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From the Director:

Dear IOOS Community,

I am excited to write to you today in the first edition of the Eyes on the Ocean Newsletter for 2023! The new year brings many new faces and new activities to the IOOS Office. Read below to meet the new folks who have joined our office over the last couple of months. As we move into 2023, we continue to prioritize activities which support NOAA’s work to advance a Climate-Ready Nation, develop the New Blue Economy, and enhance ecological forecasting supported by observing, science, and equitable service delivery.

This month we are proud to join the Nation in commemorating National Black History Month, also known as African American History Month. Black History Month/AAHM is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. It provides an opportunity to humanize history through the lives, tragedies, and triumphs of everyday people — while paying tribute to the contributions of Black pioneer trailblazers.

To kick off the month, I’d like to share this NPR story and podcast on how women of color created an inclusive community in the shark sciences. The podcast features Jasmin Graham who spoke on a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion panel at the December 2021 SECOORA Annual Meeting. 

Lastly, I’d like to draw your attention to two events coming up this month. Next week, I will travel to Charleston, SC to attend the Coastal GeoTools conference and speak at a NOAA Town Hall on the New Blue Economy. More information about the panel is below. I will also travel to San Diego, CA later this month to participate in Oceanology International Americas. Dr. Rick Spinrad will provide the keynote address for the conference speaking on his vision for the realization of an effective and equitable New Blue Economy delivering the ocean information needs of the future. Nicole LeBoeuf will also speak on two panels. One panel is focused on Future Ocean Solutions exploring the network of North American Accelerator and Technology Incubator programs. The other panel will focus on the UN Ocean Decade. 

NOAA is also a key sponsor of the U.S. Government Ocean Hub at the conference, which will provide greater connection between Industry and U.S. Government technical, research and strategic personnel. The Hub aims to help facilitate partnerships between federal agencies, industry, and academia to support climate change adaptation, ocean research, education and economic growth. If you will be in San Diego, we hope you will join us at the USG Hub and look forward to connecting with you on key ocean issues.

Thanks,
Carl

From the U.S. IOOS Office:

  • NOAA Town Hall on the New Blue Economy at Coastal GeoTools - Feb 8th 1:30pm-3:00pm: NOAA will host a panel discussion entitled “The New Blue Economy: Application of Ocean and Coastal Data and Technology Across Sectors To Support Decision-Making” at the upcoming Coastal GeoTools conference in Charleston, SC (Feb 6-9, 2023). The panel will be moderated by Paul Scholz, Deputy Assistant Administrator for NOAA’s Ocean Service and Coastal Zone Management. Panelists include SCCOOS Executive Director Debra Hernandez, MARACOOS Executive Director Gerhard Kuska, and IOOS Director Carl Gouldman. This Town Hall will provide a forum for academia, government, and industry to inform NOAA and the greater Blue Economy community on approaches for making New Blue Economy data more findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable by asking the presenters to provide their views on the following questions:
    • How can new and improved drifters, buoys, and autonomous instruments be used to expand the ocean observing network?
    • How can ocean observing networks integrate across organizations and products to leverage resources and simplify user experiences?
    • How can partnerships be leveraged to ensure that the data needed to make risk-informed decisions at the coast are useful, useable, and used?
  • Welcome! We have a lot of new faces around the IOOS Office. Below are some short introductions:
    • Welcome Nicholas Dawson!  Nicholas Dawson started with the IOOS Office at the end of November helping to support the grant and environmental compliance workload within IOOS. Nicholas is currently working on his PhD at the University of Maryland, where he is studying microplastic pollution.  Nicholas previously worked with the Office of General Counsel of Environmental Review and Coordination (GCERC) and brings environmental compliance and NEPA experience to IOOS.
    • Welcome Michael Lalime! Michael has worked at NOAA for the past 10 years, first in the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) where, for 7 years, he reviewed historic water level data and was a HAB analyst. He transitioned to CSDL in the Office of Coast Survey where he spent 3 years as a member of the VDatum team. During his last year there he took on the additional role of operations lead and POC for the surge and tide operational forecast system. Michael now looks forward to becoming an instrumental member of the IOOS team working on the cloud sandbox.
    • Welcome Courtney Edwards! Courtney is joining the IOOS office as a Program Analyst contractor under the Regions, Budget, and Policy Division. Courtney spent the past 3 years supporting NOAA’s Science Advisory Board in OAR. Prior to NOAA, she worked for several years in higher education at University of Virginia and Duke University in event planning, communications, and donor relations. Courtney also has experience with non-profits having previously worked for Save the Manatee Club supporting conversation efforts and outreach. She received a Master of Environmental Management degree from Duke University and a B.S. in Marine Science from Eckerd College. 
    • Welcome Amira Boone-Ofosu! Amira is joining the IOOS office as the Office Coordinator under the Regions, Budget and Policy division. Prior to joining ISS as a contractor for NOAA, Amira worked for MAXIMUS Federal contractor where she supervised over 100 agents working closely with the IRS CARES act during the COVID Pandemic. She has several years of managerial, supervisory, and administrative experience. Amira received her Bachelor's degree in Marketing from the University of Maryland Global Campus where she is currently pursuing an MBA. 
    • Welcome Maria Murray! Maria joins IOOS as one of two new Regional Coordinators. She brings 13 years of experience managing collaborative partnerships in science and STEM education. Prior to joining IOOS, she worked at the Smithsonian Institution as the program manager for MarineGEO, an international research collaboration using observations and experiments to study how and why coastal marine ecosystems are changing, and as the Executive Officer running operations at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. She now returns to NOAA, where she previously coordinated informal science education partnerships in the Office of Education and served as a Knauss Marine Policy Fellow. Maria holds a B.A. in Biology from the University of Virginia. She also holds an M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Maryland—College Park, where she studied marine population genomics.
    • Welcome Susan Fox! Susan came onboard last month as a new Regional Coordinator for IOOS. Before joining the IOOS Program, Susan was a NOAA OCM contractor for 18 years. With OCM, she managed cross office teams, coordinated with multiple national organizations, worked with stakeholders to determine shared priorities, led content development of training websites, provided trainings across the country, and coordinated remote sensing outreach. Prior to completing her Master of Science degree in 2004, Susan was selected to work in Connecticut as a NOAA Coastal Management Fellow, and also worked at the USDA Agricultural Research Service conducting genetic research.
  • Farewells:
    • Farewell Schuyler Nardelli: Schuyler’s Knauss Sea Grant Fellowship has come to a close and she participated in the Sea Grant Graduation this week. She will take a short break and then begin work as a new postdoc at USGS in Sacramento studying harmful algal blooms in San Francisco Bay. Many thanks to Schuyler for all her hard work over the last year. We wish her fair winds and following seas as she sets out on her next endeavor. 
    • Farewell to GLOS’s Kelli Paige after 13 years of service to GLOS! Kelli has departed her role as CEO of the Great Lakes Observing System, and we wish her the best.  Kelli’s tenure at GLOS resulted in the launch of the Seagull platform, which elevated GLOS’s profile in the Great Lakes community. Kelli has grown the organization in keeping with GLOS’s mission, and work will continue on the implementation of the Smart Great Lakes Initiative. The organization will build on Kelli’s success and continue to serve the needs of the Great Lakes data community.  GLOS is now on the lookout for their next CEO — details here!
  • NOS’s 2022 Year in Review released: We are pleased to share that NOS’s 2022 Year in Review is now live on the NOS website. The report covers staff and program office accomplishments during Fiscal Year 2022, from new spatial models to help determine the best sites for new offshore wind farms to critical survey missions in the Great Lakes to the recovery of $114 million to restore areas damaged by oil and chemical spills. We hope you take some time to review the many actions NOS has taken, innovative projects we've completed, and scientific endeavors we have embarked upon to advance NOS's priorities.
  • IOOS Advisory Committee Held Successful Public Meeting: The U.S. IOOS Advisory Committee held a public meeting on Nov. 30 - Dec. 1 (virtual) and Dec. 6 - 7 (hybrid) in Washington, D.C. The committee finalized their next set of recommendations around how IOOS can address the NOAA priorities of: climate; diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; and New Blue Economy. The committee expects to transmit these recommendations to Dr. Spinrad in early January. The Committee also began their work on a new set of recommendations focused on IOOS enterprise excellence, the IOOS Marine Life Program, and how NOAA and IOOS can best utilize the National Oceanographic Partnership Program. These new recommendations will continue to be developed in 2023 and are expected to be finalized in early 2024. The next meeting of the IOOS Advisory Committee is planned for the west coast in June 2023, location TBD.
  • NOAA’s New Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, Jainey Bavishi: Jainey Bavishi has been named as the new Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. In this role Bavishi is responsible for providing agency-wide direction with regard to climate resilience, fisheries, coastal and ocean programs, including efforts related to NOAA’s implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. A distinguished expert in the field of climate adaptation and resilience, Bavishi most recently served in the New York City Mayor’s Office as director of the Office of Climate Resiliency where she oversaw the implementation of climate resilience strategies for the nation’s largest city. Prior to that, she was the associate director for climate preparedness at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. She also held posts as the director of external affairs and senior policy advisor at NOAA from 2010 to 2013.
  • From the IOOS Association: 
    • IOOS Association Spring Meeting - March 21-23, 2023: The IOOS Association, IOOS RA Directors, Board Members, and the IOOS Program Office will meet in Washington, D.C. March 21-23, 2023 for the annual spring meeting. An email with details on registering for the meeting has been distributed to invited participants. Please reach out to kristen@ioosassociation.org with any questions. 

 

Observation Subsystem and Sensor Technologies:

  • Surface Current Mapping
    • NANOOS adds new HFR in Washington: A new HFR at Westport State Park, WA near Point Chehalis operated for NANOOS by Oregon State University has been added to the IOOS National Network HFRNet server!  This long-range CODAR SeaSonde®—the second HFR installed along the Washington coast by OSU—has a measurement range of ~175 km offshore and is the first in Washington to be added to HFRNet.  The site was selected with input from tribes and other constituents and brings new surface current data farther up the Washington coast.
    • New HFR active in the Lower Florida Keys!  Congratulations to the University of South Florida, College of Marine Science (USF/CMS) on the addition of a new CODAR SeaSonde® HF-Radar (HFR) installed within the City of Key West’s Smathers Beach Park in December 2022.  Installation funding for this site was provided by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, & Medicine (NASEM) Gulf Research Program (GRP) and it was added to IOOS National Network HFRNet server in January 2023.  This new Key West HFR site provides overlapping radial coverage with a previously installed NASEM-GRP USF/CMS HFR site in Marathon, FL; enabling better understanding of the complex and variable surface current outflow characteristics of the Gulf of Mexico Loop Current System through the Straits of Florida, as well as supporting other important uses such as improved boater safety and U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue (SAR) operations. Questions about this HFR can be directed to Dr. Clifford Merz at cmerz@usf.edu. 
    • WTRIM-WG Published updated MoA with NOAA and Other Agencies: The Interagency Wind Turbine Radar Interference Mitigation Working Group (WTRIM-WG) has published an updated Memorandum of Agreement with NOAA and other member agencies.  As a member of its Senior Steering Group, the IOOS Surface Currents Program Manager works with the WTRIM-WG to address wind turbine radar interference as an impact to critical IOOS HF-radar missions.
    • ROWG Meeting Recording and Notes Now Available: Recordings and notes from this past November’s 12th Radiowave Operators Working Group (ROWG) meeting have been added to the ROWG website at http://rowg.org/bin/view/Meetings/ROWG12.
  • Gliders 
    • OceanGliders BOON Seeking Expression of Interest: The OceanGliders Boundary Ocean Observing Network (BOON) seeks to foster development of a global network of networks that monitor variability along ocean boundaries. At the 2022 Underwater Glider User Group (UG2) meeting in Seattle, two working groups focused on BOON and sustained glider-based observing. The working groups reiterated the importance of respecting coastal countries, publishing near-real time and post-processed data, coordinating with regional modeling efforts, and coordinating with other observing networks within the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). A standing goal is to have 100 sustained gliders in boundary regions by 2030. Forthcoming efforts will build on pre-pandemic BOON efforts by developing regional observing plans to motivate funding, coordinating with other networks (e.g., Argo, OceanSites, store stations, OceanPredict/CoastPredict), introducing BOON metadata tags, and working to expand the number of gliders sampling along ocean boundaries worldwide. Anyone interested in participating in BOON efforts is welcome to submit their contact information here: https://forms.gle/keGhDmGCHPAkXnoXA
    • UG2 Updates: 
      • UG2 Workshop Report Now Available: The third UG2 workshop aimed to help strengthen and coordinate underwater glider activities for marine monitoring, services, and scientific research as well as provide an opportunity for collaboration between U.S. UG2 and the broader global community. The goals of the workshop were to: 1) share research and development accomplishments across the community and 2) refine and build-on deliverables for the Underwater Glider User Group. This workshop brought together the global underwater glider community to strengthen international collaboration through community dialogue, exchanges of information, sharing of experiences, and development of best practices to support the glider community. The event consisted of plenaries, break out sessions, glider lab tours, and poster sessions and vendor booths spread out over 2.5 days. Find the workshop report here: https://underwatergliders.org/index.php/ug2-workshop-iii/ 
      • UG2 Webinars and 2023 Planning: As we roll into 2023, UG2 looks forward to continuing our efforts to enhance glider operation collaboration both here in the US and abroad. Building on the UG2 workshop outcomes and suggestions, we started off the New Year with our webinar series on Thursday, January 26th. Feedback from the UG2 workshop was to hold webinars on more operational content. The theme of this webinar was “What's in my garage?” and focused on a panel of speakers from various labs to discuss their lab infrastructure, ballasting techniques, innovative tools and techniques, etc. they use in their operations. In line with our UG2 Charter the UG2 Steering Committee terms have expired so we will be putting out a call for nominations.  As another outcome from the workshop discussions we are excited to say we are moving forward with an industry representative on the Steering Committee. Discussions with industry members on how we nominate that person are currently ongoing.
  • Buoys & Moorings
    • No update.
  • Harmful Algal Blooms 
    • NHABON Webinars: 
      • The 6th NHABON Webinar was held on January 19th on the topic of operating Imaging FlowCytobot (IFCBs). Imaging FlowCytobot (IFCBs) is an emerging automated submersible microscope used for monitoring and understanding HABs. This webinar featured Dr. Mike Brosnahan, Assistant Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; Dr. Kate Hubbard, Research Scientist, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; and Dr. Clarissa Anderson, Executive Director, Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System. They provided an overview of IFCBs, how this technology is used in current research efforts, and the current successes and challenges this new technology holds. A recording of the webinar is available here. 
      • 7th NHABON Webinar: Save the date for the next webinar on March 15, 2023 from 3:00-4:00 PM EST. The topic will be announced shortly.
    • Study Estimates Economic Impacts of Harmful Algal Blooms on Razor Clam–Dependent Community: A new study from NCCOS-funded researchers estimates a range of economic impacts that result from harmful algal bloom–related cancellations of razor clam digs at Long Beach, Washington — the most popular beach in the state for recreational clam diggers. The recreational razor clam fishery is the largest recreational bivalve fishery in the Pacific Northwest and a major source of tourism-related income to small communities in the region. Read more here: https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/news/study-estimates-economic-impacts-of-harmful-algal-blooms-on-razor-clam-dependent-community/
  • Marine Life
    • How can we make coral cover data more accessible and usable? Coral reefs are threatened due to a lot of factors including climate change, unsustainable fishing practices, and land-based sources of pollution. In order for decision and policy makers to really understand the status and trends of coral reef ecosystems, we need the data to be accessible to data analysts and in the same format so it can be compared to other datasets. That way, we can do analyses that help us really understand coral health so we can make science-based management decisions. Read more here. 
    • Volunteer Divers Use Latest Camera Technology to Provide Fisheries Data: The SMILE project involves volunteer divers, innovative underwater camera technology, and the expansion of a citizen science approach to collect length data for reef fish in the South Atlantic. The new data sources will be incorporated into stock and ecosystem assessment processes. Read more here.
    • Camera Footage of Marine Mammal Releases Available to View on WebCOOS: Video data of marine mammal releases by The Marine Mammal Center in Point Reyes National Seashore, CA is now available on WebCOOS.org. Read more here. 

 

Data Management and Cyberinfrastructure (DMAC) Subsystem and Tools Built on IOOS Data:

  • IOOS seeks mentors for 2023: We need your help! In order to be re-accepted as a mentoring organization, we need as many project ideas submitted as possible by the Feb 7 deadline.  If you are interested in mentoring a qualified student over the summer on an ocean data-related open source software project, please go to the IOOS Google Summer of Code GitHub repository (https://github.com/ioos/gsoc) and follow links there to submit your project idea.

    Draft or initial project ideas are OK. Since the student application period does not begin until March 20, you'll have time to polish your project before students can apply.  We need a good slate of project proposals before Feb 7 however in order for our application to move forward.

    Please visit this thread for more info: https://groups.google.com/g/ioos_tech/c/Iv20698Cnlc.

  • Environmental Sensitivity Index Layers now available in PacIOOS Voyager: NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration periodically generates Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps for the shorelines of coastal regions. These ESI maps indicate which types of resources (e.g., seabirds, wetlands, parks and recreation areas) might be most at risk in case of oil, fuel, or other chemical spills. By knowing which resources are most at risk, local managers can work to be best prepared for such events. These maps already existed for some of the Pacific Islands (Hawai‘i, American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands), but only recently have they become available in easy to use data formats that can be readily accessed via PacIOOS data services. Users can now visualize and download the data via PacIOOS Voyager by navigating to the Biology section and selecting Environmental Sensitivity.
  • QARTOD:
    • Video Demo About QARTOD Flags for OOI Data: Woods Hole Oceanographic Senior Research Specialist Stace Beaulieu presents a demonstration on how to explore and visualize data for the Ocean Observatories Initiative in Data Explorer, with an emphasis on Quality Assurance of Real-Time Oceanographic Data (QARTOD) flags. In this example, she uses QARTOD flags in Data Explorer to rapidly identify a time period of interest and then access those data from ERDDAP. Watch Video

Modeling and Analysis Subsystem:   

  • CIMAS Postdoctoral Position: IOOS continues to encourage applicants for an open CIMAS postdoc position that will contribute to the NOAA hurricane intensity forecast improvements effort. This is a 2-year position physically located at College Park, MD in the NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Environmental Modeling Center (EMC). Position open until filled.

Around the Regions:

  • CUTI and BEUTI Upwelling Indices post: The Coastal Upwelling Transport Index (CUTI, pronounced “cutie”) and the Biological Effectiive Upwelling Transport Index (BEUTI, pronounced “beauty”) are two new west coast upwelling indices. The indices are derived using ocean models, satellite data, and in situ data. Read more here: https://www.cencoos.org/cuti-and-beuti-upwelling-indices-post/
  • Strength in Numbers: The Power of Joining Forces: Over six SECOORA partners have joined forces to install a web camera, water level sensor, and an air quality monitor at the South Carolina Maritime Museum located on the banks of the Sampit River in Georgetown, SC. Read more here. 
  • Addressing Regional Gaps in OA Monitoring: The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Acidification Network (GCAN) and the Southeast Coastal and Ocean Acidification Network (SOCAN) joined together to assess regional monitoring gaps for ocean acidification (OA). The Networks have developed brief summaries of research and monitoring gaps identified in the 2022 Ocean Chemistry Coastal Community Vulnerability Assessment of the Interagency Working Group on Ocean Acidification (IWGOA) as mandated by the 2020 Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act. They’ve also developed a new survey tool to gather additional information on social and environmental vulnerabilities in the Southeastern U.S. and the Gulf of Mexico. Read more here: https://gcoos.org/oa-gaps/
  • Visit from the NWS Southern Region Leadership: CARICOOS greatly appreciates the visit from Deputy Regional Director for the National Weather Service (NWS) Southern Region Jennifer McNatt, Warning Coordination Meteorologist Ernesto Morales, and Science Operation Officer Ernesto Rodríguez from the NWS San Juan Office on January 18, 2023. During the visit, we discuss CARICOOS ongoing efforts to continue to meet NWS San Juan Office data and information needs and upcoming capacity-building opportunities. CARICOOS is committed to supporting a critical mass of outstanding students and providing them with supra-regional opportunities, including oceanography, coastal engineering, coastal management and policy, ocean observing and forecasting, among others.
  • CNMI Ocean Observing Workshop: In October 2022, PacIOOS partnered with Pacific Coastal Research and Planning (PCRP) to host an Ocean Observing Workshop on Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The workshop created space to spur meaningful engagement with PacIOOS partners, users, and potential users in the CNMI; gather in-depth feedback regarding ocean observing priorities; and begin brainstorming programs and partnerships to implement based on structured discussions. After a series of presentations highlighting PacIOOS programs and capacities, 33 participants representing a variety of CNMI government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and educational institutions participated in facilitated conversations to identify jurisdictional priorities. Collectively, the group distilled its various ocean observing interests down to a variety of discrete projects and capacities. The activities, outcomes, and next steps identified at the workshop are detailed in the summary report.
  • Pacific Islands Regional Ocean Data Sharing Initiative (RODSI): In January 2022, coastal managers, NOAA Office for Coastal Management (OCM) regional leadership and liaisons, and PacIOOS leadership attended a virtual Pacific Islands RODSI meeting to collaborate and address oceanographic data gaps and set “data end-goals.” Participants identified two main shared goals: the collection of new data sets, and the improvement of data delivery and visualization. Steps towards accomplishing these goals include data follow-ups with workshop participants who cited specific data needs (e.g. LiDAR data for Guam), training in data interpretation (especially in underserved Pacific Island communities), and geoportal development with PacIOOS and OCM geospatial data experts. PacIOOS plans to hire two new staff members (a data manager and a web developer) to support implementation of the RODSI recommendations. The full workshop report is available on the PacIOOS website.
  • Heading to the Beach? Check for Safe Conditions Using These SECOORA Websites: Check out these free online decision-support tools that provide data on the health and safety of beaches and coastal waters in the Southeast. 
  • Help SECOORA Identify Coastal Acidification Monitoring Needs: SECOORA invites all members and stakeholders to participate in this short 10-minute survey to help us identify coastal acidification areas of concern. The results will directly inform the Interagency Working Group on Ocean Acidification’s (IWGOA) upcoming call for information on priority monitoring needs.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility:

  • CARICOOS initiates collaboration with a local coastal community school: CARICOOS recently initiated a collaboration with the Puerto Rico Department of Education and Instituto Nueva Escuela, an organization that assists Montessori public school education on the Island. In this pilot project, mid- and high-school students from the Alejandro Tapia y Rivera school located in La Parguera, Lajas, PR, will be trained in topics related to meteorology, coastal weather, and coastal hazards. Their first approach consists of installing a meteorological station (Davis, Vantage Pro 2) on the school premises. CARICOOS will provide technical and scientific support during all phases of this project and will offer workshops to students and teachers to expand their knowledge of these topics and the skills necessary to understand the tools and data products available. CARICOOS is working with teachers and students in the development of strategies to transfer students’ knowledge to their coastal communities. 
  • Pacific Northwest Glider Deployment and Engagement: The WA Shelf glider, a collaboration between the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC), Oregon State University (OSU), and the Quinault Indian Nation (QIN) was deployed from 1-16 September 2022. The data revealed information on hypoxia that is very valuable for informing tribal crab harvests.  Additionally, Jack Barth (OSU) coordinated with Joe Schumacker (QIN) to visit the Taholah school to interact with QIN students. Jack brought along the glider that had been just recovered, giving an interactive talk on gliders, data, and NANOOS.

Interagency and International Collaboration/News:

  • UN Decade of Ocean Science For Sustainable Development Updates 
    • Early Career Ocean Professionals invited to pay tribute to Professor Mário Ruivo through their outstanding projects: UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO), Portugal and EurOcean Foundation are inviting early career ocean professionals (ECOPs) to apply to the newly launched Mario Ruivo Memorial Lecture Series. The Memorial Lecture Series pays tribute to the legacy of Professor Mário Ruivo, former Executive Secretary of the IOC-UNESCO, and Portugal’s greatest champion of ocean science and its contribution to sustainable development. Endorsed by the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, this initiative intends to stimulate and recognise ECOPs who are contributing in a substantive way to the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda - Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14, ‘Life below water’, and to the vision and mission  of the Ocean Decade. For more information, visit https://eurocean.org/mario-ruivo-memorial-lecture/. The deadline to apply has been extended to February 13. 
  • Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) News:
    • OOI Biogeochemical Sensor Data Best Practices and User Guide: Open Community Review: The Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) Biogeochemical (BGC) Sensor Data Best Practices and User Guide is the result of an NSF-funded (OCE2033919) grass-roots community effort to broaden the use of OOI biogeochemical sensor data and increase community capacity to produce analysis-ready data products. The guide includes five chapters: The Introduction (Chapter 1) provides information on the OOI program, including  data access, processing, and recommended end user QA/QC relevant to all OOI biogeochemical sensors, and Chapters 2-5 cover the following groups of BGC variables and associated sensors: Dissolved oxygen, nitrate, carbonate chemistry, and bio-optics. As a next step, OOI is seeking to gain GOOS endorsement of the document. In order to do so, the guide must undergo a rigorous community review process whereby comments are publicly invited and adjudicated. We now invite community members to review the guide and submit comments by February 28, 2023. After completing the open review, we will revise the document based on the reviewers’ comments and upload an updated, final version to OBPS.  Reviewers may comment directly into a Google Doc version of the guide in the form of comments added to the text. This will be most useful for comments or to suggest revisions on specific sections of the text. We request that reviewers sign in via Google or include their name and email in their comments so that we can identify and, if needed, follow up with individuals providing reviews. Reviewers may submit lengthier and/or more overarching comments via an online form. All submissions to this form can be viewed here.
    • OOI Data Classroom at Sea: Ocean Data Labs researcher Sage Lichtenwalner took his data capabilities to the waves, so to speak, as he shared how Ocean Observatories Initiative data can be used in the classroom with researchers and teachers aboard the R/V Neil Armstrong in early January. Lichtenwalner joined the cruise as part of an effort to build partnerships and future opportunities between STEMSEAS (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Student Experiences Aboard Ships) and several Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The cruise was designed to be both immersive and experiential for 12 participants from ten institutions, including six HCBUs. The idea was for faculty to experience the cruise as students on other STEMSEAS expeditions do, and to take back what they learned from their onboard experiences to share with their students and classes. Lichtnenwalner provided participants with four sessions on how to use OOI data in their classrooms. Read more here: https://oceanobservatories.org/2023/01/ooi-data-classroom-at-sea/ 
  • Nicole LeBoeuf Named U.S. Representative to the IOC: Nicole LeBoeuf has been named U.S. Representative to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The IOC is an intergovernmental body made up of 150 member states whose objective is to enable coordination between members regarding marine scientific research programs, ocean services, and related activities, such as capacity development. The IOC works with marine, ocean, and coastal management agencies at the national level to ensure that policymakers have access to the best possible ocean science and services. The position of U.S. Representative to the IOC has traditionally been delegated from the U.S. Department of State to NOAA leadership. The last permanent U.S. Representative to the IOC was Craig McLean, the former assistant administrator for NOAA Research. The U.S. Representative to the IOC represents a federal interagency group during IOC meetings and workshops with the U.S. Department of State. Within NOAA, this role includes working across several line and staff offices in support of the many key IOC-related roles carried out by NOAA programs and projects. NOAA’s contributions to the IOC include activities focused on ocean observing, tsunami early warning systems, harmful algal blooms, sea level rise, and seabed mapping and bathymetry, among others. Congratulations to Nicole!
  • Nominations Sought for Positions on NOAA's Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee: NOAA Fisheries seeks nominations to fill vacancies on the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee, an advisory group that researches, evaluates, and provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary and NOAA on agency policies, activities, science, conservation, and regulatory programs critical to the mission and goals of NOAA Fisheries. Committee members are highly qualified, diverse individuals with experience in commercial, recreational, aquaculture, and non-commercial fisheries and businesses; seafood industry, including processing, marketing, restaurants, and related industries; marine, ecosystems, or protected resources management and conservation; and human dimensions or social sciences associated with living marine resources and working waterfronts. A letter of interest and resume are due by March 13, 2023; full details on the opportunity, including instructions for submitting nominations, can be found here. NOAA Fisheries strives to ensure MAFAC members represent a diversity of individuals and interests. We encourage nominations from all those interested across the country.
  • NOAA Fisheries seeks public comment on development of the first U.S. National Nature Assessment: The U.S. National Nature Assessment (NNA) is an historic effort to assess the state of the nation's natural resources, services and uses in a changing climate.  NOAA is part of an interagency Steering Committee charged with developing the NNA pursuant to Executive Order 14072 (April 22, 2022). A call for public input to inform development of the first U.S. National Nature Assessment (NNA) was published in the Federal Register.  The comment period closes March 31, 2023.  Access the FRN here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/10/31/2022-23593/framing-the-national-nature-assessment
  • BOEM Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Revisions to Bid Adequacy Procedures for Oil & Gas Lease Sales: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management released proposed revisions to its bid adequacy procedures that are in place to ensure receipt of fair market value from Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas lease sales.The proposed revisions were published in the Federal Register for a public comment period ending at 11:59 pm ET on March 5, 2023. To comment on the proposed revisions, go to www.regulations.gov and search for docket number BOEM-2023-0008.  Click here for more information: https://www.boem.gov/oil-gas-energy/energy-economics/lease-sales-and-fair-market-value
  • OCS and Texas Water Board Collaborate to Fill Data Gaps: NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey’s BlueTopoTM — a compilation of the nation’s best available bathymetric data produced by the National Bathymetric Source team — was used by the Texas Water Development Board to analyze gaps in bathymetric data off the Texas coast. The analysis identified 20 high-priority coastal areas, informing surveyors on where to focus costly bathymetric surveying efforts. The Texas Water Development Board collected high-resolution bathymetry data near one of these areas, the Laguna Madre lagoon, and voluntarily shared the data with NOAA for inclusion in BlueTopoTM and electronic navigational charts, which will improve navigation safety in the area. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department also shared bathymetry data collected in Keller Bay, which is currently undergoing team review for inclusion in BlueTopoTM. OCS is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate and share mutually beneficial data.
  • CO-OPS Expands the Cape Cod-Buzzards Bay PORTS®: In December 2022, two new NOAA Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS®) stations were installed at New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts. The new stations are being integrated into NOAA’s Cape Cod-Buzzards Bay PORTS, which provides data to support critical maritime decision making on both sides of Cape Cod and through the Cape Cod Canal. The stations are a result of a partnership between the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), a state economic development agency dedicated to accelerating the growth of the clean energy sector across the commonwealth.  As part of this project, a tidal water level station was installed at the southern end of the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal (NBMCT), a 29-acre terminal site at the New Bedford Harbor that was recently revitalized by MassCEC to support emerging offshore wind energy projects. Additionally, a stand-alone meteorological station measuring wind, air temperature, and air pressure was installed on the New Bedford Hurricane Protection Barrier gate. Real-time data from these two new stations will be made publicly available in February 2023.
  • NOAA Working to Advance Seasonal High Tide Flood Predictions: This year, NOAA scientists plan to implement a new model that will more accurately predict when and where high tide flooding will likely occur up to a year in advance. The new statistical model will rely on tide predictions, sea level rise trends, and seasonal changes in coastal sea level to predict the likelihood of high tide flooding days. As sea levels continue to rise, the model will become even more capable of predicting the increasing number of flood events. Once the model is ready later this year, NOAA will incorporate it into a new coastal flood outlook, building on the agency’s seasonal High Tide Bulletin and State of High Tide Flooding and Annual Outlook reports. This new information and approach represents NOAA’s commitment to providing coastal communities with the data they need to better prepare and respond to flooding.
  • CO-OPS Improves Forecast System Data Accessibility: CO-OPS improved access to nowcast and forecast information from real-time water level stations by updating the Coastal Inundation Dashboard and CO-OPS’s Data API — a software intermediary that allows two applications to talk to each other. CO-OPS added Operational Forecast System model water level data to the Data API, allowing information to be retrieved from different datums, such as Mean Lower Low Water or the International Great Lakes Datum. Following the addition, the Coastal Inundation Dashboard was updated to provide access to the data. The update also allows users to view historical model nowcast data from stations dating back to 2020. Reviewing past data can enhance maritime and coastal decision making by allowing users to assess model bias — the difference between the model’s guidance and what was observed. Integrating historical nowcast data into the dashboard also allows users to assess how models captured past storm surge events.
  • Registration Now Open for the Ocean Visions Biennial Summit! Registration is open for our upcoming Summit, scheduled for April 4-6 at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia. This is an exceptional opportunity to be part of a multidisciplinary community working to advance solutions to complex challenges at the ocean-climate nexus. Both in-person and virtual attendance options are being offered. Early bird registration rates are available through February 15! Learn more and register here. This interactive event will feature a mix of session types that will bring the community together around five tracks: 
     
    • Ocean-Based Contributions to Global Decarbonization  
    • Ocean-Based Contributions to Carbon Dioxide Removal
    • Ocean Ecosystem Repair and Regeneration
    • Human Adaptation to a Changing Ocean
    • Building a Global Community of Solvers at the Ocean-Climate Nexus

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