The decadal OceanObs conference, which strives to improve the governance of a global ocean observing system, will take place from September 16-20, 2019 in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. The community-driven conference will bring people from all over the planet together to communicate the decadal progress of ocean observing networks and to chart innovative solutions to society’s growing needs for ocean information in the coming decade. The objective of the conference is to improve the governance of a global ocean observing system, including advocacy, funding, and alignment with best practices and to designate responsibility for product definition, including production and timely delivery at the appropriate scales (global, basin, regional, national) to serve user needs.
The All Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance will be promoted at the event through varied activities in order to spread the word about how a growing number of countries are building an Atlantic community on both sides of the equator. Apart from being part of the European space in the exhibition area, the Alliance will have a side event entitled “All-Atlantic Ocean Observing System” which will focus on the development of a program to integrate existing observing networks and systems in the Atlantic Ocean and their connections to the adjacent seas and polar oceans.
The side event will serve to highlight the ambition of the AtlantOS programme to connect and extend current efforts to build an All-Atlantic Ocean Observation system. Building on the early successes of the AtlantOS strategy, the discussion will concern how this framework can most effectively be turned into implementation actions. The goal is to identify new capacities that might be are needed and how best to connect seamlessly to the Arctic Ocean, the Southern Ocean and bordering seas of the Atlantic. Emphasis will be given to ongoing activities and emerging new implementation actions.
The event in Hawaii will also provide a stage to the Copernicus Marine Service OceanObs’19 side meeting, entitled “The Copernicus European Earth Observation Program and its Marine Service”. Importance will be given to ongoing activities and ocean observations needs/requirements to build the Copernicus Marine portfolio. Also, the side meeting aims to provide more in-depth information about the Copernicus Marine Service and its free of charge marine data and information portfolio, composed of digital products from in situ, satellite and numerical models.
The under construction All Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance results from the implementation of the Galway and the Belém Statements, as well as the EU cooperation arrangement with Argentina and Cape Verde. Its main goal is to enhance further ocean research and innovation to address the still considerable gaps in our knowledge and understanding of the Atlantic, from the Arctic to Antarctica. The European Union, USA, Canada, Brazil, South Africa, Argentina and Cape Verde have already joined forces to support the Alliance, namely through AORA and AANChOR. Learn more about the Alliance here and discover how other Atlantic nations can be part of it. There will many opportunities to get involved so make sure you subscribe our newsletter and follow our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.