Do you need more chlorophyll, nitrate, oxygen, and carbon sensor data for your water quality research?  Check out and Review this new Guide to OOI biogeochemical sensor data!

The Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) Biogeochemical (BGC) Sensor Data Best Practices and User Guide is the result of an NSF-funded (OCE2033919) grass-roots community effort to broaden the use of OOI biogeochemical sensor data and increase community capacity to produce analysis-ready data products. The guide includes five chapters: The Introduction (Chapter 1) provides information on the OOI program, including  data access, processing, and recommended end user QA/QC relevant to all OOI biogeochemical sensors, and Chapters 2-5 cover the following groups of BGC variables and associated sensors: Dissolved oxygen, nitrate, carbonate chemistry, and bio-optics.

This effort brought together an international group of 39 ocean observing experts, across all career stages, from 19 institutions and 5 countries, each of whom brings expertise on biogeochemical sensors, data analysis and ocean observing infrastructure, as well as research expertise in ocean biogeochemistry. The initial OOI Biogeochemical Sensor Data (OOI BGC) Working Group was formed in July 2021 through an open application process. A three-day virtual meeting in July 2021 launched the Working Group, with consensus-building activities to develop the scope and structure of the Best Practices and User Guide. From July 2021 to June 2022, the Working Group drafted a beta version of the Best Practices and User Guide that went through two rounds of internal review within the Working Group. A draft version of this document was Beta Tested by 14 current and prospective OOI BGC data users, who joined the Working Group members for a 3-day workshop in June 2022 to provide  feedback that has since been used in revising and finalizing the document.

The OOI Biogeochemical Sensor Data Best Practices and User Guide is now complete, and has been submitted to the Ocean Best Practices System (OBPS). As a next step, we are seeking to gain GOOS endorsement of the document. In order to do so, the guide must undergo a rigorous community review process whereby comments are publicly invited and adjudicated. We now invite community members to review the guide and submit comments by February 28, 2023. After completing the open review, we will revise the document based on the reviewers’ comments and upload an updated, final version to OBPS.

We encourage feedback from everyone, including both disciplinary experts and users new to each of these sensor types, as well as both experienced and new users of OOI data. Reviewers are welcome to provide feedback on the entire document, or on chapters or sections that are of particular relevance to their interests or expertise.

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How to review the OOI BGC Sensor Data Best Practices and User Guide:

We are aiming for a transparent and open community review process, and as such, all reviewer comments and responses to them will be public. We invite reviewers to provide feedback on the OOI Biogeochemical Sensor Data Best Practices and User Guide via two different pathways:

• Reviewers may comment directly into a Google Doc version of the guide in the form of comments added to the text. This will be most useful for comments or to suggest revisions on specific sections of the text. We request that reviewers sign in via Google or include their name and email in their comments so that we can identify and, if needed, follow up with individuals providing reviews.

• Reviewers may submit lengthier and/or more overarching comments via an online form. All submissions to this form can be viewed here.

 

Introductory Webinar: Connecting Citizen Science with Remote Sensing

January 24, 26 & 31, 2023 11:00-12:30 EST (UTC-5) Citizen science projects provide the opportunity for community member volunteers to monitor the Earth. These projects have dramatically increased in the last decade and can provide great benefits to projects that combine Earth Observations with ground-based information in the fields of climate change, sustainable development, ecosystem monitoring and characterization, drought, and land cover or land-use change. This training will provide attendees an overview of citizen science efforts that use Earth Observations, and how to engage with community members in a supportive and meaningful manner to achieve project goals. Attendees will also be provided with case-study examples of successful citizen science projects, with some examples from NASA supported projects and activities. We will highlight projects like NeMO-Net, a global coral reef classification with 2D and 3D images application combined with machine learning; Floating Forests, a Giant Kelp monitoring platform where participants can classify kelp in Landsat images; Snapshot Wisconsin, a project that uses images of wildlife from trail cameras to assist with habitat mapping; and Soundscapes to Landscapes, where bird diversity in California is monitored by identifying specific species through sound recordings. We will also highlight the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program, an international science and education program, and GLOBE Observer, a citizen science app that allows volunteers in GLOBE countries to take observations and contribute to the community. Register

The Abstract Deadline has just been extended to December 11, 2022!

NOAA, EUMETSAT, and KHOA are pleased to announce the Third International Operational Satellite Oceanography Symposium (OSOS-3) will convene in-person in Busan South Korea, June 12-16, 2023.

View the Call for Abstracts flyer here (note new abstract submission deadline is December 11, 2022)

The Executive Steering Committee and Scientific Programme Committee are pleased to invite you to attend the Third International Operational Satellite Oceanography Symposium (OSOS-3) to be held in Busan, South Korea. The meeting sessions will be held from 12-15 June 2023, with an optional training day on 16th June 2023. NOAA, EUMETSAT and KHOA are co-sponsors. OSOS-3 will build upon the foundation set during the first symposium gathering in June 2019, and second virtual meeting in May 2021. Community members involved in all levels of the observation-to-information value chain, from data providers to users, of operational satellite oceanographic data, products and applications contributed prior OSOS outcomes and recommendations The aims of OSOS-3 are to feature research and applications in Asia, the Pacific (including small Island nations), and high-latitudes. There will be a focus on engaging users on requirements and priorities, demonstrating the use of satellite data in coupled numerical models and emphasising socio-economic benefits from Earth Observation.

Some portions of this meeting may be live broadcast.  There will be no registration charge to attend this meeting, however, travel arrangements are on your own.  It is possible that limited travel funds will be available to assist early career scientists to attend.

Abstracts are due December 11, 2022.

Registration closes May 12, 2023.

More details and the abstract submission and registration links can be found on the meeting website.

 

Advertised on behalf of Water-ForCE:

As climate change and other pressures from human activity drive biodiversity loss even further, there is a definite need to be able to assess and define the extent of the harm done. With biodiversity being necessary for natural processes that support life on Earth, and with healthy ecosystems relying on the abundance of a wide range of flora and fauna in the environment, we need to be able to see how these systems are affected across the many different ecosystems- including inland waters which provide key ecosystem services related to water.

For Water-ForCE’s eighth webinar, they will be looking at the ways that Copernicus services are being used to monitor biodiversity in inland waters.

When: November 30, 2022 16:00 – 17:00 CET.

Webinar format: Online event (link will be sent after registration).

Participation is free but does require registration.

Stay tuned for the speakers announcement!

For questions and further information please contact The Water-ForCE team info@waterforce.eu.

 

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Background

Water-ForCE is a Horizon 2020 Coordination and Support Action (2021-2023) dedicated to developing a roadmap for the water component for the future Copernicus services. Our goal is to address the current disconnects between remote sensing and in situ observation research, deliver clarity in terms of the needs and expectations of the public and private sectors of the core Copernicus Program and the wider research and business innovation opportunities.

This webinar series will address the relationship between water and public sector and business domains and ensure  all applications and domains are represented in the Water-ForCE Roadmap. Your views are important to develop the water component for the future Copernicus services.