OceanObs’09

Ocean Information for Society:
Sustaining the Benefits, Realizing the Potential

21-25 September 2009, Venice, Italy

Almost a decade has passed since the OceanObs’99 symposium played a major role in consolidating the plans for a comprehensive ocean observing system able to deliver systematic global information about the physical environment of the oceans.

Now, for the first time in history, the world’s oceans are being observed routinely and systematically by means of satellite and in situ techniques. The availability of these observations has led to rapid progress in ocean analysis and forecasting as well as new scientific understanding of oceanic variability and the role of the oceans in weather and climate.  This information and knowledge supports a wide range of societal and business benefits.

It is now critically important to ensure sustainability and further development of the present system and to realize the full extent of the benefits across all stakeholders and for all participating nations.  It is equally important to define a clear plan for extending the present system to include comprehensive observation, analysis and forecasting of the biogeochemical state of the ocean and the status of marine ecosystems.

The OceanObs’09 symposium will celebrate a decade of progress and make a major contribution to chart the way forward for the coming decade.  

Meeting Goals

• Highlight the crucial role of the ocean observing system for understanding and predicting climate

• Demonstrate the societal and economic benefits of the observing system

• Make clear the challenge of completing and maintaining the core observing system

• Identify new opportunities for increased capability, such as biogeochemical and ecosystem monitoring
• Promote partnerships to sustain and advance development of the system into the 21st century