The JCOMM Newsletter Issue No. 6 is now available online. It includes;

To download the Newsletter in PDF version, click here.

Your input for the 2010 revision of the GCOS/GOOS/JCOMM implementation plan for the sustained open ocean observing system for climate is sought, with a deadline of 31 January 2010.

Please submit your comments to this draft report by 31 January 2010 to the GCOS Secretariat, who will be centralizing comments: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The IOC encourages submissions from scientists with new and exciting results derived from observations made in the context of the Global Ocean Observing System for a session on “Science in Support of Operational Oceanography.” Keith Alverson of the IOC and Paul M.DiGiacomo of NOAA will be convening the session during the 2010 Ocean Sciences Meeting taking place 22–26 February 2010 in Portland, Oregon. For additional information please see submission guidelines and session details .

Despite numerous technological advances in ocean observations over the last several decades, ship-based hydrography remains the only method for obtaining high-quality, high spatial and vertical resolution measurements of a suite of physical, chemical and biological parameters over the full water column. While many countries have continued their hydrographic observations along key sections, global repeat hydrography has lacked formal organization since the end of WOCE. This situation has led to a lack of visibility of this component in the global observing system and a significant decrease in the number of trans-basin sections carried out by some countries. More importantly, the lack of international agreements for implementation of hydrographic sections has led to disparate data sharing policies, duplication of some sections, and sections being carried out wihtout the full suite of core variables.

The IOC sponsors "Storm Surges Congress - Risk and management of current and future storm surges", to be held in September 2010 in Hamburg, Germany. Abstract Submission and Registration start from December 1, 2009, scientists are invited to participate in this event that will be an important milestone for addressing societal benefits and impacts by the storm surge events in coastal zones. For additional information please see here .