The eleven Regional Associations (RAs), members of their boards, and IOOS Program Office (IOOS PO) staff and partners gathered in Annapolis, MD for the IOOS Fall Meeting on September 18-20, 2018. At the meeting, participants discussed the IOOS niche in biological observations and collaborations with NASA. Click here to access the meeting website and materials.

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System (MARACOOS) was the host RA for the meeting. MARACOOS Executive Director Gerhard Kuska opened the meeting with an overview of key regional features.

MARACOOS Technical Director Michael Crowley updated meeting participants on IOOS glider activities during the 2018 hurricane season. IOOS worked with more than 20 institutions to coordinate over 30 glider deployments. These gliders collect ocean data as hurricanes pass, helping to improve the accuracy of hurricane track and intensity predictions. See a PDF of Mike’s presentation.

One of the main focuses of the IOOS Fall Meeting was determining the IOOS niche in biological observations. Josie Quintrell (IOOS Association Executive Director), Gabrielle Canonico-Hyde (Marine Biodiversity Observation Network Project Manager), and Sam Simmons (U.S. Marine Mammal Commission Scientific Program Director) started the biological portion of the meeting with an overview of biological observing activities at the regional, national, and international scales. Quintrell and Canonico-Hyde gave an overview of current RA and IOOS PO biological activities. Simmons presented on interagency and global activities, including the Marine Mammal Health Monitoring and Analysis Platform (MAP) and the Commission’s research into Ocean Sound.

These presentations segued into a discussion identifying stakeholders and their needs for biological observations and information. As part of this session, Quintrell gave an overview of her survey of core variables among the RAs.

Frank Muller-Karger, a biological oceanographer at the University of South Florida, presented on emerging trends in biological observations. He discussed current biological technologies and made some recommendations for integrating biological observations into IOOS activities, including the adoption of Darwin Core standards and upgrading physical models with biological information.

 

The afternoon session featured a summary of RA web user survey results (see presentation slides) and two discussion sessions aiming to define the IOOS niche in biology. Participants discussed IOOS capabilities, the role of IOOS as a community convener, biological observation infrastructure and mechanisms, data stewardship, and product development.

After the meeting on Tuesday, many participants joined a trip on a schooner into the Severn River, sponsored by host RA MARACOOS. This gave participants a chance to continue discussions from the day in a more relaxed setting.

On Wednesday, the meeting opened with a continued discussion on the IOOS role in biology. Participants rotated through stations to draft updates to the IOOS mission and vision and make recommendations for the IOOS niche in biology.  Draft recommendations will be posted by November on the IOOS Association website.

The second half of the meeting featured discussions with NASA partners. Laura Rogers, Project Manager at NASA Langley, gave meeting participants an overview of NASA’s Communities and Areas at Intensive Risk (CAIR) Program. Laura Lorenzoni and Woody Turner, of NASA headquarters, presented on NASA’s Ocean Biology and Biogeochemistry and Biological Diversity and Ecological Forecasting Programs. Following the presentations, the RA directors each offered an overview of regional activities in coastal resilience and ecological forecasting. This session allowed the regions to exchange information with NASA representatives and paved the way for future collaboration.

The IOOS Program Office updated attendees on activities Wednesday afternoon. Krisa Arzayus, U.S. IOOS Deputy Director, moderated a discussion on the implementation plan for the IOOS Strategic Plan. Carl Gouldman, U.S. IOOS Executive Director and Julio Morell, CARICOOS Executive Director, moderated a discussion on how the regions and Program Office conduct stakeholder engagement to inform the implementation plan.

Other updates detailed IOOS activities on compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), joint IOOS/OAR glider workshops, and the Modeling Working Group.

The IOOS Association thanks all meeting participants for their attendance and contributions.

 

Contact Katie Liming (katie@ioosassociation.org) with any questions regarding the 2018 IOOS Fall Meeting.