, foster cooperation, and formulate coordinated solutions to ocean-related global challenges. See the conference website for more details, registration is now open.
  • 2021 Geospatial Summit, 4 – 5 May 2021, virtual: The 2021 Geospatial Summit will be completely virtual on May 4-5, 2021. Registration is not yet open, but all NGS News email subscribers will be notified when registration opens. This year’s event will provide updated information about the planned modernization of the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS). Additional information about the 2021 Geospatial Summit will be posted online. Email questions or comments to NGS.Infocenter@noaa.gov. 
  • Registration and Call for Abstracts NOW OPEN! DEADLINE TODAY April 1, 2021 - Ocean Visions 2021 Summit, 18 – 20 May 2021, virtual & in-person: The Ocean Visions 2021 Summit will be hosted globally online across multiple time zones on May 18-21, 2021. Virtual Campuses - The Scripps Institution of Oceanography will serve as the virtual host together with virtual satellite campuses in Hobart (Australia), Cape Town (South Africa), Mindelo (Cabo Verde), and Kiel (Germany). Registration is Free but required to access the online portal. Register and submit abstracts here https://www.oceanvisions.org/summit-2021. 
  • 2nd International Operational Satellite Oceanography Symposium, 25–27 May 2021, virtual: The Executive Steering Committee of the 2nd International Operational Satellite Oceanography Symposium, co-chaired by EUMETSAT and NOAA, is pleased to announce the next Symposium will be held virtually May 25-27, 2021.  See the conference page for more information.  
  • 2021 CDI Virtual Workshop: Designing Data-Intensive Science - May 25-27, 2021: The Community for Data Integration (CDI) workshop this year is being held May 25-28, 2021, online! The theme this year is “Designing Data-Intensive Science.” Every two years, we bring the CDI together to share our advances in working with scientific data. With an all-virtual event this year, we hope that a record number of people can participate. Registration is now open! Learn more here: https://my.usgs.gov/confluence/display/cdi/2021+CDI+Workshop 
  • EMODnet 2nd Open Conference and Jamboree,  14–18 June 2021, Oostende, Belgium and virtual: The second EMODnet Open Conference and Jamboree will be held the week of 14 June 2021. During the event, EMODnet partners, communicators and data providers and users will take stock of EMODnet achievements over the past 10 years, connect across stakeholder communities and set goals for the future. To start the week, the EMODnet Open Conference will focus on use cases and requirements for developing essential open marine data services for blue economy actors, the public sector, civil society and the research community. More details will follow soon.
  • SAVE THE DATE! 2021 Esri Ocean, Weather, and Climate GIS Forum,  3 – 4 November 2021: Join other leaders to learn about how organizations are applying GIS technology to solve their complex data integration problems. See how using GIS helps provide the framework for integrating your multiple disciplines and warfighting functions across the Joint All-Domain Command and Control. Submit papers, listen to plenary talks, and participate in breakout sessions with other leading marine, climate, and earth scientists. See the conference website for more details. 

 

Webinars: 

  • State-Led OA Action Planning in the US Mid-Atlantic, 12 April 2021, 1pm ET: Co-hosted by the OA Alliance and the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Acidification Network (MACAN), this 60-minute webinar will dive deeper into specific components of OA Action Planning in Maryland, New Jersey and across U.S. Mid-Atlantic States. Collectively, presentations will touch on partnerships, data, research, projects and policy frameworks that are informing states' OA Action Plan recommendations. Please register here. 
  • SERIES: New! Esri Applied Meteorology Using ArcGIS Webinar Series: GIS is a foundational tool for weather and climate research and analysis. With tools to ingest multi-dimensional weather and climate data, process and analyze, and attain informative forecast products for preparedness and adaptation, ArcGIS advances our understanding of the atmosphere to benefit science and society. In this free series, you will gain insight into how you can incorporate ArcGIS into your work from fellow scientists and GIS experts. Register here: https://www.esri.com/en-us/lg/industry/government/applied-meteorology-using-arcgis
    • April 14, 2021, 8 am – 9 am PDT – Climate Risk Analysis Using GIS
    • May 12, 2021, 8 am – 9 am PDT - Weather and Climate Data Dissemination
    • June 23, 2021, 8 am – 9 am PDT – Optimized Hydrologic Models Aid Forecasts and Projections for Improved Decision-Making
    • August 25, 2021, 8 am – 9 am PDT – Use Cloud-Based GIS Technology to Deliver Briefings to Build Resilient Communities
  • SERIES: National Marine Sanctuaries Webinar Series: The National Marine Sanctuaries Webinar Seriesprovides educators with educational and scientific expertise, resources, and training to support ocean and climate literacy in the classroom. This series currently targets formal and informal educators, students (high school through college), as well as members of the community, including families. You can also visit the archives of the webinar series to catch up on presentations you may have missed here.
    • April 21: Whale Sharks of Hawaii
  • SERIES: Engaging with the Blue Economy: The Ocean Exchange™ and the Marine Technology Society have teamed up to offer a joint webinar series, "Engaging with the Blue Economy." The webinar series will focus on all facets of the Blue Economy with the goal of recognizing the importance of the Ocean to our lives every day. The series kicked off on March 3, 2021 with speakers Claire Jolly (OECD) and Monica Grasso (NOAA), and continue on the first Wednesday of each month.  Click here for more information and registration. 
    • April 7: Mobile Power Generation – Yi Chao, Seatrec; Carrie Schmaus, Water Power Technologies Office; and Robert Cavagaro, Pacific Northwestern National Lab
    • May 5: Aquaculture
    • June 2: Market Discussion

Job & Internship Opportunities:

  • NEW! Research Physical Scientist, NOAA/EPIC: EPIC is seeking applicants for a program manager position to plan and execute a robust, efficient research program that coordinates investigation of long range problems, recommends solutions; write scientific papers for publication in oceanography, meteorology, chemistry, physics, and their dynamic interactions, incorporating and synthesizing a variety of physical science theories and techniques.  Closes April 13.  See the full announcement for details and how to apply. 
  • NEW! Part-Time Contractor for Program Coordinator Services, SECOORA: The Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA), a regional non-profit organization based in Charleston, South Carolina, seeks a contractor to provide project management and coordinator services including 1) leading product development efforts; 2) managing SECOORA’s affiliate programs; and 3) coordinating special projects (outside of the 5-year IOOS cooperative agreement).  Applications due by April 21. Click here for a full description and how to apply. 
  • Executive Director, GCOOS: The GCOOS Board of Directors is now undertaking a national search for its next leader to build on the momentum established during Dr. Kirkpatrick's tenure and guide the organization forward, and hopes to draw new leadership from one of the five Gulf states.  Dr. Kirkpatrick will continue to be involved in GCOOS, leading ongoing projects related to harmful algal blooms supported through federal grants, and in ensuring a smooth transition to its next leader.  Read more about this opportunity here. 
  • Laboratory Research Technician, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories: The candidate will work with a variety of MLML researchers, faculty, and operations staff to support and improve the data collection, compilation, and analysis capabilities of Moss Landing Marine Labs. Open until filled.  Click here for more details and how to apply. 

Click here to view the IOOS Association Calendar

Do you have suggestions for new things you would like to see in the Eyes on the Ocean IOOS Bi-Weekly? Contact us at: eoto@noaa.gov.

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