SCOR Working Group 154 : Integration of Plankton-Observing Sensor Systems to Existing Global Sampling Programs (P-OBS)

Co-Chairs : Emmanuel Boss (USA) and Anya Waite (Germany)

Other Full Members : Silvia Acinas (Spain), Ilana Berman-Frank (Israel), Marcela Cornejo (Chile), Katja Fennel (Canada), Heidi Sosik (USA), Sandy Thomalla (South Africa), Julia Uitz (France), and Hidekatsu Yamazaki (Japan)

Associate Members : Sonia Batten (Canada and PICES), Jørgen Berge (Norway), Herve Claustre (France), Gérald Grégori (France), Johannes Karstensen (Germany), Frank Muller-Karger (USA), Anthony Richardson (Australia), Bernadette Sloyan (Australia), and Rik Wanninkhof (USA)

Terms of Reference

General : To identify best practices (technologies and sampling protocols) and technical feasibility to incorporate plankton measurements into global ocean observing platforms (initially GO-SHIP and for expansion into the mooring array of OceanSITES).

Specific :

– Identify current technologies (sensors as well as water sample analysis) that can be integrated into existing observing infrastructure to provide input and guide studies of plankton for marine ecosystem and biogeochemistry studies.
-Provide the necessary details associated with every technology/measurement proposed (e.g., power, cost, and human effort).
-Document potential applications, including science case studies and lists of publications, and document measurement protocols. Develop adequate protocols when these are not available.
-Identify synergies with specific measurements done from other observing programs (e.g., BGC-Argo, space-based measurements, Continuous Plankton Recorder surveys) to provide cross-calibration and a better representation of the 4-D distribution of the parameter measured.
-Identify technological limitations and/or gaps, and identify areas of priority investments to develop and implement the required observation technologies and tools for specific needs.
-Increase awareness of the availability of biological oceanographic datasets internationally and identify barriers to their access and use, particularly in developing nations.

Approved : September 2017

Financial Sponsors : SCOR, NSF

Meetings :

#1 : February 2018, Portland, Oregon, USA

Visit : SCOR WG154