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From the Director:

Hello IOOS Community,

With heavy hearts, we share some sad news of the loss of one of our own from the IOOS family. Matthew K. Howard died suddenly on February 8 while attending a business conference in Seattle. As Data Management and Communications Lead for the GCOOS since its inception, Matt provided the technical leadership for this regional association and was engaged in many related activities. Please see the following announcement from Barb Kirkpatrick:

A note from Barb Kirkpatrick, Executive Director, GCOOS:

It is with a sadness that we share news of the unexpected death of Dr. Matthew K. Howard, Data Management and Communications Coordinator for GCOOS and Research Scientist in the Department of Oceanography, College of Geosciences at Texas A & M University.

Matt’s pioneering contributions to oceanography, ocean observing systems and data management are wide-ranging and countless and matched only by his kindness, desire to help, quick response, wonderful wit and enthusiasm for life.

We will miss him dearly.

More information is available here http://gcoos.org and here https://www.forevermissed.com/matthew-howard/#about

With deepest condolences,

Carl

From the U.S. IOOS Office:

  • IOOS RA Spring Meeting: Each Spring, representatives from the IOOS Regional Associations and the IOOS Association come to Washington, D.C. for their annual “March Madness” activities which involves the annual Spring Meeting with the IOOS Program office and other NOAA partners, a IOOS Association Board Meeting, and key outreach meetings on the Hill. This years IOOS RA Spring Meeting will take place March 6-8th at the Washington Plaza Hotel in Washington, D.C. Read more here: https://ioosassociation.org/springmeeting2018
  • IOOS Certification: The NERACOOS and GCOOS MOAs to officially certify those regions as Regional Information Coordination Entities (RICE) are approved by NOS and are now ready to be signed. A signing ceremony is expected at the Spring IOOS meeting, March 6-7.

Observation Subsystem and Sensor Technologies:

  • High Frequency (HF) Radar/Radio: (IOOS national coordinator, Jack Harlan; Jack.Harlan@noaa.gov):
    • HF Radar at AGU Ocean Sciences Meeting: The IOOS Program office reserved a space at Ocean Sciences 2018 for an HF radar meeting to provide a venue for the exchange of news about the latest in HFR research and applications. Approximately 40 people attended and 10 presentations were made during the hour-long meeting. The presentations can be found here.
    • Save the Date - ROWG-2018 Announced: The 10th Radiowave Operators Working Group meeting will take place 16-18 October 2018 at the NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Monterey Bay Sanctuary Exploration Center. For more information about the Exploration Center: https://montereybay.noaa.gov/vc/sec/welcome.html. ROWG is an HF radar-centric meeting for the exchange of ideas and information among HF radar operators and engineers More ROWG details and a registration website coming soon!
  • Gliders (IOOS POC Becky Baltes, becky.baltes@noaa.gov):
    • Successful Glider Events at AGU Ocean Sciences Meeting 2018: The glider events held at the AGU Ocean Sciences Meeting were well attended and well received. About 115 people attended the Townhall, over 90 people attended the oral session, and we had several visitors to the posters. The major take-away from the Townhall was a request for best practices for the user community. There were also introductions with EPA glider operators in the Great Lakes and some others regional and private sector operators interested in collaborating with the network.
  • Animal Telemetry Network (ATN) (National Coordinator Bill Woodward, Bill.Woodward@noaa.gov):
    • 4th ATN Workshop: We hosted our 4th ATN Workshop this month with GCOOS in NOLA. Chris, Barb and Jen did a tremendous job in bringing together 50+ outstanding participants from the commercial, resource management and research sectors to exchange thoughts, requirements and conclusions regarding marine animal telemetry activities in the Gulf of Mexico Region. Workshop report will follow in a few months. Next up will be the PACIOOS-ATN Workshop, April 23-24 in Honolulu.
    • Animal Telemetry Abstract for OceansObs ‘19: Bill has been invited by Dr. Rob Harcourt, IMOS at Macquarie University, to be one of several co-authors on an abstract to OceanObs ‘19: Animal telemetry: an essential sensor in ocean observing systems.
  • IOOS PO Attendance at NSF Research Coordination Network OceanObs Workshop: Carl, Derrick and Gabrielle attended the February 11 NSF Research Coordination Network (RCN) OceanObs workshop. The 2018 OceanObs RCN seeks to advance links between research networks and operational users to facilitate the delivery of critical information to stakeholders; this workshop was focused on discussions toward a viable strategy to integrate biological observations into multidisciplinary ocean observing systems. Frank Muller-Karger and Jay Pearlman hosted a series of talks to examine state of play in global ocean observing systems and discuss best strategies for including biological data. The workshop sought input from leaders and operators of observing systems to contribute to a white paper for input to the OceanObs '19 meeting, consider promising new technologies and how to promote their development, discuss the upcoming IOC Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), and address how to balance ocean observations, science, use, and conservation requirements.

Data Management and Communications (DMAC) Subsystem and Tools Built on IOOS data (DMAC listserv – contact Derrick Snowden, Derrick.Snowden@noaa.gov)

  • Successful: IOOS Biological Data Training Workshop: The inaugural IOOS Biological Data Training Workshop was held February 8-9, 2018 in Seattle, WA.  This workshop was co-sponsored with the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (U.S. Geological Survey, OBIS-USA) in coordination with IOC’s OceanTeacher Global Academy and OBIS international.  The workshop built on the successful partnership between IOOS and OBIS to develop a community of practice around the management and analysis of biological ocean observing data.  It provided hands-on training to partners from the IOOS Regional Associations, Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON),  National Centers for Environmental Information, Federal and State government agencies, Smithsonian Marine GEO, Ocean Tracking Network, Animal Telemetry Network, Ocean Networks Canada, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The objective of the workshop was to educate participants in the benefits, goals, technology and process to make biological data more widely accessible in standardized formats. Outcomes from the workshop include a collection of software and scripts available on a GitHub repository.  The training materials are available on the OceanTeacher website. (POC: Jennifer Bosch)
  • Save the Date! DMAC Annual Meeting:  This year’s meeting will take place Monday, May 21 to Wednesday, May 23 at the Silver Spring Civic Building in downtown Silver Spring.  Stay tuned for more information including hotel block information and a request for agenda topic ideas.  Please save those dates in your calendars and plan your travel to get together again this year in Silver Spring.
  • QARTOD (National Coordinator Mark Bushnell, mark.bushnell@noaa.gov):
    • Another QC manual updated: A update to the Dissolved Nutrients QC manual has been completed and will soon be posted on the QARTOD web page. We thank the contributors and reviewers for their assistance!
    • Ocean Best Practices at AGU OSM: The OBP Town Hall at the Ocean Sciences Meeting was well attended, participants were engaged and asked good questions. The recorded questions, answers, and additional details are now being compiled. Extensive proceedings from the workshop held in November have been completed and will be posted at https://www.atlantos-h2020.eu/project-information/best-practices. Preliminary discussions with IOOS RAs at the OSM suggest there are real opportunities for collaboration, contact Mark Bushnell for additional information.

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

  • COMT FFO Review Panel, March 12-14: The COMT FFO closed on January 19th and the IOOS Program Office received some excellent proposals for review. An expert review panel has been assembled and will meet March 12-14th, 2018 to review the proposals.

Interagency and International Collaboration/News:

  • Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) (IOOS PO POC Gabrielle Canonico, Gabrielle.Canonico@noaa.gov):
    • Global Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) Workshop: A workshop has been scheduled immediately following the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity, on Thursday, May 17,  2018 at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. All those interested in life in the sea and in building the global MBON are encouraged to attend, including existing and potential new partners.  Please contact Gabrielle.Canonico@noaa.gov for more information.
    • GEO BON MBON teleconference, March 12, 2018 - 3pm US EDT: On the agenda for this call is:
      • 1) UN Environment WCMC: Ocean+ Habitat Atlas (discussion led by Lauren Weatherdon/WCMC) - The Ocean+ Habitat Atlas aims to produce the first online, authoritative database on the known extent of ecologically-important ocean habitats, such as seagrasses, warm- and cold-water corals, mangroves and saltmarshes, and to update this database consistently over time. Brochure can be found here: http://wcmc.io/atlasbrochure
      • 2) Ongoing and New MBON efforts
      • MBON Webinar link: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/823482421
      • You can also dial in using your phone.
        • United States +1 (312) 757-3121
        • Access Code: 823-482-421
  • Workshop on SDGs in the Caribbean: GEO Blue Planet, with support from NASA, held a workshop on the role of the ocean for the implementation and monitoring of SDGs in Caribbean small island developing states on January 17-19, 2018, in Saint Vincent. A workshop report is under development and will be made public as soon as it is available. The workshop brought together 42 participants from seventeen countries representing a wide range of stakeholders to agree on SDG targets of importance to the region, indicators to measure progress against those targets, approaches to monitoring critical social, economic and environmental variables, and associated funding needs. The group is working to match  these requirements with existing observations and data products and to identify gaps where leveraging existing resources is not possible.  Gabrielle Canonico represents IOOS on the workshop committee.    
  • 2018 OOI Data Workshops – Apply Now: The Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) is hosting several workshops for early-career scientists (PhD candidates, postdocs and pre-tenure faculty up to 7 years post-PhD) interested in learning more about the OOI and how to use data from the program in their work. The workshops focus on the development of programming, data analysis, and evaluation skills. Overviews of the marine infrastructure and software tools maintained by the OOI will also be provided. Click here for Workshop Details
  • NGS Releases New Coordinate Conversion and Transformation Tool (NCAT): The National Geodetic Survey recently released the NGS Coordinate Conversion and Transformation Tool (NCAT), which combines several previously separate transformation tools into a single browser-based user interface that supports single- and multi-point conversions, web services, and downloadable software. The tool will provide our NGS customer base of engineers, surveyors, and researchers, etc., a more efficient and streamlined product. NCAT allows users to easily convert geodetic coordinates between different coordinate systems, and to transform coordinates between different datums in a single step. NCAT performs three-dimensional (latitude, longitude, ellipsoid height) coordinate transformations for a wide range of datums and regions in the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) and provides local error estimates for each transformation. This one-stop coordinate conversion and transformation tool makes it convenient to convert and/or transform coordinates for a variety of geospatial applications. It is available as web service or to download for offline processing. For more information, contact: Dru.Smith@noaa.gov, 240-533-9654
  • OceanObs ‘19 - Call for Abstracts: The organizers of OceanObs’19 are soliciting abstracts for Community White Papers describing aspirations for the coming decade from all interested groups. The Community White Papers should promote international collaboration and large-scale sustained ocean observing efforts, and address one or ideally more of the seven (anticipated) themes (Discovery, Ecosystem Health & Biodiversity, Climate Variability & Change, Water, Food, & Energy Security, Pollution & Human Health, Hazards & Maritime Safety, and Blue Economy) and two crosscutting themes on data information system and ocean observing governance topics. Abstract submissions will remain open until March 15, 2018.  The Program Committee will review and consolidate the Community White Paper list from March 15 – April 30, 2018.  Invitations to group authors for Community White Papers will be sent by April 30, 2018. Final Community White Papers will be collected by September 30, 2018. For more information and to submit an abstract please see https://council.science/.
  • Save the Date for the 2018 Public Policy Forum - Power of Partnerships: Advancing Ocean Science and Tech: Consortium for Ocean Leadership’s annual Public Policy Forum theme is Power of Partnerships: Advancing Ocean Science and Tech and will feature leadership roundtables and case studies with experts from across the federal government and around the country, as well as remarks by several Members of Congress. Power of Partnerships investigates partnering as a tool to advance the national ocean science and technology enterprise. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, and a reception will be held in the evening. More info: http://oceanleadership.org/public-policy-forum/2018-public-policy-forum/

Delivering the Benefits:

  • MARACOOS Named NOAA Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador: The National Weather Service has designated the Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System (MARACOOS) as a NOAA Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador. This designation recognizes MARACOOS' role in supporting communities--through MARACOOS' provision of data and information products--to be prepared for and be more resilient in the face of extreme weather events.  The MARACOOS role includes our relationships with the National Weather Service and other NWS partners who provide data products to communities and decision makers.  The work of all MARACOOS partners is an important part of this designation and we thank you for your ongoing work! Additional information on the NOAA Weather-Ready Nation program can be found here: http://www.weather.gov/wrn/
  • New GOA-ON Website: NANOOS and NOAA PMEL worked together on an upgrade to the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON) website.  Please check it out at www.goa-on.org.  Kudos to Troy Tanner (NANOOS) and Cathy Cosca (NOAA PMEL) for this great collaboration, and it has been my pleasure to be actively involved.
  • Rincon Wave Buoy Back in Service in CARICOOS: A wave buoy located near Rincon in northwest Puerto Rico has been successfully redeployed and is back online and reporting data.  The buoy went adrift during the peak of Hurricane Maria, was recovered by NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson, refurbished by CDIP, and redeployed by CARICOOS on February 8.  Click here for current data: http://www.caricoos.org/station/rincon/us

Congressional:

  • No update.

Communications/Outreach/Education:

  • IOOS PO Participation in 2018 Social Coast Forum: Sabra Comet, the IOOS PO’s new Sea Grant Fellow, attended the 2018 Social Coast Forum in Charleston, South Carolina February 5th through 8th. Hosted by the NOAA Office for Coastal Management, the meeting focuses around the social science side of coastal management. Sabra attended a mix of talks, round-tables, mini-trainings, and skill building workshops to learn more about stakeholder engagement and the technology and tools available during the next year of her fellowship. 
  • GCOOS Seeks Board Nominees: GCOOS’ Membership Committee is seeking nominations for the organization’s Board of Directors. We are seeking individuals interested in and committed to working within an organization dedicated to provide data, information and products to the Gulf of Mexico stakeholder community that includes the private sector, governmental agencies at all levels, academia and researchers, non-governmental organizations and the general public. The nomination deadline is 5 p.m. (CST), Friday, March 2, 2018.  Click here to learn more about the duties and nomination process: http://gcoos.org
  • SECOORA Webinar: Next Generation SECOORA Data Portal (v2.5): Building on many years of stakeholder feedback, SECOORA and its technical partner, Axiom Data Science, have been working on a significant overhaul to the SECOORA Data Portal. The updated portal is currently available in beta version (v2.5) to give users access to new features and a revamped design to get more out of the SECOORA data services.  The webinar is February 27 at 12pm ET.  To learn more and register, click here: http://secoora.org/next-generation-secoora-data-portal-webinar/
  • What do YOU want out of the next GLOS webinars?  GLOS co-hosted two webinars recently, both sharing experience from other regions on harmful algal bloom observations. Participation was great and they’re wondering what else GLOS can do to add value to the Great Lakes data sharing community.  Click here for more, and to add your voice: https://glos.org/
  • GLOS co-hosting the Marine Technology Society Buoy workshop, April 9-10: Join GLOS for the 12th MTS Buoy Workshop at the Michigan League, located on the University of Michigan Campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Hosts this year are the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL), the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR), and the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS). Read more here: http://www.whoi.edu/

Upcoming Meetings with IOOS Participation:

  • 2018 MTS Buoy Workshop, April 9-12: The 12th MTS Buoy Workshop will be held at the Michigan League, located on the University of Michigan Campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Hosts this year are the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL), the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR), and the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS). More information is available here: http://www.whoi.edu/
  • Save the Date! GCOOS Spring Members Meeting: Please save the date! The Spring Members meeting will be held Thursday, April 19th, 2018.
  • Global Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) Workshop: A workshop has been scheduled immediately following the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity, on Thursday, May 17,  2018 at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. All those interested in life in the sea and in building the global MBON are encouraged to attend, including existing and potential new partners.  Please contact Gabrielle.Canonico@noaa.gov for more information.
  • Save the Date! DMAC Annual Meeting:  This year’s meeting will take place Monday, May 21 to Wednesday, May 23 at the Silver Spring Civic Building in downtown Silver Spring.  Stay tuned for more information including hotel block information and a request for agenda topic ideas.  Please save those dates in your calendars and plan your travel to get together again this year in Silver Spring.
  • Save the Date! SECOORA 2018 Annual Meeting: The SECOORA 2018 Annual Meeting will be held May 22, 23 and 24, 2018 in Charleston, South Carolina.  Check in with SECOORA for more information as it's available: http://secoora.org/annual-meeting-2018/
  • Save the Date for OCEANS 2018: Mark October 22 - 25, 2018 on your calendars now for the OCEANS 2018 Charleston Conference - the leading global OCEANS conference bringing science, technology, and ocean leaders together to help advance the world’s ocean professions. We look forward to seeing you in Charleston, South Carolina.

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? Please contact Laura Griesbauer, laura.griesbauer@noaa.gov.