Workshop on Ocean Biology Observatories

16-18 Sept. 2009 – Mestre, Italy

The SCOR Panel on New Technologies for Observing Marine Life announces a Workshop on Ocean Biology Observatories, to be held in Mestre, Italy (a suburb of Venice) on 16-18 Sept. 2009. The goal of the workshop is to bring together biologists, the observing community, and the technology community to develop ocean biology observatories that could address the challenges of observing ocean life and its response to global change. The definition of ocean biology observatories will be broad, including a sustained, integrated system comprised of a broad range of platforms that can support existing and emerging technologies for observing marine life and its interaction with the ocean and broader Earth system.

 

The observatory components will include platforms, sensors, instrumentation, data management, visualization, and analysis. Observatories could include fixed-point moorings (cabled or autonomous), animals as oceanographers, measurements from Volunteer Observing Ships, AUVs/ROVs/HOVs, drifters, CPRs, Ocean Tracking Network, satellites, among other platforms and technologies. The products from the workshop will be a special issue of a peer-reviewed journal and guidelines for pilot ocean biology observatories. The workshop will include observational approaches to study the biological aspects of ocean warming and acidification, oxygen depletion, microbial to zooplankton community structure, distribution and movement of marine organisms and changes in ocean properties, vertical movements of predators and prey in relation to physical/chemical structures, changes in trophic structures, and changes in benthic dynamics. A modest registration fee will cover meals and meeting materials. Other workshop expenses will be supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Please contact Ed Urban (Ed.Urban@scor-int.org) for additional information.

Ed Urban, Ph.D.

Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research
College of Marine and Earth Studies
Robinson Hall
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716 USA
Tel: +1-302-831-7011/7013
Fax: +1-302-831-7012
E-mail: Ed.Urban@scor-int.org
Web: www.scor-int.org