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

Click here to subscribe a new address or if you no longer want to receive the bi-weekly.

 Want to read this edition in a browser or check out the archive?  Visit us online!

From the Director:

Dear IOOS Community,

This month we celebrate African American History Month (or Black History Month)! Black and African American scientists have been instrumental to propelling marine science to new levels. Read about some of these achievements on NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries website as they highlight three scientists who were pioneers within their fields and paved the way for modern day marine scientists. 

Black History Month is observed every February to recognize the history and achievements of African Americans and their central role in our nation's history. As we celebrate this year, we say thank you to the important contributions of African Americans across IOOS, NOAA, and the country.

Thanks,
Carl

From the U.S. IOOS Office:

  • Welcome to Schuyler Nardelli, Knauss Sea Grant Fellow: Schuyler Nardelli is the new Knauss Sea Grant Fellow for the U.S. IOOS Office. Schuyler graduated with her PhD in Oceanography from Rutgers University, where she studied Antarctic plankton ecology using technology including bio-optics, acoustics, and gliders. Prior to graduate school, she worked for an ocean optics lab at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce, FL. She is initially from Keene Valley, NY. Schuyler will support the office on a variety of projects including taskers, BOOC, blue economy, DOE ocean observing prize, NOS Water Team, and helping to review RA progress reports. Welcome Schuyler!
  • IOOS is Hiring! The IOOS Cooperative Programs Specialist position has been posted on USAJobs: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/633715800. The position is open until February 15th, and is open to any current federal employee, or past federal employee who has their COR II or COR III certification. The position duties include serving as IOOS' Contract Officer Representative (COR), serving as a Federal Program Officer (FPO) for grants administration, leading our internal controls effort, supporting our NOS annual Evaluation work, and drafting Inter-agency agreements and MOAs. As a reminder, please adhere to resume requirements posted on USAJobs.Gov. For more information regarding resume requirements, see the USAJOBS YouTube Resume Tutorial at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YX7o1PBoFk. 
  • From the IOOS Association: 
    • HAB Observing Group Webinar: The next HAB OG Webinar will be on March 16, 2022 from 3:00-4:15 PM EST and will focus on "Making Community Science Work". Our featured panelists, Dr. Steve Morton (NOAA NCCOS), Teri King (Washington Sea Grant), Chris Whitehead (Sitka Tribe) and Dr. George Bullerjahn (Bowling Green State University), will discuss the importance of community science for HABs, share examples of some successes and challenges of HAB community/citizen science, and address how an NHABON can assist with this process through data management and other efforts. We look forward to a great discussion. Please register for the webinar here!

Observation Subsystem and Sensor Technologies:

  • Surface Current Mapping: (IOOS Surface Currents Program Manager, Brian Zelenke, brian.zelenke@noaa.gov): 
    • CODAR and BOEM Complete Study on Wind Turbine Interference Mitigation: Congratulations to CODAR Ocean Sensors and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on their successful completion of the study Implementation of Mitigation for Offshore Wind Turbine Interference on High-frequency (HF) Coastal Oceanographic Radar (final report available here; the study’s other deliverables are expected to be available next quarter here)!  Building on CODAR’s initial “proof-of-concept” offshore wind turbine radar interference mitigation (WTRIM) work, this study now delivers “version 1” of a software package which can be used in concert with other measurements to help restore significant amounts of SeaSonde® HFR data coverage that would otherwise be lost to offshore wind turbine interference (WTI).  Testing and evaluation of this groundbreaking work is planned, as part of the IOOS OTT project, and yet further innovations to this study’s WTRIM technique are being investigated by the DOE funded NOWRDC award to CODAR.
    • Update on FCC Licensing: Thank you to all the HFR Radio Frequency (RF) Settings Coordinators appointed by the Director of each IOOS RA, and to all the HFR operators in the IOOS National Network, for their work applying for new operational FCC radio broadcast licenses!  Now every operational WERA and SeaSonde in the Network has applied for a new FCC license that will allow it to conform to International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and FCC regulations for oceanographic HFRs. Hardware upgrades and software updates are in progress that will allow the HFRs to operate at these new mandated frequencies.
      • UG2 2021 Hurricane Glider Webinar: Using buoyancy gliders, NOAA IOOS RA’s and its mission partners monitored ocean temperature and salinity in the upper hundred meters of the ocean to improve the ocean representation in the ocean component of ocean-atmosphere coupled models used for hurricane intensity forecasts.  During the 2021 hurricane season 79 gliders were deployed in the Caribbean Sea/Tropical Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic bights providing sustained observations throughout the Atlantic basin. The regional SME’s will each brief their operations and will conclude with ocean data assimilation into models and its impacts.  Please join us on:

Marine Life:

  • Highlights from the MBON Plankton Workshops Published: MBON, along with the Modelling Different Components of Marine Plankton Biodiversity team (MODIV; https://modiv.w.uib.no/), organized four virtual global workshops during 2020-2021 focused on “Plankton ecosystem function, biodiversity, and forecasting—research requirements and applications”. Highlights from the workshops have been published via ASLO, available here: https://aslopubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/lob.10479
  • New Publication Evaluates Effect of Apex Predator Removal on Ecosystems: Congratulations to ATN and MBON researcher Dr. Neil Hammerschlag and his team for the recent publication of the paper “Loss of Apex predators in the wild induces physiological and behavioural changes in prey” in Biological Letters (https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2021.0476; video summary: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1hLODKt-Fs) “Many of the world’s top predators are experiencing widespread population declines, but the ecosystem consequences are still not fully understood. In a new collaborative study, our team discovered that the decline and disappearance of great white sharks off South Africa consequently led to physiological and behavioural changes in their prey, Cape fur seals. While this represents the first evidence of its kind in the wild, such a phenomenon is likely widespread as apex predators are among most threatened vertebrates on the planet.”
  • Publicly Available ATN Dataset Used to Assist Researchers Participating in the NOAA CoastWatch Satellite Data Class: Frances Tong, NOAA Affiliate and Data Program Manager for the Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center’s (PIFSC) Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (CIMAR) recently attended a week-long NOAA CoastWatch Satellite Data Class (Satellite Course Information | CoastWatch-West Coast (noaa.gov)). Frances used publicly available Hawaiian Monk Seal data (10.24431/rw1k47a) contributed to the ATN DAC by PIFSC researchers Dr. Stacie Robinson and Dr. Charles Littnan to assist with course activities and provide data for her final project. More information about this project and the contributed dataset can be found on their ATN project page: https://portal.atn.ioos.us/?ls=GbeCrlHm#metadata/98aafdeb-178a-4614-8d52-b07d87d097ff/project
  • PIRAT (Pacific Islands Region Acoustic Telemetry) Network Hires Data Coordinator: The new regional acoustic telemetry data node PIRAT, established through partnerships among the NMFS/Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center, PacIOOS/JIMAR, OTN and ATN/SECOORA., welcomes Dr. Tom TinHan to the team as their new Data Manager. Tom has extensive experience conducting acoustic telemetry research, and handling large and diverse datasets. His research interests are focused on the complementary use of natural tracers and electronic tagging techniques to answer questions about the migration of marine fishes, their ecological roles and how these might shift as a consequence of environmental variability. As a long-time resident of Hawaii he is well integrated into the community and understands the unique challenges that face this region. He will be a valued asset to the team. Welcome Tom!!  https://www.sharktagger.org/copy-of-lacey-scheeler-about-me 
  • OTN is Hiring a New Field Technician (ROV-Side Scan): Working as part of the OTN field team, the ROV-Side Scan Technician is a key part of ensuring the smooth operation of OTN’s field program. This position is primarily responsible for the preparation, piloting and maintenance of OTN’s Saab Seaeye Falcon DR ROV. This position will also support ongoing field operations alongside the OTN field team, including side scan sonar missions and acoustic receiver deployments .This position requires regular travel, and extended periods of time in the field and at sea. The individual must be able to work well independently, and as part of a team. For a full list of duties and to apply, please visit the OTN website. The deadline for applications is February 9, 2022. 
  • California State University Long Beach Shark Lab is Hiring White Shark Beach Safety Program Post-Doc: Dr. Chris Lowe is hiring a new Shark Lab post-doctoral fellow to join their California white shark research program. The Shark Lab Post-Doctoral Fellow provides research support to Shark Lab field operations including shark tagging, active tracking, receiver data, AUV and UAV data analysis and design formation. Key responsibilities include assisting with all field operations, including shark tagging and tracking, acoustic receiver array deployment and maintenance, AUV and UAV deployments, and data collection. As well as overseeing data collection, data maintenance and analysis of telemetry tracking, AUV and UAV data deployment, and data sets. This position will also support graduate student research by providing field assistance and mentoring.  They will assist with field operations, data management and analysis, and report and manuscript writing. For more information visit: Jobs @ The Beach (pageuppeople.com). The deadline for applications is February 16, 2022.  
  • OSM2022 Town Hall meeting on Bio-GO-SHIP - Feb. 24, 2:00 pm EST: Attend this Town Hall Meeting to learn more about a new 2-year Bio-GO-SHIP (Biological-Global Ocean Ship-based Hydrographic Investigations Program) pilot effort supported by NOAA and NASA that will add biological measurements to the existing suite of core GO-SHIP physical and biogeochemical measurements on upcoming GO-SHIP lines. For more details on the scientific questions and associated measurements behind this effort, check out a newly published Perspectives article in Frontiers in Marine Science. This Town Hall will start with a brief overview of Bio-GO-SHIP with Q&A, followed by breakout groups to enable participants to interact and form new collaborations around potential scientific applications of these new datasets. (full town hall description)

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

  • January DMAC Tech Webinar: CIOOS experience running virtual code sprints: In response to the challenges of coordinating development work from team members across its Pacific, Gulf of St. Lawrence, and Atlantic regional associations, the Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System (CIOOS) has implemented regular virtual code sprints that have allowed us to complete projects of mutual interest. These sprints have helped foster and support collaborative development of tools, applications, and data integration pipelines for nearly two years now. In our 30 minute presentation we will go into the origins of our initial sprints, the sprint framework that we use, and we will describe some of the products of these collaborative efforts. We will also discuss the direct and indirect benefits of this framework and some ideas for potential joint CIOOS+IOOS code sprints. Recording is available at: https://mmancusa.webex.com/mmancusa/ldr.php?RCID=a7db32f4fd9bdd41a3df9415474b098c 
  • SAVE THE DATE! 2022 IOOS DMAC Meeting - June 14-16, 2022: We are pleased to announce that the 2022 DMAC Meeting will take place virtually on the afternoons (1:00 - 5:00 PM ET) from Tuesday, June 14 through Thursday, June 16. 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), Melissa Zweng (melissa.zweng@noaa.gov), Micah Wengren (micah.wengren@noaa.gov), Tiffany Vance (tiffany.c.vance@noaa.gov) and Kathy Bailey (kathleen.bailey@noaa.gov).
  • NOAA GPU Hackathon: The DeepMetagenomics team is now preparing all the data (training, test and evaluation) and getting them ready to be included in the cloud cluster to use at the upcoming NOAA GPU Hackathon 2022, to be held virtually on February 22nd and from February 28th – March 2nd, 2022. 
  • QARTOD (National Coordinator Mark Bushnell, mark.bushnell@noaa.gov):
    • QARTOD Work Plan 2022-2026: The draft QARTOD 2022-2026 work plan has been broadly distributed to the Regional Associations and the DMAC community for further review. After incorporating feedback from the working group that was established for this effort, and from the QARTOD Board of Advisors members, we look forward to receiving additional reviews and comments by 28 February. We welcome your thoughts about our intentions to expand the scope of QARTOD to make it more relevant to a broader range of communities. Contact Mark.Bushenll@noaa.gov to obtain a copy of the draft plan.
    • Ocean Best Practice System Update: The OBPS supports formation of task teams under one of the work packages (see https://www.oceanbestpractices.org/about/governance/). At the January steering group meeting, a motion to accept a proposed task team to develop standard operating procedures/best practices for Coastal Observations in Under-Resourced Countries was unanimously passed. See the proposal and a complete listing of all task teams at https://www.oceanbestpractices.org/about/task-teams/, and consider organizing a task team to promote best practices for your topic of interest.
    • U.S. CLIVAR Ocean Uncertainty Quantification: An excellent article by several members of the OceanUQ working group has been published and should be read at https://eos.org/opinions/overcoming-the-challenges-of-ocean-data-uncertainty. At the most recent OceanUQ meeting, it was proposed that the working group initiate an effort to create a journal special issue, with UQ papers addressing a broad spectrum and an introductory overview paper. A two-year time frame is envisioned. 

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

  • COMT Project Updates with VIMS: Coastal and Ocean Modeling Testbed (COMT) program PMs and NOS modelers met with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science project team for project updates and activities.
  • Hindcast Evaluation of St. John’s River ROMS: NOS Office of Coast Survey is sending forcing conditions to NC State modelers for a hindcast evaluation of the St. John’s River ROMS based model.

Interagency and International Collaboration/News:

  • UN Decade of Ocean Science For Sustainable Development Updates:
     
    • Launch of Joint Call for Proposals on Underwater Noise in the Marine Environment: The call provides an excellent opportunity to address a systemic approach to ocean challenges, support policy and governance, and support experimental research activities on the emerging issue of the acoustic pollution of oceans and seas. The call is endorsed as a contribution to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, which means that selected projects will be endorsed as Decade Actions. The deadline for proposals is 28 February 2022. For more information, see https://www.oceandecade.org/news/launch-of-joint-call-for-proposals-on-underwater-noise-in-the-marine-environment/ 
  • Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) News:
    • RCA Expedition Serves as Artists' Studio: Two artists were aboard the R/V Thomas G. Thompson during this summer’s Regional Cabled Array VISIONS’21 cruise. Undergraduate student Genevieve Kent was aboard the Thompson for Leg 1 of the four-week cruise. Professional artist and lifelong learner, Catherine Gill, was onboard for Legs 3 and 4 of the summer expedition. While their physical paths didn’t cross while onboard, each spent their time similarly – serving as a member of the scientific party, taking regular shifts to ensure samples were collected and underwater footage from the ROV Jason was catalogued and archived. They also spent whatever free time they had capturing their experiences in creative endeavors. Shown above is Catherine Gill's interpretation of a hydrothermal vent. Read more here: https://oceanobservatories.org/2022/01/two-artists-at-sea/ 

    • OOI at Ocean Sciences Meeting 2022: Learn about the planned OOI-related presentations at this year’s Ocean Sciences Meeting. OOI is also sponsoring a virtual booth at OSM this year. Read more about the content and presenters here https://oceanobservatories.org/2022/02/ooi-at-ocean-sciences-meeting-2022/. 
  • 2023 Call for Nominations for the NOAA HSRP Federal Advisory Committee: The NOAA Hydrographic Services Review Panel (HSRP) announces the 2023 Call for Nominations. The panel advises NOAA on operations and research issues related to navigation, hydrographic surveying, nautical charts, tides and currents, geodetic and geospatial data and measurements, Arctic priorities and coastal data and resilience. Applicants should have expertise in marine navigation, port administration, maritime shipping or other intermodal transportation industries, cartography and geographic information systems, geodesy, geospatial data, physical oceanography, coastal resource management, including coastal resilience and emergency response, or other science-related fields. The full nominations information is here: https://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/hsrp/call-application.html The Federal Register Notice (FRN) including the 5 questions for HSRP Call for Nominations: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/12/23/2021-27844/hydrographic-services-review-panel  Nominations are due via email no later than April 15, 2022, are limited to 8 pages, require a cover letter with response to 5 questions, a short bio and a resume as noted in the FRN. While nominations are due on April 15 you're strongly encouraged to submit early. There is a rolling admission. If you miss the April 15 deadline, we will keep your nomination on file for future HSRP panel openings.     
  • Save the Date - NOAA Science Advisory Board Meeting - April 27-28, 2022: The NOAA Science Advisory Board will meet April 27-28, 2022. Tentatively planning for this meeting to be held in person in the Washington, DC area. The exact location is TBD. Meeting details and materials will be posted on the SAB website as they are finalized.
  • CO-OPS, North Carolina Coordinate to Fill NWLON Data Gaps: NOAA’s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) is collaborating with North Carolina’s Geodetic Survey to strengthen gaps in the National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON) with state partner data. Maintained by CO-OPS, NWLON is a permanent observing system of 210 continuously operating water level stations throughout the nation. The state of North Carolina has a long history of establishing and maintaining water level stations, and several of their stations fill in NWLON gaps. The partnership will ensure compatibility between state radar water level sensors and NWLON products and services, which are critical for coastal communities that depend on this data for safe and efficient marine navigation and coastal planning.
  • CO-OPS Restores Water Level Station at Port Moller, Alaska: CO-OPS installed a new water level station at Port Moller, Alaska. The new station belongs to NOAA’s National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON) and replaces a station destroyed by fire in 2017. Until the accident, CO-OPS had been collecting water level data in Port Moller since 1960. The new station is equipped with two water level measurement technologies, both a pressure sensor and a microwave water level sensor, to ensure data collection continues uninterrupted during periods of extreme low and high tides. The station also measures water temperature and barometric pressure. CO-OPS is pleased to restore critical data services to Port Moller, Alaska, to support coastal communities in monitoring their sea level risk.
  • NGS Offers New Certificate Tool for Geospatial Training: NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey (NGS), in partnership with the COMET MetEd Program, developed a new tool to earn training certificates by viewing past NGS webinars. Many surveying, engineering, mapping, and remote sensing professionals are required to complete regular training to remain certified. NGS webinars can be applied toward required training hours for geodetic professionals, but many are unable to attend live NGS webinars because of their work schedules. This new tool gives them the opportunity to earn training certificates by viewing past NGS webinars, learning about NGS products and services on their own schedules. Users must first register for a free MetEd account, then they can access more than 90 webinars on the MetEd and NGS websites.
  • NGS Developing Software to Process All GNSS Data: GPS is one of several constellations of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) that broadcast timing and orbital information to receivers, enabling positioning and navigation applications. In the past, NGS software could only process GNSS data from GPS satellites. But NGS is developing a new multiple-constellation GNSS software suite, M-PAGES, which is capable of processing data from all GNSS constellations in operation today. When completed, M-PAGES will replace the existing backend software for the Online Positioning Users Service, orbit processing, and NOAA Continuously Operating Reference Stations Network monitoring.
  • Coast Survey Hosts 2022 Field Procedures Workshop: OCS’s Hydrographic Surveys Division hosted the 2022 Field Procedures Workshop from February 1 to 3. Over 180 stakeholders gathered virtually to discuss current and future field operations, development of best practices, innovations, and the future of hydrography. NOAA survey vessels and hydrographic contractors detailed their challenges, successes, and innovations from the previous field season, and NOAA unveiled hydrographic survey plans for 2022. Partners at the University of South Florida and the Joint Hydrographic Center presented their ongoing research progress and highlighted previous and upcoming field activities. Additional discussion highlights of the workshop included use of uncrewed systems and the National Bathymetric Source project. OCS also revealed plans to overhaul the Hydrographic Surveys Specifications and Deliverables manual, which details the requirements for hydrographic surveys undertaken by NOAA field units or by organizations under contract.
  • Celebrating 50 Years of Ocean and Coastal Conservation: Four key pieces of environmental legislation pertaining to our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes share a 50th anniversary in 2022: the Coastal Zone Management, National Marine Sanctuaries, Marine Mammal Protection, and Clean Water acts. To celebrate these anniversaries, NOAA, the Marine Mammal Commission, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service launched the 50 Years of Ocean and Coastal Conservation campaign. This yearlong outreach effort shares the legacy of 50 years of stewardship and revitalizes the nation's commitment to marine and coastal conservation. Join us in celebrating these important milestones by following along on NOS’s social media, and sharing the campaign materials found on the website with your networks.
  • Ocean Liège Colloquium-GO2NE oxygen conference: HYBRID event & extension of abstract submission deadline until February 20th: The 53rd Ocean Liège colloquium-GO2NE oxygen conference will take place from May 16th to May 20th  (with a mentoring event for early career scientists on May 15th). Considering the circumstances, the event will be in a HYBRID FORMAT to be able to engage with all of you throughout the world. You will have the possibility to present your work either on site or at distance. The abstract submission deadline has been extended until February 20th.  At this stage, we have already received more than 130 abstracts. Web site: https://www.ocean-colloquium.uliege.be/ 
  • Ocean Visions 2021 Annual Report:  Established as a non-profit in 2019, Ocean Visions seeks to develop innovative and durable solutions to complex challenges facing our ocean. With support from key funders and a consortium of members and partners, we’re thrilled to have made significant advancements in the short time since our founding. Many of these achievements are highlighted in our newly released and inaugural annual report. See the report here: https://oceanvisions.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Ocean-Visions-2021-Annual-Report.pdf 

Delivering the Benefits:

  • Fagatele Bay Ocean Acidification Buoy is Operational: The Moored Autonomous Partial Pressure of Carbon Dioxide buoy in the Fagatele Bay unit of National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa (NMSAS) was successfully redeployed recently after a year of inoperation due to the global pandemic. The buoy is part of a national array of moored carbon dioxide buoys across the Pacific, Atlantic, and Caribbean. The buoy also measures water temperature, salinity, turbidity, chlorophyll, dissolved oxygen, pH, and air pressure that help NMSAS monitor conditions. Data can be accessed at the PacIOOS and PMEL websites.
  • Successful Pearl Harbor Wave Buoy Swap & Waimea Bay Redeployment: Two PacIOOS wave buoys surrounding O‘ahu, Hawai‘i are back online. After an internal current meter sensor failed on the Pearl Harbor wave buoy, the PacIOOS team swapped out the buoy. Additionally, the Waimea Bay wave buoy, which sits about four miles off the north shore of O‘ahu, was redeployed after its mooring parted and the buoy started drifting. The Waimea Bay buoy was deployed just in time for a large west-northwest swell that recorded greater than 16 foot significant wave heights.
  • Tongan Tsunami Detected in PNW: Following the volcanic eruption near the Tongan Islands on January 14th, the National Tsunami Warning Center issued an advisory alert as the tsunami was being detected across the Pacific. These alerts were picked up by NANOOS’s smartphone app and passed on to our many stakeholders. Near real-time water level data from NOS gauges displayed on NANOOS’ NVS Data Explorer showed small but detectable tide aberrations on January 15th along the PNW coast (e.g., Port Orford, OR, shown here). Over January 15th, NANOOS received ~2300 new users with 255 new accounts created, and over 4,000 pageviews as people visited the NANOOS tsunami portal and smartphone application in an effort to learn more about the event.
  • Hurricane Gliders: the Basics: Underwater gliders are autonomous underwater robots that collect ocean data in remote locations and at depth and can be programmed and piloted remotely to conduct specific missions. These gliders are equipped to communicate with satellites, allowing them to transmit ocean data to modelers and forecasters in real time or near-real time. In 2021, Saildrones — wind and solar-powered vehicles that travel along the ocean’s surface to gather data — were also employed. They also communicate via satellite in real time or near-real time. Both types of robots can operate and gather data in hazardous conditions where sending crewed ships would put human lives at risk. And, given their ability to communicate data quickly, information can be utilized for storm forecasting in near-real time — even while storms are approaching coastal populations. Read more here. 

Congressional:

  • No update.

Communications/Outreach/Education:

  • WEBINAR SERIES: Southern Gulf of Mexico Marine Observations, Research and Technology: Opportunities for Gulf-wide Synergies and Cooperation, Thursdays at 12pm ET: During this webinar series, Mexican consortia will present their activities over the past six years in conducting basic and applied research in the Gulf of Mexico, discuss ongoing research, the scientific and technological capabilities they have in place, recent synthesis publications, and ideas for future collaboration in this large marine ecosystem. No registration required.  Click here for more info.
    • March 3: Gliders, HFR, and Database Management System (CIGOM)
    • March 24: Numerical Modeling and Oil Spill Scenarios (CIGOM)
    • April 7: Environmental Baseline and Marine Biogeochemistry (CIGOM)
    • April 21: Renewable Energies and Technological Developments (CEMIE & CIGOM)
  • PacIOOS Governing Council Meeting: PacIOOS Governing Council members and PacIOOS staff came together virtually in December for the annual council meeting. The focus of the 2-day video conference was to share program updates and future plans; and discuss the five-year strategic framework and ten-year outlook. Additionally, the council identified gaps in representation among MOA partnerships and discussed Indigenous Knowledge in ocean observing and increasing diversity, equity and inclusion in PacIOOS and the broader ocean observing community.
  • Alaska Ocean Acidification Network at AMSS: OA researchers met during the Alaska Marine Science Symposium to provide updates on activities, plans and recent results. 10 presentations and posters on new OA research were also showcased at AMSS and will soon be available on the network website. The OA Network’s executive committee met in both December and January to develop the framework for an OA discussion series in the spring and a save-the-date will be coming soon. Keep an eye on social media - the network just started Twitter and Instagram feeds and will be launching a campaign of “28 days of OA” in February!
  • IOOS Enterprise in the News:
    • No updates.

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

  • Ocean Sciences Meeting 2022, Feb 27 - March 4, Virtual: This year’s theme emphasizes the importance of working together. “Come Together and Connect,” focuses on strengthening the ocean sciences community through discussing both basic and applied research while making scientific and social connections. https://www.aslo.org/osm2022/ 
    • Session Title: ME13 Marine Life 2030: Advancing Earth Observations and the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) to Measure and Interpret Marine Biodiversity for Global Sustainability
    • Tiffany Vance and Tim Kearns [GLOS] are co-organizers for a session at the 2022 Ocean Sciences meeting entitled “IoT and Distributed Sensing in Ocean Science and Research” under the Ocean Technologies and Observatories topic.  
    • Tiffany Vance is a co-organizer of a session at the 2022 Ocean Sciences meeting entitled “Democratizing Data: Environmental Data Access and its Future” in the  Education & Outreach topic.
  • NANOOS Community Workshop: Save the Date, 24 - 25 March 2022: We are pleased to announce that NANOOS is planning a community workshop on March 24-25, 2022 in Astoria, OR. Please mark your calendars! Our goals are to galvanize Pacific Northwest users and stakeholders, connect with old and new partners, and forge new strategies. We want to hear directly from our users about what would strengthen NANOOS products and how to reach broader audiences. This is an opportunity to bring together industries, policymakers, scientists, data experts, tribes, and other interested parties in the region to interact with each other and refine the NANOOS vision. Click here for the agenda and registration.
  • Alaska Forum on the Environment: Hands across the Bering Strait, 22 April 2022, Virtual: As seasonal sea ice diminishes and vessel traffic increases, the Bering Strait region’s natural resources, habitat, and people are at greater risk. This session will describe a collaboration between the Alaska Ocean Observing System and US and Russia World Wildlife Fund to develop an interactive, web-based tool that could be used by both US and Russian planners and responders for emergency incidents in the transboundary Bering Strait region. Case studies of Russian spills provide context for how spill response in Russia occurs, and how that compares with the US response system. If you are interested in US-Russia partnerships to address oil spill threats, then this session is for you! Learn more here. 
  • GLOSapalooza, 25 - 28 April 2022, Chicago & virtual: Glosapalooza is made up of four events held in Chicago and virtually:
    • GLOS Annual Meeting (open to all)
    • Seagull Launch Party (open to all, in-person only)
    • Building the Great Map—A Part of Lakebed 2030 (open to all)
    • IOOS Code Sprint (invite upon request)

Click here for registration and more information. 

  • SAVE THE DATE! 2020 DMAC Code Sprint, 26-28 April 2022, Chicago & virtual: We're pleased to announce that IOOS plans to host the 2022 DMAC Code Sprint in Chicago with our partner GLOS! Save the dates of April 26 - 28, 2022 for the second DMAC community code sprint. We're tentatively planning to host an in person event in Chicago, with the option for virtual participation for those who are unable to travel to be there in person. We'll be reaching out in the near future with more details about meeting logistics, sprint/activity planning, technologies we hope to use for the virtual component of the sprint, and all the rest. If you have any suggestions or input about the sprint, please post them in the #dmac channel in the IOOS Slack. Use this link to join our Slack workspace.  As we did two years ago, we expect to use Slack heavily during the sprint. 
  • GlobalHAB Workshop: Modeling and Prediction of Harmful Algal Blooms, 9 - 13 May 2022, Glasgow, UK:This 4-day workshop will combine oral and poster presentations, round-table discussions, and tutorials in order to 1) increase awareness of the range of modelling and observational tools that are in our community toolbox (or should be); 2) help the HAB community speak with one voice regarding climate-change impacts on the global ocean; and 3) help scientists and technologists develop creative approaches to meeting the needs of coastal communities, governments, and industry worldwide. Sessions will include
    • Regional problem-solving: linking models, observations, and stakeholder needs
    • Emerging approaches and technologies: physical and ecological model methods and observational capacities that open up new directions in HAB prediction
    • Global patterns and global change: links between HABs and environmental drivers at large spatial scales and on long time horizons
    • Scalable solutions: applications of global models, remote sensing, and other communal resources to predicting HABs and managing their impacts in data- and resource-poor systems

A priority for this workshop is inclusivity and balance in terms of national origin and career stage. We are able to waive registration fees and cover travel costs for a number of participants in support of this goal. Since the workshop is focused on discussion and small-group, informal interaction, it will not be possible to join it remotely, but we hope to make a number of presentations and other resources freely available online afterwards.  Abstract submission is open now through November 14.  A companion webinar series is running monthly during the second half of 2021, please click here for information and free registration. 

  • RESCHEDULED! MTS 14th Buoy Workshop, September 19-22, 2022, Wilmington, NC: 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.

 

Other Upcoming Meetings:

  • International Ocean Data Conference 2022: The Data We Need for the Ocean We Want, 14-16 February 2022, Sopot, Poland & virtual: The conference will be held as a hybrid event with a number of participants on-site while others will participate through video conference. The conference programme includes the following topic areas: Global Strategies and Policy, Implementing the Digital Commons, and Looking Forward. Learn more on the conference website. Registration closes February 11th. Register now!
  • MTS TechSurge: Florida Estuary and Coastal Monitoring - Looking Ahead to 2030, 12-14 April 2022: Join us for a TechSurge event with focus on transformative solutions for integrated coastal monitoring systems for Florida's estuaries and nearshore coastal waters. We welcome your revolutionary new technologies and system designs or those that can be adapted for coastal monitoring from other uses for significant impact in this focus area. Help meet the grand challenges and opportunities and guide the development for the future. In addition, guidance and outcomes from this meeting will directly influence Indian River Lagoon monitoring network planning and may feed into the Ocean Decade Implementation Plan (2021-2030).
    • WHEN: April 12 - 14, 2022
    • WHERE: FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (FAU/HBOI), Fort Pierce, Florida
    • Registration Information - Registration will open Tuesday, October 12, 2021
    • More info: https://mtsociety.memberclicks.net/fl-techsurge 
  • 5th International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5), 23 - 30 June 2022, Vancouver, Canada: From 23-30 June 2022, the world’s leading ocean conservation professionals will meet in Vancouver, Canada to chart a course towards protecting 30% of the global ocean by 2030. The call for proposals for the Congress program is open now until 20 September (23:59 PDT) 2021. For more information, see https://www.impac5.ca/congress-details/program/proposals/ 
  • Open Science Conference on EBUS: Past, Present and Future’ and the Second International Conference on the Humboldt Current System - 19-23 September 2022: The Open Science Conference on Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems (EBUS): Past, Present and Future and the Second International Conference on the Humboldt Current System are planned for September 19 - 23 in Lima, Peru. The meeting will bring together PhD students, early career scientists and world experts to understand, review, and synthesize what is known about dynamics, sensitivity, vulnerability and resilience of Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems and their living resources to climate variability, change and extreme events. The international community (researchers, scientific programs or projects, etc.) is invited to submit session proposals for the programme of the conference. Deadline for submission: 15 December 2021. The announcement of the final sessions will be issued on February 1st, 2022.

 

Webinars:

  • NEW! SERIES: Southern Gulf of Mexico Marine Observations, Research and Technology: Opportunities for Gulf-wide Synergies and Cooperation, Thursdays at 12pm ET: During this webinar series, Mexican consortia will present their activities over the past six years in conducting basic and applied research in the Gulf of Mexico, discuss ongoing research, the scientific and technological capabilities they have in place, recent synthesis publications, and ideas for future collaboration in this large marine ecosystem. No registration required.  Click here for more info.
    • March 3: Gliders, HFR, and Database Management System (CIGOM)
    • March 24: Numerical Modeling and Oil Spill Scenarios (CIGOM)
    • April 7: Environmental Baseline and Marine Biogeochemistry (CIGOM)
    • April 21: Renewable Energies and Technological Developments (CEMIE & CIGOM)
  • 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.
    • February 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m. CT: Discovering Climate History in Coral Skeletons
    • February 17, 2022 at 12 pm Hawaiʻi / 2 pm Pacific / 5 pm Eastern: Building Relationships to Papahānaumokuākea through Kānaka ‘Ōiwi (Native Hawaiian) Oral Traditions
    • February 23, 2022 at 2:30 pm Hawai`i / 4:30 pm Pacific / 6:30 pm Central / 7:30 pm Eastern: How Humpback Whales Feed Hawai`i
    • February 24, 2022 at 12 pm Hawai`i / 3 pm Pacific / 6 pm Eastern: Inspire your students to dive in as coral scientists-in-training! Introducing the Coral Check-up Lesson Series.
  • SERIES: BlueTech Global Connect: The BlueTech Global Connect webinar series is designed to connect exciting BlueTech companies from around the world with potential advisors, investors and partners globally.  Please join us each month to hear and virtually meet 3 great BlueTech companies from various countries. 
    • Feb 17: Space Applications and the Blue Economy
    • March 17: A Bright Blue Future: Environmental Services Pinpointing Solutions
    • April 21: Autonomous BlueTech Taking on the Dirty, Dangerous and Dull in the Ocean Space
  • SERIES: EMB Third Thursday Science: The European Marine Board’s webinar series, #ThirdThursdayScience, focuses on the science underpinning the research and policy recommendations in EMB publications. The free webinars will take place on the third Thursday of each month, and will run for one hour between 13:00 - 14:00 CEST. Webinars will also be live-streamed on YouTube and will be made available to re-watch later on the EMB YouTube Channel. Upcoming webinars:
    • 17 February: Ocean and Human Health
    • 17 March: Decommissioning of offshore structures
    • 21 April: Outgoing EMB Young Ambassadors and their research
    • 19 May: Critical research needs for informing environmental management of deep-sea mining

Grants and Funding Opportunities:

  • NSF Diverse Ocean science Community through Collaboration program: In consultation with CSUMB’s Office of Inclusive Excellence, the NSF Diverse Ocean science Community through Collaboration program (DOCC) aims to provide a model for how Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Tier 1 Research Institutions (R1s) can reframe how they collaborate and engage in research needed to address the challenges of 21st century ocean science. Closes March 7, 2022. Read more about this opportunity and how to apply here. 
  • Pacific Islands Ocean Acidification Masters Student Fellowship: The NOAA Ocean Acidification Program is supporting a competitive graduate fellowship that will support students conducting research, in pursuit of a Masters degree, related to ocean acidification in the Pacific Islands region to help fill a critical gap in capacity for OA research and monitoring in the region. OAP is seeking to fund students who would contribute to the body of knowledge on regional vulnerabilities to OA and potential solutions to build greater resilience against the impacts of OA. Successful applicants will conduct research that addresses physical/chemical oceanographic, biological, and/or socioeconomic questions and concepts. This funding call is part of a broader initiative, which involves multiple international scientific networks and capacity building organizations. Subject to the availability of funding, OAP anticipates up to $300,000 USD total will be available to support approximately 3-6 graduate fellows, with each fellow funded at the approximate level of $20,000 - $32,000 USD per year for 2 years. The closing date for applications is March 10, 2022.  View the funding opportunity here.

Job and Internship Opportunities:

  • NEW! Exploration Education, Media, and Science Communication Internship, Explorer-in-Training Program, NOAA: NOAA Ocean Exploration strives to engage stakeholders and improve ocean literacy of learners of all ages through our educational programs. To achieve our mission of community-driven exploration, we employ a suite of communication strategies and media tools that bring our discoveries to the public. Interns will work on cross-disciplinary projects to gain experience in scientific communication, ocean education programming, and the use of multimedia products such as images and videos. Applications due 2/15/2022. Click here for more info and how to apply.
  • NEW! Senior Environmental Specialist, World Bank Global Environment Facility: The GEF Secretariat is looking for a dynamic and experienced Senior Environmental Specialist, with a passion for oceans, transboundary marine and freshwater conservation and regional cooperative management contributing to sustainable use of shared water resources.  The chosen candidate will work towards the promotion of integrated and transformative approaches to reverse the environmental degradation of transboundary freshwater and marine natural resources, which will provide the necessary conditions to allow humanity and life on earth to keep evolving within the planetary boundaries. Closes 2/25/2022. Click here for more info 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.

Manage Subscriptions