1. Strategies For Permanent Access To Scientific Information In Southern Africa Focus On Health And Environmental Information For Sustainable Development Pretoria, South Africa, 5 – 7 September 2005 Strategies for Permanent Access to OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA AND INFORMATION in Southern Africa Dr Alfonse M. Dubi

2. EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND INFORMATION 1.INTRODUCTION (a)The whole of Africa is surrounded by ocean, which is subjected to both natural and human phenomena (b)The dynamics of climate ( winds, temperature, barometric pressure, rainfall, etc.) and population affect the dynamics of the ocean. (c)The dynamics of the ocean (waves, currents, temperature, etc.) affect fisheries, transportation, exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons and other economic activities (d)LME’s are important to African economies, e.g Benguela, Agulhas and Somali Currents

3. EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND INFORMATION

4. 2.OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA 2.1Oceanographic data is divided according to: – Disciplines: Biological, Chemical, Geological, Physical and Meteorology –Ecosystem Themes: Mangroves, Coral Reefs, Seagrasses, etc.. –Phenomena: El Nino, Cyclones (Typhoons, Hurricanes), Tsunami, Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs), Shoreline Change, Climate Change, etc..Tsunami –Data Storage: Meta data, full data –Accessibility: Protected, Accessible

5. EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND INFORMATION 2.OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA 2.2Where to find data: Oceanographic Data Centres (a) Intergovernmental Data Centers :Intergovernmental Data Centers Established by international agreements to archive and manage and deal with multi- national datasets (b) Research Project Data CentersResearch Project Data Centers Data centers established by specific research projects to manage project datasets until final archiving at Intergovernmental Centers or other final disposition

6. EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND INFORMATION 2.OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA cont’d (c) Topical & Operational Data Activities - Specially created activity centers that archive and provide data on specific regional or thematic topics, and newly established centers that provide processing and delivery of operational oceanographic products within operational oceanographic systems Topical & Operational Data ActivitiesTopical & Operational Data Activities

7. EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND INFORMATION 2.OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA cont’d 2.3Collecting Data: Oceanographic Methods and Tools (a)Sampling Devices (Sampling equipment.doc ) Sampling equipment.docSampling equipment.doc Water samplers Messengers Bottom samplers Animal and plant samplers

8. EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND INFORMATION 2.OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA cont’d 2.3Collecting Data: Oceanographic Methods and Tools (b)Measuring equipment (measuring equipment) (measuring equipment)(measuring equipment) Instruments (Temperature, Salinity, Oxygen, pH, visibility and colour, depth, currents) Mobile Platforms (Oceanographic vessels, i.e. boats, ships and submersibles) Fixed Platforms (Piers, Moored buoys, Offshore structures) Drifting Buoys & Floats Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

9. EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND INFORMATION 2.OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA cont’d 2.3Collecting Data: Oceanographic Methods and Tools (c)Satellite oceanography and Remote sensing Instruments (Temperature, Salinity, Oxygen, pH, visibility and colour, depth, currents) Mobile Platforms (Oceanographic vessels, i.e. boats, ships and submersibles) Fixed Platforms (Piers, Moored buoys, Offshore structures) Drifting Buoys & Floats Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

10. EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND INFORMATION 2.OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA cont’d 2.3Collecting Data:

12. EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND INFORMATION 2.OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA cont’d

13. EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND INFORMATION 2.OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA cont’d 2.4Oceanographic Data Management (a)Data analysis (b)Putting it altogether: Operational Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

14. Equatorial Pacific Ocean Sea-surface Temperature during El Niño 1997-98

15. Equatorial Pacific Ocean Sea-level from Altimetry during El Niño 1997-98

16. EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND INFORMATION 3.STRATEGIES FOR REGIONAL COLLABORATION 3.1THE CHALLENGES –Inadequate trained and skilled human resource –Inadequate infrastructure –Reluctant “technologically” developed nations to transfer marine technology (issues of copyrights, business, etc..) –Inadequate initiatives for regional collaboration, particularly South-South cooperation

17. EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND INFORMATION 3.STRATEGIES FOR REGIONAL COLLABORATION 3.2THE WAY FORWARD (a)Exploiting International and Regional Initiatives for existing oceanographic data and information –Several hundred associations, organisations and societies focus on ocean and coastal environmental Ocean Portal (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, IOC)Ocean Portal (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, IOC) UNESCO (Library Societies and Associations, Information Resources)UNESCOLibrary Societies and Associations Information Resources

18. EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND INFORMATION 3.STRATEGIES FOR REGIONAL COLLABORATION – cont’d (b)Collaboration/Participation in International and Regional Initiatives for collection of oceanographic data and information (b)Collaboration/Participation in International and Regional Initiatives for collection of oceanographic data and information ODINAFRICA, IOGOOS, ACEP

19. EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND INFORMATION 3.STRATEGIES FOR REGIONAL COLLABORATION – cont’d 3.3Collaboration in CAPACITY BUILDING collection, analysis and dissemination of oceanographic data and information –Acquisition of Infrastructure –Training technical and scientific staff –Promotion of South-South cooperation

20. EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND INFORMATION 4.CONCLUSION It is obvious that we need Improved access to and use of oceanographic data and information for sustainable marine and coastal resources management Evaluation of the existing capacities of each country in oceanographic data and information To establish a communications network (creation of a website designed to provide information on the activities of all centres and of an FTP site where they will have at their disposal information accessible to each user) To establish of centres of excellence in oceanographic data and information, equipped with satellite imagery receiving systems (NOAA, Meteosat, … ), capable of training professionals, capable of promoting awareness and dissemination of information among potential users.