Toward OceanObs2009 D.E.Harrison NOAA/PMEL, OOPC OCO Annual Review September 2008

Conference Goals Celebrate progress implementing the vision from OceanObs1999, realizing benefits from it and highlighting potential Develop community consensus for sustaining and developing the system for its second decade of societal benefits

Remarkable Progress The ice-free surface and upper 1500m of the world ocean are being observed systematically for the first time. Ocean observations are being used rapidly for global and regional products of societal benefit An international community with diverse objectives and funding sources has come together to accomplish this and to share the observations The UNFCCC and GEO and many others are watching and cheering us on…

5x5 regions meeting ‘climate SST bias’ data requirement

Argo Density – 3 profiles/month per 3x3 region

Conference Vision Strengthen and enhance the international framework, under GCOS/GOOS/WCRP, for sustained world ocean observing and information systems supporting the needs of society about ocean weather, climate, ecosystems, carbon and biogeochemistry

Conference Structure White papers on plans for coming decade to be agreed by sub-communities in advance and circulated widely for feedback Plenary talks will present White Papers for discussion, evolution and agreement Extended abstracts with details to be prepared and will be presented in afternoon poster sessions. Daily panel discussions Opportunity for side-meetings

Meeting Outcomes Broader-marine-community agreement on aspirations for the coming decade. Input to v.2 of GCOS Implementation Plan, the UNFCCC and GEO ‘road map’ for the sustained open ocean observing system New cross-community connections Conference publication of White Papers Electronic publication of Extended Abstracts

Daily Outline Overview and Celebration of Progress Scientific Results from global Obs Societal Benefits and Opportunities Frontiers of Global Ocean Observations The Way Forward

Tasks Ahead Each of the OCO observing sub- communities to: Develop plan for their aspirations for the coming decade Prepare extended abstracts and posters for OceanObs09 Participate in preparation of White Papers and in development of consensus for coming decade.

A Work in Progress See: OceanObs09.net for status in weeks ahead Program committee nearly complete Financial arrangements progressing. Will be registration fee of up to Euro300. White Paper co-lead authors will be settled as soon as possible; they will lead WP, but sub-communities should self-organize

Organizing Committee Jerome Benveniste, ESA Jean-Louis Fellous, JCOMM D.E. Harrison, OOPC Ralph Rayner, GOOS SC, IMAREST Detlef Stammer, CLIVAR/GSOP Martin Visbeck, WCRP

Program Committee 20 leaders in a wide range of science and technology and applications areas. See oceanobs09.net

THANK YOU The success of the meeting will depend upon your sub-community efforts in coming to agreement on activities desired for the decade ahead And in working thoughtfully with the other groups to reach community consensus And for all the work you do to collect, QC and share the observations, and to extract societal benefit from them.