The international/intergovernmental landscape for the future of GODAE

1. The international/intergovernmental landscape for the future of GODAE Albert Fischer IOC/UNESCO Final IGST meeting, Silver Spring MD, USA, 3 June 2008

2. What is the IOC? • forum for governmental coordination of marine science and marine observations • 130 Member States • UN focal point for marine science • Programs funded both by UNESCO allocation and Member State donations for specific activities • “One planet, one ocean” • “Big scope, limited resources”

3. IOC Programmatic areas • Ocean observations and services • GOOS, JCOMM, IODE • Natural hazard warning systems (including tsunami) • coordination and promotion of observing systems • Ocean sciences • coordination of scientific research for harmful algal blooms, coral reefs, in support of integrated coastal area management • coordination of ocean carbon observations for research • sponsor of the WCRP, GLOBEC • Capacity building

4. GOOS/JCOMM • the Global Ocean Observing System is made up of • observations: satellite and in situ • data systems and data management • generation of products and services: useful information • coordination • JCOMM ET-OOFS to help community of providers build common standards for and develop skill in the provision of useful information • Clear need stated within and outside of GODAE for continued research and development of future generations of ocean products and services

5. IOC strategy • “Working group on Marine Modeling” • Advisory group to Ocean Sciences section (chaired by N. Smith) suggested:“Introduction of an underpinning, cross-cutting element in marine modeling, recognizing the need for IOC to exercise its mandate and responsibility in new technology and its unique position which allows it to facilitate interaction and coordination among many existing activities.” • now part of the strategy of IOC • But what does that mean? • very small budget starting in 2009 ($15k) and a fraction of my time

6. Landscape: data assimilation • WCRP/CLIVAR Global Synthesis and Observations Panel (GSOP) • close links already to GODAE community • focused on ocean reanalysis • WCRP-CAS Working Group on Numerical Experimentation (WGNE) • foster development of AGCMs for weather prediction and climate studies • model validation through intercomparisons (AMIP) • numerical techniques and processes • data assimilation and analysis methods • chair: Martin Miller, ECMWF

7. Landscape: ocean model development • WCRP/CLIVAR WG on Ocean Model Development • model formulation, validation of ocean models, focused on climate research • chairs: S. Griffies (GFDL), H. Banks (Hadley Centre) • WCRP/CLIVAR WG on Seasonal-to-Interannual Prediction (WGSIP) • assessment and improvement of predictions • develop data assimilation, model initialization, forecast procedures • chairs: B. Kirtman (COLA), T. Stockdale (ECMWF) • WCRP WG on Coupled Modeling (WGCM) • development of coupled climate models • validation through intercomparison (CMIP) • coordinated studies, link to IPCC • chairs: J.F. Mitchell (Met Office), G. Meehl (NCAR)

8. post-GODAE • International coordination of the future research activities leading from GODAE is very much in your hands • community-building, so should respond to your needs • will have to bootstrap good ideas to get funding at an international level • Define today how to use the GODAE Final Symposium and how to work next year to define the scope and identify the leaders willing to build communities around them, to take advantage of other efforts