Ocean Sciences
The IOC Ocean Science Sections (OSS) plays a lead role in creating the conditions for good science and building networks of scientific logistic facilities at global and regional scale. Activities are clustered around the IOC high level objectives for 2008-2013 and the priority areas of research determined by the ad hoc Advisory Group for the IOC Ocean Sciences Section: climate change, ocean health and coastal research and management. IOC OSS also contributes to enhance scientific capabilities in developing nations, especially in Africa, in line with IOC-UNESCO priorities.
The OSS functional activities to fulfill our mission and to guide the IOC within the four HLO and successfully deliver outcomes and results include: (i) Science innovation and management by promotion and coordination of scientific programmes, (ii) Science synergy by stimulating co-operation between researchers and organizations to explore new directions, (iii) Scientific services by providing guidelines and scientific criteria for ecosystem management, (iv) Outreach by publishing results, educating general public and giving visibility to OSS activities and (v) Capacity building by transferring knowledge to developing countries and scientific communities.
As result, the IOC OSS is at the forefront of many important international developments and events and is responsible for the execution of many essential activities related with the promotion and coordination of best marine science and oceanographic research. These include the coordination and monitoring of the programmes during their entire lifetime, likely the most visible function of IOC. But equally important are the assessment based in scientific knowledge, data management, HAB early warning systems, setting standards and guidelines, organizing training courses, promotion of symposia, outreach and other critical tasks essential for the successful implementation of UNESCO and IOC mid term strategy.
IOC OSS programmes and activities include:
- GOSR Global Ocean Science Report
- WCRP World Climate Research Programme
- Ocean Acidification – GOA-ON Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network
- IOC HAB Harmful Algal Bloom Programme
- GEOHAB/GlobalHAB Global Oceanography and Ecology of Harmful Algal Blooms
- Biogeochemical Time Series – IGMETS IOC International Group for Marine Ecological Time Series
- GO2NE Global Ocean Oxygen Network
- Integrated Coastal Research – nutrient management
- N-CIRP Nutrients and Coastal Impacts Research Programme
- Blue Carbon Initiative
- CCLME Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem Project
- Microplastics – GESAMP WG 40
- Marine Geoengineering – GESAMP WG 41
Partner programmes:
