The Eyes on the Ocean™ Bi-weekly is an informal way of keeping you up-to-date on U.S. IOOS® activities.

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From the Director:

It's hard to believe it's already October, but as the leaves begin to turn here and peak hurricane season winds down, we're also starting a new fiscal year here at NOAA bringing with it all of the possibilities of a new year.  With that in mind, I'd like to kick it off by introducing guest spots for the Eyes on the Ocean newsletter.  Every few weeks, we'll open up this space to hear from different parts of our diverse IOOS enterprise, starting this week with MARACOOS.

-Carl

Hello IOOS community,

As part of the IOOS Program Office’s new effort for Eyes on the Ocean, MARACOOS is honored to introduce this edition of Eyes on the Ocean.

Our attention in the Mid-Atlantic over the past several months has been on several key efforts: the operation of our regional observing system and its many critical partners and elements; the development of a new strategic plan; and, the steps and preparations toward our next 5-year cooperative agreement with U.S. IOOS.  

The HF Radar team continues to maintain the 41 sites along the Mid-Atlantic coast, while contributing to efforts to mitigate impacts from new infrastructure planned off the east coast.  And like others across the nation, we are faced with the struggle of how to address aging infrastructure.

Our satellite team continues to make 35 near-real-time products for our stakeholders, and our Mid-Atlantic data recently served as a back-up for NASA (see the “Delivering the Benefits” section below for more on that). 

 

The MARACOOS glider team has demonstrated its flexibility and determination, adapting to delays and weather related challenges, as they support a variety of stakeholders, including hurricane intensity forecast improvements.  Hurricane season has been a busy one and our team has successfully deployed 8 gliders in the Mid-Atlantic (including 2 U.S. Navy gliders), with a few more deployments on the horizon!  We greatly value the collaboration established by IOOS and AOML to support hurricane gliders, from the Caribbean to the Gulf of Mexico, to the Southeast, and the Mid-Atlantic.

All the data collected (and more) feeds our regional and bay models (Doppio and ChesROMS, and the soon-to-be-added LIS FVCOM), and is supported by our data management partner, RPS. 

It continues to be a pleasure and an honor to work with the executive directors, their teams, and the IOOS Association, in partnership with the IOOS Program Office, to develop and grow our national network. Our connection with the federal IOOS partners, stakeholders at the regional, state, local, and tribal government levels, as well as the academic and private sector partners continues to be our focus and will continue to add value to the work that we do. 

Best wishes and stay safe,

Gerhard F. Kuska, PhD
Executive Director, MARACOOS

From the U.S. IOOS Office:

  • The Ocean Enterprise Study 2020 - Last Call!: Your business matters, help NOAA assess the Ocean Enterprise Sector! IOOS/NOAA are requesting input from businesses who provide infrastructure or products that support or conduct ocean observation and measurement by participating in the Ocean Enterprise Study 2020.  We will use the results to help inform NOAA and the U.S. Department of Commerce about the changing needs of the Ocean Enterprise sector in a report to be published in 2021. “NOAA strongly supports the IOOS Ocean Enterprise Study 2020. Applying data and services to grow the American Blue Economy is a top priority for our agency, and the information provided by this study will help us further the sustainable economic contributions of our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes,” said retired Navy Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, Ph.D., Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Deputy NOAA Administrator. “We are proud of our IOOS Program and partners that have enabled NOAA’s leadership in Ocean Science and Technology.”  We invite any company, large and small, working in this sector, to contribute to this important study through participation in an online survey. To find out more information or to take the survey click here. The study will deliver an update to the initial study conducted in 2015. Thank you to the Marine Technology Society for featuring the study on their website and in the May issue of Currents. 

    • IOOS Advisory Committee Updates: The Chair of the Advisory Committee, Scott Rayder, transmitted two letters to the NOAA Administrator and the IOOC co-chairs. The letters communicate the priorities of the committee. In addition, Advisory Committee members are currently reviewing the draft minutes from the August 4-6 public meeting. Once finalized, they will be posted on the Advisory Committee website https://ioos.noaa.gov/community/u-s-ioos-advisory-committee/. Draft recommendations and actions are also being compiled and will be published as well.

Observation Subsystem and Sensor Technologies:

  • Surface Current Mapping: (IOOS Surface Currents Program Manager, Brian Zelenke, brian.zelenke@noaa.gov): 

    • HFR Community and Wind Turbine Interference Mitigation: The oceanographic high-frequency radar (HFR) community has submitted questions to the offshore wind energy industry regarding wind turbine interference mitigation (WTRIM) and draft responses are anticipated this month.  Coordinating for IOOS is Surface Currents Program Manager Brian Zelenke as lead for the U.S. HFR network and Vice President, Policy and Regulatory Affairs Tom Vinson for the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).  If you know someone who would like to contribute to this effort to synergize oceanographic HFR and offshore wind energy operations, please contact brian.zelenke@noaa.gov.

    • 2020 Radiowave Operators Working Group Meeting: Planning of the 2020 Radiowave Operators Working Group (ROWG; http://www.rowg.org/) meeting for oceanographic/liminographic high-frequency (HF) radar operators worldwide is underway.  This next ROWG meeting will be virtual and is tentatively scheduled for November 17–18, 2020 from 2:00 P.M.–5:00 P.M. EST both days.  Anyone with suggestions to add to the meeting’s agenda is encouraged to e-mail Surface Currents Program Manager Brian Zelenke (brian.zelenke@noaa.gov) who will coordinate submissions received with the meeting’s organizing committee.  A finalized agenda and further meeting information are planned to be distributed by the ROWG meeting’s organizers this month.

    • AOOS Whale glider deployed: The Chukchi Sea glider was successfully deployed on Saturday, September 12 for its 8th deployment since 2013. The glider was not able to complete its mission in 2019 due to buoyancy engine power on the glider being unable to penetrate the highly stratified Bering Strait waters being so warm and fresh in 2019. The glider’s buoyancy engines were upgraded in 2019-20 to better accommodate strong density gradients and now is making its 2020 mission along the Chukchi coast. The glider reached its first waypoint as of Monday September 14 and is now steaming towards Point Hope. Congratulations to the project team: Hank Statscewich, Seth Danielson, Kate Stafford and Mark Baumgartner for getting this deployed and back into operation!

    • Two U.S. East Coast Acoustic Telemetry Papers Published: Two recent papers focused on East Coast acoustic telemetry have been published in the American Fisheries Society/Marine and Coastal Fisheries publication:

      • The FACT Network: Philosophy, Evolution, and Management of a Collaborative Coastal Tracking Network, Joy M. Young, Mary E. Bowers, Eric A. Reyier, Danielle Morley, Erick R. Ault, Jonathan D. Pye ,Riley M. Gallagher, Robert D. Ellis

      • Networked Animal Telemetry in the Northwest Atlantic and Caribbean Waters,  Charles W. Bangley, Frederick G. Whoriskey, Joy M. Young , Matthew B. Ogburn

Data Management and Cyberinfrastructure (DMAC) Subsystem and Tools Built on IOOS data (DMAC listserv – contact Micah Wengren, DMAC System Architect, data.ioos@noaa.gov)

  • Register Now! 2020 DMAC Annual Meeting: The 2020 IOOS DMAC Annual Meeting will be held 13-15 October 2020. If you plan to join us online this year, please fill out this registration form. A draft agenda will be available soon at https://ioos.noaa.gov/project/dmac/. As a reminder, the daily meeting schedule will be:

    • 2 - 3:30 PM: Presentations/Plenary

    • 3:30 - 3:45 PM: Break

    • 3:45 - 4:45 PM: Breakout Discussion Groups

    • 4:45 - 5 PM: Wrap up/Report Out

    • QARTOD Paper: Final edits to the paper QARTOD - Prospects for Real-Time Quality Control Manuals, How to Create Them, and a Vision for Advanced Implementation - have been completed and the document has been submitted for signatures. The paper considers the applicability of real-time QC for the IOOS core variables not yet addressed by a QARTOD manual, and describes how they will be created when appropriate. It will soon be posted on the QARTOD web page, submitted to the NOAA Institutional Repository, and to the Ocean Best Practice System repository.

    • Ocean Best Practice System: Over 200 participants attended the OBPS Workshop IV. Self-organized working groups hosted a series of virtual sessions addressing: 1) Convergence of methods and endorsement of best practices, 2) Developing training and guidance materials as well as mechanisms for the submission (to the OBPS) and use of OBPS best practices, 3) Data and information management: towards globally scalable interoperability, 4) Ethics and best practices for ocean observing and applications, 5) Ocean Uncertainty Quantification, 6) Ocean Partnership Building, 7) Fisheries, 8) Sargassum, 9) Marine Litter/Plastics, 10) Surface Radiation, and 11) Omics/eDNA. All working group recommendations will be considered by the OBPS Steering Group when they meet in October to plan for FY2021 and beyond.

    • U.S. CLIVAR Ocean Uncertainty Quantification Working Group: Several members of this group, with assistance from other co-leads, met for six hours over four session. The goal was the development of recommendations which will guide OBPS activities that support and promote uncertainty considerations and standards. The session kicked off with speakers introducing the U.S. CLIVAR Ocean Uncertainty Quantification Working Group, and the use of metrology standards for UQ estimates. Following speakers addressed uncertainty in Argo CTD data, carbonate chemistry, HF radar, drifting buoy observations, data assimilation, mapping, representation errors, and water level.

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

  • No update.

Interagency and International Collaboration/News:

  • OceanObs'19: Challenge for the Decade and Beyond: A major outcome of the Ocean Obs’19 meeting, Frontiers in Marine Science Community White Papers, follow-up Town Hall, and OceanObs Research Coordination Network workshop is the Living Action Plan. This Plan summarizes goals and recommendations for the design, interoperability, and governance of interdisciplinary, integrated ocean observing initiatives that address critical societal and operational needs. The Living Action Plan is also relevant to address the Ocean Decade Challenges. The Living Action Plan is a reference that will be continuously revised over the next decade with your input. 

  • Partnerships Expand Use of OOI Data: The Ocean Observatories Initiative’s primary mission is to make its data widely available to multiple users.  One way it achieves this, on a broad scale, is by establishing partnerships with other organizations that also distribute ocean observing data. For example, OOI currently partners with IOOS and IOOS regions, which provide integrated ocean information in near real-time and tools and forecasts to apply the data, and with the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC), which maintains a network of data collecting buoys and coastal stations as part of the National Weather Service. They also partner with the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON), which uses international data to document the status and progress of ocean acidification, and also with Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS), a consortium of over 120 US universities dedicated to the operation of science facilities for the acquisition, management, and distribution of seismological data. Learn more about OOI Partnerships here.

  • OOI New Data Explorer Launches 5 October, Live Demo 21 October: As of 5 October, accessing, visualizing, and integrating OOI data into research and classrooms, will be a whole lot easier. The Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) will release its new data exploration tool – OOI Data Explorer version 1.0 on 5 October. Data Explorer will allow users to search and download cabled, uncabled, and recovered data, compare datasets across regions and disciplines, generate and share custom data views, and download full data sets using ERDDAP. Learn more here: https://oceanobservatories.org/2020/09/new-data-explorer-launches-5-october-live-demo-21-october/

  • NOAA is 50! On October 3rd, we celebrate NOAA's 50th birthday -- the agency was established five decades ago and has been changing what we know about the world ever since. Check out the new story map, NOAA at 50, to get a glimpse of our unique heritage of science and service, and learn how that history has helped shape some of our incredible achievements. As we celebrate 50 years of science, service, and stewardship, we honor our past, embrace the present, and dream of endless future possibilities. We’ve come a long way since 1970, when NOAA was officially recognized, and all of our components united under a common name and mission. NOAA’s success comes from its people. Earlier this year, NOAA employees took part in this video explaining why they love NOAA and what they see for us in the next 50 years.

  • NOAA Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hackathon: NOAA together with NVIDIA will host a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hackathon with prep meetings on November 23rd and December 1st and the actual programming event December 7-9th. GPU Hackathons provide exciting opportunities for scientists to accelerate their AI research or HPC codes under the guidance of expert mentors from National Labs, Universities and Industry leaders in a collaborative environment. The NOAA Hackathon is a multi-day event designed to help teams of three to six developers accelerate their own codes on GPUs using a programming model, or machine learning framework of their choice. Each team is assigned mentors for the duration of the event. This Hackathon is open to all NOAA scientists and their collaborators with the event limited to 10 total teams. For more information and to apply, please visit https://www.gpuhackathons.org/event/noaa-gpu-hackathon. 

  • CO-OPS Begins Updates for Critical Water Level Data Sets: NOAA’s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) kicked off two long-term projects to update water level references. Over the next five years, CO-OPS will make major updates to the National Tidal Datum Epoch (NTDE) and, along with a network of binational partners, the International Great Lakes Datum (IGLD). NOAA’s water level datums are generated with data collected from over 210 gauge stations in the National Water Level Observation Network. Datums are required for everything from NOAA nautical charts to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers infrastructure projects and local marsh restoration. They can be applied to support safe marine navigation, coastal hazard mitigation, sea level trend analysis, and marine boundary determination. The NTDE is updated every 20-25 years. The IGLD is updated every 25-30 years and requires collaboration with Canadian counterparts to verify water levels in the Great Lakes.

  • NGS Participates in Multinational Meetings: NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey (NGS) representatives, including NGS Director Juliana Blackwell and Chief Geodesist Dan Roman, participated in both the AmeriGEO and UN-GGIM: Americas meetings, as well as a joint meeting between the two groups. The AmeriGEO initiative focuses on practical implementation of earth observations in the Americas. UN-GGIM: Americas is a United Nations intergovernmental organization supporting governmental collaboration for geospatial data in the Americas. These groups promote education, training, and capacity building; they also develop standards and governance related to a common geospatial framework. A highlight of the meetings was the establishment of a new working group to implement a common Geospatial Reference Frame for the Americas, to which NGS will contribute via its efforts to modernize the National Spatial Reference System. Also discussed were areas where the U.S. can support capacity building, especially in the Caribbean region for the CariGEO initiative.

  • OCS Provides Critical Bathymetric Data in Alaska: The Office of Coast Survey (OCS) provided critical bathymetric data to evaluate tsunami risk in Alaska. In May of 2020, local geologists identified a steep, unstable slope with the potential to become a tsunami-generating landslide in Barry Arm, a glacial fjord 60 miles east of Anchorage, Alaska. This hazard immediately caught the attention of state and federal partners, who quickly joined forces to quantify the risk to those living and boating in Alaska’s Prince William Sound. One critical piece of missing information was water depth at the base of the slope. The seafloor in this area was recently exposed due to the retreat of Barry Glacier, so there was no data available for modeling. The U.S. Geological Survey worked with OCS to fund a bathymetric survey and expedite processing of data. An area of 17 square nautical miles was defined for high-resolution complete coverage multibeam data, and data acquisition was completed in August.

  • William ‘Bill’ Lapenta, Catalyst of EPIC and the UFS: A Tribute on the First Anniversary of His Passing: On September 30, 2019, the weather community lost a friend, mentor, advocate, scientist, and exemplary leader: Dr. William “Bill” Lapenta, National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) director (2013-2019) and Weather Program Office director (2019), at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Unified Forecast System (UFS) community took a moment to look back on the year that has elapsed since his passing. The team at NOAA and external community partners have sustained the many activities started with and by Bill. Read the full tribute here: https://ufscommunity.org/news/bill-lapenta/  

  • Survey: 2020 IOC Capacity Development Needs Assessment: Help in contributing to assessing your country’s capacity development needs in ocean science related issues by filling in the IOC Capacity Development Needs Assessment Survey. Capacity Development (CD) is an essential tenet of IOC’s mission. It enables all Member States to participate in and benefit from ocean research and services that are vital to sustainable development and human welfare on the planet. The vision contained in the IOC Capacity Development Strategy 2015-2021 identifies capacity development as the primary catalyst through which IOC will achieve its four high level objectives in the current 2014–2021 IOC Medium-Term Strategy. By completing this survey you will be contributing to assessing your country’s capacity development needs in ocean science related issues. In addition, the information gathered by this survey will contribute to addressing capacity needs related to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Read more here.

  • New EMODnet video – 10 years of EMODnet in 10 minutes: The European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) is a network of organisations working together to observe the sea, process the data according to international standards and make that information freely available as interoperable data layers and data products. EMODnet has released a short documentary film which captures their story over the last ten years. It tracks EMODnet’s journey from its launch, to where they are now and where they will go next. Learn more and see the film here: https://www.emodnet.eu/en/ten-years-emodnet-ten-minutes 

  • Grants & Funding Opportunities:

    • Request for Proposals to Enhance Regional Ocean Data Sharing: SECOORA is soliciting proposals that focus on geospatial data required by states and regional organizations in addressing coastal and ocean management issues. The funding for this award was appropriated by Congress to enhance capacity for sharing and integration of data from Federal and non-Federal sources to support regional coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes management priorities. Proposals are due October 30, 2020 at 5 PM ET. Total funds available are $180,000. SECOORA intends to award between 1 and 5 proposals.  Click here for more information and how to apply. 

    • NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research FY2021 Federal Funding Opportunity: The NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research has decided to extend the FY21 Federal Funding Opportunity pre-proposal deadline to July 8, 2020 to allow the broadest participation in the funding opportunity. The fall deadline for full submissions remains October 22, 2020. The full announcement for this opportunity may be found online at https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/about/funding-opps/welcome.html.

Delivering the Benefits:

  • MARACOOS Satellite Team Serves as Backup to NASA: MARACOOS receives satellite data from the NOAA, NASA and EUMETSAT agencies. The global operational weather satellite system is composed of two types of satellites: geostationary operational environmental satellites (GOES) for short-range warning and “now-casting” and polar-orbiting satellites for longer-term forecasting. Both types of satellite are necessary for providing a complete global weather monitoring system. Recently the University of Delaware satellite receiving station sent Mid-Atlantic data to NASA to supplement data gaps due to a technical issue with one of the polar orbiting satellites. Read more here.

  • SARGASSUM inundation, anoxia and increased acidification: Sargassum inundation of recreational beaches has proved to become a persistent problem with a significant impact on the tourism industry and a challenge to entities managing the issue. In a previous news piece, CARICOOS reported evidence provided by satellite data that indicates it has also caused significant damage to mangroves and seagrasses. CARICOOS is also looking into a much less evident impact. As wind and waves bring massive quantities of Sargasso to the seaward edge of mangrove forests and reefs, it frequently becomes trapped there and starts being decomposed by bacteria.  Read more here. 

  • National Report Highlights Respiratory Forecast: The annual report from the U.S. Global Change Research Program for FY2020 has highlighted the Red Tide Respiratory Forecast as a programmatic achievement helping to inform public decision-making during red tides. The forecast gives residents and visitors a tool that helps them assess what day and time to visit local beaches during red tides. The Forecast was initially implemented in Pinellas County in 2018 thanks to a grant from NASA's Applied Science Program through the Health and Air Quality Program. It was developed by NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NOAA-NCCOS) in partnership with GCOOS and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission-Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWC-FWRI). Today, the risk assessment forecast is implemented as red tide blooms warrant and covers 25 beaches along Florida’s Gulf coast, from Pinellas County south to Lee County. 

  • Smart Great Lakes Initiative moves ahead: Last month, Katie Rousseau published an update on SGLI progress to date, including establishing a Leadership Team. This month, they'll announce who has joined the Steering Committee, which oversees the development of a Common Strategy and advises the Leadership Team, and theIssue Area Strategy Teams, which advises on the initiative’s priority areas of science and innovation, data and information, and policy and management. The next big task for the initiative is to provide input on the Common Strategy that will serve as a rudder, guiding next moves towards the vision of Smart Great Lakes. Want to join in or have questions about the initiative? Email Katie Rousseau, Smart Great Lakes Liaison, at katie@glos.org.

  • NANOOS Buoy Cha'Ba ready for winter in the Pacific Northwest: A University of Washington team is heading out to redeploy the winter version of the Cha'Ba buoy 15 miles off of La Push, WA. The tougher winter buoy is better equipped to weather winter storms while continuing to bring you near-real time oceanographic conditions on NVS, including temperature, salinity, oxygen, pH, pCO2, chlorophyll, and weather variables.

  • Fa'afetai to PacIOOS Partners in American Samoa: To expand NOAA's national ocean acidification monitoring network, last year PacIOOS joined forces with the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory and partners on the ground to deploy a monitoring station in American Samoa. Located in the tropical coral reef ecosystem of Fagatele Bay, Tutuila, the buoy supports ongoing ecosystem research within the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, and is the only buoy of its kind in U.S. waters in the South Pacific. The autonomous system requires regular maintenance, but COVID-19 related travel restrictions have prevented PacIOOS from conducting the annual maintenance. The batteries are running low, so modifications to the sampling frequency and the buoy tracking had to be made. “Fa'afetai tele lava” (thank you very much) to the Marine Team of the National Park of American Samoa, who continue to provide critical field support.

Congressional:

  • No update.

Communications/Outreach/Education:

  • Unboxing a glider! You may know how important gliders are to ocean observing system and how capable they are, but what do you know about the instrument itself?  GLOS just purchased a brand new Slocum G3 glider, and their partners at the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research have been hard at work getting it prepped for its first mission. Watch as Russ and Hayden “unbox” this versatile little craft. 

  • Water Shapes Our Planet and Our Lives: SECOORA is proud to announce the winner of our curriculum request for proposals; Katy Smith from the University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. The project, Water Shapes Our Planet and Our Lives, will construct a comprehensive fourth grade, virtual-learning science unit on the water cycle, weather, climate and natural processes that shape the Earth’s coasts and communities. https://secoora.org/water-shapes-our-planet-and-our-lives/ 

  • Tribute to Dr. George Maul – A Leader in Oceanography: It is with a heavy heart we report George August Maul, a leader in oceanography and SECOORA, passed away Wednesday, September 16. Dr. Maul was instrumental to the success of SECOORA. As a founding member, he brought not only expertise but an unfailingly kind and respectful demeanor. He helped lead SECOORA to where we are today – serving on our Board for a total of 12 years. During that time, he served as SECOORA chair, Treasurer and in other leadership roles. 

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

  • Great Lakes TechSurge Lakebed 2030, 1–2 October 2020, Traverse City, MI: This premier event, hosted by Marine Technology Society, will bring together science and research, policy, government, and industry professionals to:

    • Focus on Great Lakes marine mapping and observation data.

    • Develop a strategy to catalog new and existing lakebed information for shared used.

    • Share the latest technology advancements with Great Lakes community and advance business development in the region.

  • Still time to register for Global OCEANS 2020! 5–30 October 2020 (Virtual): “Global OCEANS 2020: Singapore – U.S. Gulf Coast” is waiting for you. Singapore and Gulf Coast have come together to bring you more content than ever before with nearly an entire month of access! Virtual connection has never been easier, and at Global OCEANS 2020 you can connect with current experts and future thought leaders, cutting-edge technology providers, and patrons who are ready to partner with you to advance research and the overall industries of marine technology and engineering. For more information or registration click here. 

    • Moderator/Panelist: Dr. Larry McKinney, Harte Research Institute

    • Panelists: 

      • Dr. Barbara Kirkpatrick, Gulf Coast Ocean Observing System (GCOOS)

      • Dr. Kelly Lucas, University of Southern Mississippi

      • Carl Goldman, IOOS

    • The Gulf of Mexico – A Case Study in Resilience - October 8th 4:30pm-6pm ET / 3:30pm - 5pm CT:The Gulf of Mexico is a place where the environment and economy both coexist and contend. This is possible because the Gulf is also a resilient large marine ecosystem and a living case study of absorbing our demands and like a stretched rubber band, rebounding from that exploitation. The Gulf is home to a diverse cadre of marine species.  From nearshore oyster beds to offshore billfish, the Gulf is teaming with life and many residents rely on this dynamic ecosystem for their livelihood.  Additionally, land-based and offshore aquaculture is gaining interest in the region, addressing the growing need for sources of high-protein food.  The Gulf is also plagued by recurring phenomena such as hypoxia and harmful algal blooms,  challenging both ecosystem and coastal community health and productivity. This track focuses on these issues and explores the drivers and pressures that buffet the resilient and productive Gulf. 

    • Come visit IOOS at the NOAA booth in the virtual exhibit hall! Come chat with the IOOS Director Carl Gouldman and IOOS Deputy Krisa Arzayus at the booth on Wednesday 10/7 from 4–4:30pm (ET). In addition, someone from IOOS will be by for at least an hour each day of the live exhibit hall. See you there!

  • OAR/IOOS Virtual Workshop: Enhancing Coastal and Ocean Observation, 6–7 October 2020, Virtual: GLOS and NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab staff are working together with the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) and NOAA Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) leadership to organize a workshop around improving coordination and collaboration across line offices. This virtual workshop will discuss current and future opportunities for IOOS-OAR collaborations to implement new and emerging technologies in ocean and coastal observing systems. Click here for more information. 

  • GLOS Annual Meeting, 14 October 2020, Virtual: Join GLOS to hear from leadership about the exciting year they’ve had and where they’re headed, including:

  • 2020 AGU Fall Meeting, Dec 7-11, 2020, Virtual: The 2020 AGU Fall Meeting will take place Dec 7-11th. For the first time ever, the conference will be “mostly virtual” meaning much broader participation is possible than in past years. Please note that AGU’s abstract submission portal is now open and accepting submissions until Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 at 11:59 pm EDT. Helpful links: AGU Fall Meeting Website: https://www.agu.org/Fall-Meeting. Information about abstract submission: https://www.agu.org/Fall-Meeting/2020/Present/Abstracts.

    • The NASA Capacity Building Program is chairing two sessions focused on different aspects of capacity development of Earth observation users. As we strive to build the community of practice around skill building and capacity building of Earth observations users, we hope you will join us for these virtual sessions. Please consider submitting an abstract to one (or both!) of our sessions. AGU’s abstract submission portal is now open and accepting submission until Wednesday, July 29th, 2020 at 11:59pm EDT.

      • Session SY001: Addressing the Need for Earth-Observation Capacity Development at the Local, National, Regional, and Global Scales

      • SY004: Best Practices and Lessons Learned for Conducting Virtual Capacity Building Activities

    • GEO at AGU Fall Meeting: As part of the upcoming 2020 AGU Fall Meeting themed “Shaping the Future of Science,” the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) is supporting several key sessions and invites members from the AmeriGEO community to submit their abstracts to take part. Sessions focused on Earth observations (EO) and Capacity Development, COVID-19, the Sustainable Development Goals, and several being led by the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) may be of interest and we encourage you to explore the opportunities to support these sessions. Please see all the sessions and how to participate in the following link: https://www.earthobservations.org/geo_blog_obs.php?id=449

  • 101st AMS Annual Meeting, 10–14 January 2021, New Orleans, LA: Planning is underway for an AMS EPIC session at the AMS Annual Meeting - panel discussion and then paper session hosted by EIPT, R2O, Python, AI, and HPC communities of AMS.

    • Session Title: The Earth Prediction Innovation Center – Enabling a community-based approach to advance Numerical Weather Prediction

    • Session Description: Congress has mandated that NOAA establish an Earth Prediction Innovation Center (EPIC) to accelerate community-developed scientific and technological advancements into the operational applications for Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP). The EPIC is responsible for enabling collaboration among scientists and engineers in areas important for improving operational weather prediction and for creating a community global weather research modeling system. Meeting the goals of EPIC will require the efforts of all segments of the weather enterprise. This session invites papers presenting progress to date in this initiative as well as papers presenting innovative technologies and capabilities with potential for adoption by EPIC to enable the collaborative community, establish the community modeling system, and advance operational NWP.

    • Dr. DaNa Carlis has agreed to be the EIPT participant in the panel discussion.

    • Abstract submissions for this session, and all AMS sessions are due 3 August.  The meeting is in early January 2021.  Originally scheduled to be in New Orleans, a decision on whether it will go virtual will be made soon.  

  • Oceanology International Americas, 15–17 February 2021, San Diego, CA: As part of the three-day conference program, OI Americaswill run a series of technical tracks exploring the latest developments in ocean technology and its application in support of scientific research, safe and sustainable use of the ocean and ocean resources and the protection of the marine and coastal environment. The technical track program will cover all stages of ocean technology innovation; connecting technology push with application pull. Scientists, technologists and engineers engaged in the ocean technology innovation chain, and those concerned with application of technologies in support of scientific understanding of the ocean, the use of the ocean and ocean resources and protection of the marine and coastal environment are invited to submit abstracts to the Oi Americas 2021 conference program covering one or more of the following topics:

    • Sensors and Instruments

    • Vessels, Vehicles and Platforms

    • Data Communications

    • Data Management

    • Data Analysis and Interpretation

    • End-use Case Studies

Other Upcoming Meetings:

  • The Ocean Decade Virtual Series - The Ocean and Human Health - 5 October 2020: The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) will harness and stimulate innovative ocean research and strengthen the multi-stakeholder cooperation needed to develop the science we need for the ocean we want. Convened by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO in partnership with the H2020 Seas, Oceans and Public Health in Europe (SOPHIE) Project, the H2020  Blue Health Project and the European Marine Board, this virtual session will address the relationship between humankind and the Ocean. It will explore how our health and well-being are closely connected to the ocean. It will discuss the opportunities and challenges for the coming years; and what could be the positive outcomes  from transformative actions under the Ocean Decade and long-lasting benefits to both the ocean and society. This session, moderated by Prof Sheila Heymans (European Marine Board), will bring together Global Voices of Oceans and Human Health and Decade representatives to share their views on Ocean and Human Health, discuss the emerging areas for cooperation and how Ocean and Human Health can contribute to the Ocean Decade. For more information and to register: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Ocean-Decade-Virtual-Series-Ocean-Human-Health 

  • Smart Oceans 2020 Workshop - Future of Oceans: Innovation, Exploration, and Utilization Workshop: This NSF-supported workshop, organized by MIT and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, will explore ongoing challenges and emerging opportunities in ocean innovation, exploration, and utilization. You can register for the workshop at: https://www.smartoceans2020.org/get-involved

    • Workshop Dates:

    • Session 1: Unpacking the Future of Oceans October 5, 2020 (12:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET) 

    • Session 2: All Hands on Deck October 7, 2020 (12:00 – 5:00 p.m. ET) 

    • Session 3: The Future is Now October 9, 2020 (12:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET) 

    • Plenary speakers include:

    • Bob Ballard, President, Ocean Exploration Trust, Director, Institute for Archeological Oceanography, University of Rhode Island

    • David Lang, Co-founder, Sofar Ocean, Co-founder, OpenROV

    • Margaret Leinen, Director, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Dean, School of Marine Sciences, University of California San Diego

    • Peter de Menocal, President, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

    • Dawn Wright, Chief Scientist, Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI)

  • Standard Ocean Mapping Protocol (SOMP) Symposium (Virtual) - October 6-7, 2020 - 12pm-5pm ET: The IWG-OCM wants your input! The June 2020 National Strategy for Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (at iocm.noaa.gov), calls for federal agencies to develop a Standard Ocean Mapping Protocol in order to facilitate mapping the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. This SOMP symposium gives non-federal stakeholders an opportunity to learn about the protocol and provide written or verbal comment on it. Academia, private sector, state/local government, and non-governmental organizations are invited to register to attend or speak at the symposium, and/or comment in writing. Please access the registration and comment form HERE or at iocm.noaa.gov. 

  • Drones in the Coastal Zone, 14 October 2020, Virtual: SECOORA's Drones in the Coastal Zone in-person workshop https://secoora.org/drones-in-the-coastal-zone-workshop/ scheduled for October in Beaufort, NC has been cancelled due to ongoing concerns for gatherings of over 100 people. The planning team recognizes the importance of the hands-on drone work and the desire for in-person training, therefore they are changing gears and developing a new format that will permit for virtual and (limited) in-person participation. Ideas discussed include a webinar series in fall 2020, online activities/ trainings, and the potential for an “air show” in 2021 (limited capacity workshops in different states). Please save the date for the Drone Workshop kick off webinar on on October 14. If you have further questions, please contact Abbey Wakely at abbey@secoora.org.

  • Call for Posters - Research Data Alliance 16th Plenary Meeting: The RDA will hold a virtual plenary, VP16, scheduled to take place from 9-13 November 2020. The Call for Posters is open and ends on 11 October, so be sure to submit your application soon. More info: https://www.rd-alliance.org/rda-16th-plenary-meeting-call-posters 

  • Save The Date: Ocean Science Educators’ Retreat: The biennial Ocean Science Educators’ Retreat (OSER) will be held virtually on November 12-13, 2020. The topic for this year will focus on trends in (based on OSER survey data) and hindrances to women’s career endurance and progression in the academic ocean sciences. More information about the virtual meeting will be sent to COL members and invitees in the coming weeks.

  • WMO Data Conference, 16–18 November 2020, Virtual: The WMO Data Conference aims to develop a common understanding among entities from all sectors of society of the roles, requirements and arrangements for international exchange of observations and other data for monitoring and prediction of the Earth System environment, including weather, climate and water. The World Meteorological Organization and its predecessor, the International Meteorological Organization, have coordinated and regulated the free and unrestricted international exchange of observations and other meteorological data for the last 150 years. Building on this exchange, dramatic progress has been made in weather forecast and climate analysis capabilities over the last few decades. The Conference is expected to formulate recommendations to WMO and its partner organizations and stakeholders regarding current needs and modalities for data exchange and specifically regarding the ongoing WMO review of its data policies. Participants interested in contributing a paper should submit an abstract (max 250 words) to the DataConference@wmo.int by 23 August. For more information: https://public.wmo.int/en/events/WMO-Data-Conference 

  • SAVE THE DATE! 2nd International Operational Satellite Oceanography Symposium, 25–27 May 2021, Darmstadt, Germany: 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 in Darmstadt, Germany May 25-27, 2021.  The Committee will share more information, including the meeting website and the Programme Committee members in the coming months.  

  • EMODnet 2nd Open Conference and Jamboree - New Dates Announced: 14–18 June 2021: 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.

Webinars:

  • Atlantic International Research Centre Networking Fridays: The AIR Centre hosts a series of Webinars that take place every Friday, from 1pm to 2 pm UTC. During these Networking Fridays, researchers, technology innovators, representatives of multilateral organizations, government officials, and social entrepreneurs will present to and discuss with the audience their current work and, most importantly, explore ways of future collaboration. More info here: https://www.aircentre.org/netfridays/ 

    • October 2nd, 1-2 PM UTC, Martin Visbek (GEOMAR), Future Ocean Sustainability – From Ocean Observation towards Sustainable Development: Martin Visbek, Professor for Physical Oceanography at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and Kiel University, will discuss the Future Ocean Sustainability – From Ocean Observation towards Sustainable Development. The session will be moderated by Isabel Sousa Pinto, Professor at the University of Porto and Head of the Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation group at Interdisciplinary Centre for Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR). Register now.

  • CARICOOS Boating App Workshop, 6 October 2020, Virtual: Discover how this app is useful for fishing!  Via Zoom (ID: 951 4539 1032; pass: 987520) and Facebook Live (@caribbeanfishery) at 5pm ET.

  • NOAA Environmental Data (NED) Talks: Mark your calendar for NOAA's Datafest in September & October with a series of NED talks, available online. Check them out, and don't miss out on the #Datapalooza twitter chats.  Get all the details on the Datafest site! 

Job & Internship Opportunities:

  • Programmer/Analyst at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography: This position will provide data management (acquisition, storage, archiving) as well as support product development, quality control on several projects (including HFRNet), and experiments. Details on the job are available on the University of California, San Diego posting at https://jobs.ucsd.edu/bulletin/job.aspx?jobnum_in=106018.

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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