ALBERT

Description: Crystalline rocks can produce dangerous radiation levels on the basis of their content in radioisotopes. Here, we report radiological data from 10 metamorphic and igneous rock samples collected from the crystalline basement of the Peloritani Mountains (southern Italy). In order to evaluate the radiological properties of these rocks, the gamma radiation and the radon emanation have been measured. Moreover, since some of these rocks are employed as building materials, we assess the potential hazard for population connected to their use. Gamma spectroscopy was used to measure the 226Ra, 232Th and 40K activity concentration, whereas the radon emanation was investigated by using a RAD 7 detector. The results show 226Ra, 232Th and 40K activity concentration values ranging from (17 ± 4) to (56 ± 8) Bq kg-1, (14 ± 3) to (77 ± 14) Bq kg-1 and (167 ± 84) to (1760 ± 242) Bq kg-1, respectively. Values of the annual effective dose equivalent outdoor range from 0.035 to 0.152 mSv y-1, whereas the gamma index is in the range of 0.22-0.98. The 222Rn emanation coefficient and the 222Rn surface exhalation rate vary from (0.63 ± 0.3) to (8.27 ± 1.6)% and from (0.12 ± 0.03) to (2.75 ± 0.17) Bq m-2 h-1, respectively. The indoor radon derived from the building use of these rocks induces an approximate contribution to the annual effective dose ranging from 8 to 176 μSv y-1. All the obtained results suggest that the crystalline rocks from the Peloritani Mountains are not harmful for the residential population, even though they induce annual effective doses due to terrestrial gamma radiation above the worldwide average values. Moreover, their use as building materials does not produce significant health hazards connected to the indoor radon exposure.

Description: Published

Description: 452–464

Description: 6A. Geochimica per l'ambiente e geologia medica

Description: JCR Journal

Description: The Pollino range is a region of slow deformation where earthquakes generally nucleate on low-angle normal faults. Recent studies have mapped fault structures and identified fluid related dynamics responsible for historical and recent seismicity in the area. Here, we apply the coda-normalization method at multiple frequencies and scales to image the 3-D P-wave attenuation (QP) properties of its slowly deforming fault network. The wide-scale average attenuation properties of the Pollino range are typical for a stable continental block, with a dependence of QP on frequency of Q−1 P = (0.0011   0.0008) f (0.36 0.32). Using only waveforms comprised in the area of seismic swarms, the dependence of attenuation on frequency increases [Q−1 P = (0.0373   0.0011) f (−0.59 0.01)], as expected when targeting seismically active faults. A shallow very-low-attenuation anomaly (max depth of 4–5 km) caps the seismicity recorded within the western cluster 1 of the Pollino seismic sequence (2012, maximum magnitude Mw = 5.1). High-attenuation volumes below this anomaly are likely related to fluid storage and comprise the western and northern portions of cluster 1 and the Mercure basin. These anomalies are constrained to the NW by a sharp low-attenuation interface, corresponding to the transition towards the eastern unit of the Apennine Platform under the Lauria mountains. The low-seismicity volume between cluster 1 and cluster 2 (maximum magnitude Mw = 4.3, east of the primary) shows diffuse low-to-average attenuation features. There is no clear indication of fluid-filled pathways between the two clusters resolvable at our resolution. In this volume, the attenuation values are anyway lower than in recognized low-attenuation blocks, like the Lauria Mountain and Pollino Range. As the volume develops in a region marked at surface by small-scale cross-faulting, it suggests no actual barrier between clusters, more likely a system of small locked fault patches that can break in the future. Our model loses resolution at depth, but it can still resolve a 5-to-15-km-deep high-attenuation anomaly that underlies the Castrovillari basin. This anomaly is an ideal deep source for the SE-to-NW migration of historical seismicity. Our novel deep structural maps support the hypothesis that the Pollino sequence has been caused by a mechanism of deep and lateral fluid-induced migration.

Description: Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Oil and Gas. University of Aberdeen.

Description: Published

Description: 536–547

Description: 4T. Sismicità dell'Italia

Description: JCR Journal

Description: © The Author(s), 2020. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Carroll, E. L., Ott, P. H., McMillan, L. F., Galletti Vernazzani, B., Neveceralova, P., Vermeulen, E., Gaggiotti, O. E., Andriolo, A., Baker, C. S., Bamford, C., Best, P., Cabrera, E., Calderan, S., Chirife, A., Fewster, R. M., Flores, P. A. C., Frasier, T., Freitas, T. R. O., Groch, K., Hulva, P., Kennedy, A., Leaper, R., Leslie, M. S., Moore, M., Oliveira, L., Seger, J., Stepien, E. N., Valenzuela, L. O., Zerbini, A., & Jackson, J. A. Genetic diversity and connectivity of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) found in the Brazil and Chile-Peru wintering grounds and the South Georgia (Islas Georgias del Sur) feeding ground. Journal of Heredity, 111(3), (2020): 263-276, doi:10.1093/jhered/esaa010.

Description: As species recover from exploitation, continued assessments of connectivity and population structure are warranted to provide information for conservation and management. This is particularly true in species with high dispersal capacity, such as migratory whales, where patterns of connectivity could change rapidly. Here we build on a previous long-term, large-scale collaboration on southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) to combine new (nnew) and published (npub) mitochondrial (mtDNA) and microsatellite genetic data from all major wintering grounds and, uniquely, the South Georgia (Islas Georgias del Sur: SG) feeding grounds. Specifically, we include data from Argentina (npub mtDNA/microsatellite = 208/46), Brazil (nnew mtDNA/microsatellite = 50/50), South Africa (nnew mtDNA/microsatellite = 66/77, npub mtDNA/microsatellite = 350/47), Chile–Peru (nnew mtDNA/microsatellite = 1/1), the Indo-Pacific (npub mtDNA/microsatellite = 769/126), and SG (npub mtDNA/microsatellite = 8/0, nnew mtDNA/microsatellite = 3/11) to investigate the position of previously unstudied habitats in the migratory network: Brazil, SG, and Chile–Peru. These new genetic data show connectivity between Brazil and Argentina, exemplified by weak genetic differentiation and the movement of 1 genetically identified individual between the South American grounds. The single sample from Chile–Peru had an mtDNA haplotype previously only observed in the Indo-Pacific and had a nuclear genotype that appeared admixed between the Indo-Pacific and South Atlantic, based on genetic clustering and assignment algorithms. The SG samples were clearly South Atlantic and were more similar to the South American than the South African wintering grounds. This study highlights how international collaborations are critical to provide context for emerging or recovering regions, like the SG feeding ground, as well as those that remain critically endangered, such as Chile–Peru.

Description: This work was supported by the EU BEST 2.0 medium grant 1594 and UK DARWIN PLUS grant 057 and additional funding from the World Wildlife Fund GB107301. The collection of the Chile–Peru sample was supported by the Global Greengrants Fund and the Pacific Whale Foundation. The collection of the Brazilian samples was supported through grants by the Brazilian National Research Council to Paulo H. Ott (CNPq proc. n° 144064/98-7) and Paulo A.C. Flores (CNPq proc. n° 146609/1999-9) and with support from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF-Brazil). The collection of the South African samples was supported by the Global Greengrants Fund, the Pacific Whale Foundation and Charles University Grant Agency (1140217). E.L.C. was partially supported by a Rutherford Discovery Fellowship from the Royal Society of New Zealand. This study forms part of the Ecosystems component of the British Antarctic Survey Polar Sciences for Planet Earth Programme, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council.

Description: This article has been accepted for publication in Geophysical Journal International ©: The Authors 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy.

Description: In a recent study (Jozinovi\'c et al, 2020) we showed that convolutional neural networks (CNNs) applied to network seismic traces can be used for rapid prediction of earthquake peak ground motion intensity measures (IMs) at distant stations using only recordings from stations near the epicenter. The predictions are made without any previous knowledge concerning the earthquake location and magnitude. This approach differs from the standard procedure adopted by earthquake early warning systems (EEWSs) that rely on location and magnitude information. In the previous study, we used 10 s, raw, multistation waveforms for the 2016 earthquake sequence in central Italy for 915 events (CI dataset). The CI dataset has a large number of spatially concentrated earthquakes and a dense station network. In this work, we applied the CNN model to an area around the VIRGO gravitational waves observatory sited near Pisa, Italy. In our initial application of the technique, we used a dataset consisting of 266 earthquakes recorded by 39 stations. We found that the CNN model trained using this smaller dataset performed worse compared to the results presented in the original study by Jozinovi\'c et al. (2020). To counter the lack of data, we adopted transfer learning (TL) using two approaches: first, by using a pre-trained model built on the CI dataset and, next, by using a pre-trained model built on a different (seismological) problem that has a larger dataset available for training. We show that the use of TL improves the results in terms of outliers, bias, and variability of the residuals between predicted and true IMs values. We also demonstrate that adding knowledge of station positions as an additional layer in the neural network improves the results. The possible use for EEW is demonstrated by the times for the warnings that would be received at the station PII.

Description: RISE (Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, grant agreement No.821115)

Description: Published

Description: 704–718

Description: 5T. Sismologia, geofisica e geologia per l'ingegneria sismica

Description: JCR Journal

Description: This article has been accepted for publication in Geophysical Journal International ©: The Authors 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy.

Description: Ambient-noise records from the AlpArray network are used to measure Rayleigh wave phase velocities between more than 150,000 station pairs. From these, azimuthally anisotropic phase-velocity maps are obtained by applying the Eikonal tomography method. Several synthetic tests are shown to study the bias in the Ψ2 anisotropy. There are two main groups of bias, the first one caused by interference between refracted/reflected waves and the appearance of secondary wavefronts that affect the phase travel-time measurements. This bias can be reduced if the amplitude field can be estimated correctly. Another source of error is related to the incomplete reconstruction of the travel-time field that is only sparsely sampled due to the receiver locations. Both types of bias scale with the magnitude of the velocity heterogeneities. Most affected by the spurious Ψ2 anisotropy are areas inside and at the border of low-velocity zones. In the isotropic velocity distribution, most of the bias cancels out if the azimuthal coverage is good. Despite the lack of resolution in many parts of the surveyed area, we identify a number of anisotropic structures that are robust: in the central Alps, we find a layered anisotropic structure, arc-parallel at midcrustal depths and arc-perpendicular in the lower crust. In contrast, in the eastern Alps, the pattern is more consistently E-W oriented which we relate to the eastward extrusion. The northern Alpine forleand exhibits a preferential anisotropic orientation that is similar to SKS observations in the lowermost crust and uppermost mantle.

Description: German Science Foundation (SPP-2017, Project Ha 2403/21-1); Swiss National Science Foundation SINERGIA Project CRSII2-154434/1 (Swiss-AlpArray); Progetto Pianeta Dinamico, finanziamento MUR-INGV, Task S2 – 2021

Description: Published

Description: 151–170

Description: 1T. Struttura della Terra

Description: JCR Journal

Description: This article has been accepted for publication in Geophysical Journal International ©: The Authors 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy.

Description: To understand the seismotectonics and the seismic hazard of the study sector of the Northern Apennines (Italy), one of the most important earthquakes of magnitude Mw = 6.5 which struck the Lunigiana and Garfagnana areas (Tuscany) on 7 September 1920 should be studied. Given the early instrumental epoch of the event, neither geometric and kinematic information on the fault-source nor its fault-plane solution were available. Both areas were candidates for hosting the source fault and there was uncertainty between a normal fault with Apenninic direction or an anti-Apenninic strike-slip. We retrieved 11 focal parameters (including the fault-plane solution) of the 1920 earthquake. Only macroseismic intensity information (from 499 inhabited centres) through the KF-NGA inversion technique was used. This technique uses a Kinematic model of the earthquake source and speeds up the calculation by a Genetic Algorithm with Niching. The result is a pure dip-slip focal solution. The intrinsic ambiguities of the KF-NGA method (±180° on the rake angle; choice of the fault plane between the two nodal planes) were solved with field and seismotectonic evidence. The earthquake was generated by a normal fault (rake angle = 265° ± 8°) with an Apennine direction (114° ± 5°) and dipping 38° ± 6° towards SW. The likely candidate for hosting the source-fault in 1920 is the Compione-Comano fault that borders the NE edge of the Lunigiana graben. The KF-NGA algorithm proved to be invaluable for studying the kinematics of early instrumental earthquakes and allowed us to uniquely individuate, for the first time ever, the seismogenic source of the 1920 earthquake. Our findings have implications in hazard computation and seismotectonic contexts.

Description: Published

Description: 1465–1477

Description: 4T. Sismicità dell'Italia

Description: JCR Journal

Description: Systematic variations in the crystal cargo and whole-rock isotopic compositions of mantle-derived basalts in the intraplate Dunedin Volcano (New Zealand) indicate the influence of a complex mantle-to-crust polybaric plumbing system. Basaltic rocks define a compositional spectrum from low-alkali basalts through mid-alkali basalts to high-alkali basalts. High-alkali basalts display clinopyroxene crystals with sector (hourglass) and oscillatory zoning (Mg#61–82) as well as Fe-rich green cores (Mg#43–69), whereas low-alkali basalts are characterized by clinopyroxenes with unzoned overgrowths (Mg#69–83) on resorbed mafic cores (Mg#78–88), coexisting with reversely zoned plagioclase crystals (An43–68 to An60–84 from core to rim). Complex magma dynamics are indicated by distinctive compositional variations in clinopyroxene phenocrysts, with Cr-rich zones (Mg#74–87) indicating continuous recharge by more mafic magmas. Crystallization of olivine, clinopyroxene and titanomagnetite occurred within a polybaric plumbing system extending from upper mantle to mid-crustal depths (485–1059 MPa and 1147–1286°C), whereas crystallization of plagioclase with subordinate clinopyroxene and titanomagnetite proceeded towards shallower crustal levels. The compositions of high-alkali basalts and mid-alkali basalts resemble those of ocean island basalts and are characterized by FOZO-HIMU isotopic signatures (87Sr/86Sri = 0.70277–0.70315, 143Nd/144Ndi = 0.51286–0.51294 and 206Pb/204Pb = 19.348–20.265), whereas low-alkali basalts have lower incompatible element abundances and isotopic compositions trending towards EMII (87Sr/86Sri = 0.70327–70397, 143Nd/144Ndi = 0.51282–0.51286 and 206Pb/204Pb = 19.278–19.793). High- and mid-alkali basalt magmas mostly crystallized in the lower crust, whereas low-alkali basalt magma recorded deeper upper mantle clinopyroxene crystallization before eruption. The variable alkaline character and isotope composition may result from interaction of low-alkaline melts derived from the asthenosphere with melts derived from lithospheric mantle, possibly initiated by asthenospheric melt percolation. The transition to more alkaline compositions was induced by variable degrees of melting of metasomatic lithologies in the lithospheric mantle, leading to eruption of predominantly small-volume, high-alkali magmas at the periphery of the volcano. Moreover, the lithosphere imposed a filtering effect on the alkalinity of these intraplate magmas. As a consequence, the eruption of low-alkali basalts with greater asthenospheric input was concentrated at the centre of the volcano, where the plumbing system was more developed.

Description: Published

Description: egab062

Description: 2V. Struttura e sistema di alimentazione dei vulcani

Description: 3V. Proprietà chimico-fisiche dei magmi e dei prodotti vulcanici

Description: 4V. Processi pre-eruttivi

Description: JCR Journal

Description: © The Author(s), 2022. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Page, H. N., Bahr, K. D., Cyronak, T., Jewett, E. B., Johnson, M. D., & McCoy, S. J. Responses of benthic calcifying algae to ocean acidification differ between laboratory and field settings. Ices Journal of Marine Science, 79(1), (2022): 1–11, https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsab232.

Description: Accurately predicting the effects of ocean and coastal acidification on marine ecosystems requires understanding how responses scale from laboratory experiments to the natural world. Using benthic calcifying macroalgae as a model system, we performed a semi-quantitative synthesis to compare directional responses between laboratory experiments and field studies. Variability in ecological, spatial, and temporal scales across studies, and the disparity in the number of responses documented in laboratory and field settings, make direct comparisons difficult. Despite these differences, some responses, including community-level measurements, were consistent across laboratory and field studies. However, there were also mismatches in the directionality of many responses with more negative acidification impacts reported in laboratory experiments. Recommendations to improve our ability to scale responses include: (i) developing novel approaches to allow measurements of the same responses in laboratory and field settings, and (ii) researching understudied calcifying benthic macroalgal species and responses. Incorporating these guidelines into research programs will yield data more suitable for robust meta-analyses and will facilitate the development of ecosystem models that incorporate proper scaling of organismal responses to in situ acidification. This, in turn, will allow for more accurate predictions of future changes in ecosystem health and function in a rapidly changing natural climate.

Description: We would like to thank the Ocean Carbon and Biogeochemistry Program for organizing the fourth U.S. Ocean Acidification Principal Investigators meeting, which is where this synthesis was conceived. HNP was a postdoctoral research fellow at Mote Marine Laboratory. MDJ is a postdoctoral scholar at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. SJM is a Norma J. Lang early career fellow of the Phycological Society of America.

Description: In this paper we simulate the earthquake that hit the city of L'Aquila on the 6th of April 2009 using SPEED (SPectral Elements in Elastodynamics with Discontinuous Galerkin), an open-source code able to simulate the propagation of seismic waves in complex three-dimensional (3D) domains. Our model includes an accurate 3D recon- struction of the Quaternary deposits, according to the most up-to-date data obtained from the Microzonation studies in Central Italy and a detailed model of the topography incorporated using a newly developed tool (May et al. 2021). The sensitivity of our results with respect to dfferent kinematic seismic sources is inves- tigated. The results obtained are in good agreement with the recordings at the available seismic stations at epicentral distances within a range of 20km. Finally, a blind source prediction scenario application shows a reasonably good agreement between simulations and recordings can be obtained by simulating stochastic rupture realizations with basic input data. These results, although limited to nine simulated scenarios, demonstrate that it is possible to obtain a satisfactory reconstruction of a ground shaking scenario employing a stochastic source constrained on a limited amount of ex-ante information. A similar approach can be used to model future and past earthquakes for which little or no information is typically available, with potential relevant implications for seismic risk assessment.

Description: Published

Description: 29–49

Description: 3T. Fisica dei terremoti e Sorgente Sismica

Description: JCR Journal

Description: This article has been accepted for publication in Geophysical Journal International ©: The Authors 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy.

Description: On 29 December 2020, a shallow earthquake of magnitude Mw 6.4 struck northern Croatia, near the town of Petrinja, more than 24 hours after a strong foreshock (Ml 5). We formed a reconnaissance team of European geologists and engineers, from Croatia, Slovenia, France, Italy and Greece, rapidly deployed in the field to map the evidence of coseismic environmental effects. In the epicentral area, we recognized surface deformation, such as tectonic breaks along the earthquake source at the surface, liquefaction features (scattered in the fluvial plains of Kupa, Glina and Sava rivers), and slope failures, both caused by strong motion. Thanks to this concerted, collective and meticulous work, we were able to document and map a clear and unambiguous coseismic surface rupture associated with the main shock. The surface rupture appears discontinuous, consisting of multi-kilometer en échelon right stepping sections, along a NW-SE striking fault that we call the Petrinja-Pokupsko Fault (PPKF). The observed deformation features, in terms of kinematics and trace alignments, are consistent with slip on a right lateral fault, in agreement with the focal solution of the main shock. We found mole tracks, displacement on faults affecting natural features (e. g. drainage channels), scarplets, and more frequently breaks of anthropogenic markers (roads, fences). The surface rupture is observed over a length of ∼13 km from end-to-end, with a maximum displacement of 38 cm, and an average displacement of ∼10 cm. Moreover, the liquefaction extends over an area of nearly 600 km² around the epicenter. Typology of liquefaction features include sand blows, lateral spreading phenomenon along the road and river embankments, as well as sand ejecta of different grain size and matrix. Development of large and long fissures along the fluvial landforms, current or ancient, with massive ejections of sediments is pervasive. These features are sometimes accompanied by small horizontal displacements. Finally, the environmental effects of the earthquake appear to be reasonably consistent with the usual scaling relationships, in particular the surface faulting. This rupture of the ground occurred on or near traces of a fault that shows clear evidence of Quaternary activity. Further and detailed studies will be carried out to characterize this source and related faults in terms of future large earthquakes potential, for their integration into seismic hazard models.

Description: Published

Description: 1394–1418

Description: 2T. Deformazione crostale attiva

Description: JCR Journal

Description: In the last years the scientific literature has been enriched with new models of the Moho depth in the Antarctica Continent derived by the seismic reflection technique and refraction profiles, receiver functions and seismic surface waves, but also by gravimetric observations over the continent. In particular, the gravity satellite missions of the last two decades have provided data in this remote region of the Earth and have allowed the investigation of the crust properties. Meanwhile, other important contributions in this direction has been given by the fourth International Polar Year (IPY, 2007–2008) which started seismographic and geodetic networks of unprecedented duration and scale, including airborne gravimetry over largely unexplored Antarctic frontiers. In this study, a new model for the Antarctica Moho depths is proposed. This new estimation is based on no satellite gravity measures, thanks to the availability of the gravity database ANTGG2015, that collects gravity data from ground-base, airborne and shipborne campaigns. In this new estimate of the Moho depths the contribution of the gravity measures has been maximized reducing any correction of the gravity measures and avoiding constraints of the solution to seismological observations and to geological evidence. With this approach a pure gravimetric solution has been determined. The model obtained is pretty in agreement with other Moho models and thanks to the use of independent data it can be exploited also for cross-validating different Moho depths solutions.

Description: Published

Description: 1404–1420

Description: 1T. Struttura della Terra

Description: JCR Journal

Description: Seismic reflection and refraction data were collected in 2007 and 2012 to reveal the crustal fabric on a single long composite profile offshore Prydz Bay, East Antarctica. A P-wave velocity model provides insights on the crustal fabric, and a gravity-constrained density model is used to describe the crustal and mantle structure. The models show that a 230-km- wide continent–ocean transition separates stretched continental from oceanic crust along our profile. While the oceanic crust close to the continent–ocean boundary is just 3.5–5 km thick, its thickness increases northwards towards the Southern Kerguelen Plateau to 12 km. This change is accompanied by thickening of a lower crustal layer with high P-wave velocities of up to 7.5 km s–1, marking intrusive rocks emplaced beneath the mid-ocean ridge under increasing influence of the Kerguelen plume. Joint interpretations of our crustal model, seismic reflection data and magnetic data sets constrain the age and extent of oceanic crust in the research area. Oceanic crust is shown to continue to around 160 km farther south than has been interpreted in previous data, with profound implications for plate kinematic models of the region. Finally, by combining our findings with a regional magnetic data compilation and regional seismic reflection data we propose a larger extent of oceanic crust in the Enderby Basin than previously known.

Description: The Training Course on Oceanographic Data Management has been organized every year since 1982 at the Japan Oceanographic Data Center (JODC), in support of the activities of IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC). The thirteenth training course was organized by JODC under the auspices of IOC from 26 September to 7 October 1994, at JODC, Hydrographic Department, Maritime Safety Agency, Tokyo, Japan. The objectives of the training course were to provide personnel currently involved in oceanographic data and information management from Member States of the WESTPAC region with basic concepts of the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) system and its function, especially in the WESTPAC region, and acquisition, procession and compilation of oceanographic data.

Description: Published

Description: Refereed

Description: This report summarizes the events of the Fourth POEM (Physical Oceanography of the Eastern Mediterranean) Scientific Workshop, held in Venice, Italy, at the Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti, from 27 August to 1 September, 1990. During this workshop, the scientific plan for the second phase of POEM (POEM-BC) was designed; it includes biological and chemical components. POEM-BC began in 1991 and comprises: (i) two general hydrographic surveys with chemical and biological studies; (ii) intensive field experiments focussing on process studies of the formation, dispersion and spreading of the LIW (Levantine Intermediate Water) in the Levantine Basin and of Deep Water in the Ionian Sea; (iii) a field experiment for biogeochemical fluxes studies. The field activity of POEM-BC is projected over a five year period.

Description: OpenASFA input

Description: Published

Description: Refereed

Description: © The Author(s), 2019. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Lasek-Nesselquist, E., & Johnson, M. D. A phylogenomic approach to clarifying the relationship of Mesodinium within the Ciliophora: a case study in the complexity of mixed-species transcriptome analyses. Genome Biology and Evolution, 11(11), (2019): 3218–3232, doi:10.1093/gbe/evz233.

Description: Recent high-throughput sequencing endeavors have yielded multigene/protein phylogenies that confidently resolve several inter- and intra-class relationships within the phylum Ciliophora. We leverage the massive sequencing efforts from the Marine Microbial Eukaryote Transcriptome Sequencing Project, other SRA submissions, and available genome data with our own sequencing efforts to determine the phylogenetic position of Mesodinium and to generate the most taxonomically rich phylogenomic ciliate tree to date. Regardless of the data mining strategy, the multiprotein data set, or the molecular models of evolution employed, we consistently recovered the same well-supported relationships among ciliate classes, confirming many of the higher-level relationships previously identified. Mesodinium always formed a monophyletic group with members of the Litostomatea, with mixotrophic species of Mesodinium—M. rubrum, M. major, and M. chamaeleon—being more closely related to each other than to the heterotrophic member, M. pulex. The well-supported position of Mesodinium as sister to other litostomes contrasts with previous molecular analyses including those from phylogenomic studies that exploited the same transcriptomic databases. These topological discrepancies illustrate the need for caution when mining mixed-species transcriptomes and indicate that identifying ciliate sequences among prey contamination—particularly for Mesodinium species where expression from stolen prey nuclei appears to dominate—requires thorough and iterative vetting with phylogenies that incorporate sequences from a large outgroup of prey.

Description: We thank David Beaudoin and Holly V. Moeller for their assistance in collecting cells and extracting RNA. We thank the Josephine Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and Evolution at the Marine Biological Laboratory for the generous use of their servers. This work was supported in part by a National Science Foundation grant to both authors (IOS 1354773).

Description: © The Author(s), 2019. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Xu, X., Li, G., Li, C., Zhang, J., Wang, Q., Simmons, D. K., Chen, X., Wijesena, N., Zhu, W., Wang, Z., Wang, Z., Ju, B., Ci, W., Lu, X., Yu, D., Wang, Q., Aluru, N., Oliveri, P., Zhang, Y. E., Martindale, M. Q., & Liu, J. Evolutionary transition between invertebrates and vertebrates via methylation reprogramming in embryogenesis. National Science Review, 6(5), (2019):993-1003, doi:10.1093/nsr/nwz064.

Description: Major evolutionary transitions are enigmas, and the most notable enigma is between invertebrates and vertebrates, with numerous spectacular innovations. To search for the molecular connections involved, we asked whether global epigenetic changes may offer a clue by surveying the inheritance and reprogramming of parental DNA methylation across metazoans. We focused on gametes and early embryos, where the methylomes are known to evolve divergently between fish and mammals. Here, we find that methylome reprogramming during embryogenesis occurs neither in pre-bilaterians such as cnidarians nor in protostomes such as insects, but clearly presents in deuterostomes such as echinoderms and invertebrate chordates, and then becomes more evident in vertebrates. Functional association analysis suggests that DNA methylation reprogramming is associated with development, reproduction and adaptive immunity for vertebrates, but not for invertebrates. Interestingly, the single HOX cluster of invertebrates maintains unmethylated status in all stages examined. In contrast, the multiple HOX clusters show dramatic dynamics of DNA methylation during vertebrate embryogenesis. Notably, the methylation dynamics of HOX clusters are associated with their spatiotemporal expression in mammals. Our study reveals that DNA methylation reprogramming has evolved dramatically during animal evolution, especially after the evolutionary transitions from invertebrates to vertebrates, and then to mammals.

Description: This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFC1003303), the Strategic Priority Research Program of the CAS (XDB13040200), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (91519306, 31425015), the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the CAS and the Key Research Program of Frontier Sciences, CAS (QYZDY-SSW-SMC016).

Description: © The Author(s), 2020. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Vallecillo-Viejo, I. C., Liscovitch-Brauer, N., Diaz Quiroz, J. F., Montiel-Gonzalez, Maria F., Nemes, Sonya E., Rangan, K. J., Levinson, S. R., Eisenberg, E., & Rosenthal, J. J. C. Spatially regulated editing of genetic information within a neuron. Nucleic Acids Research, (2020): gkaa172, doi: 10.1093/nar/gkaa172.

Description: In eukaryotic cells, with the exception of the specialized genomes of mitochondria and plastids, all genetic information is sequestered within the nucleus. This arrangement imposes constraints on how the information can be tailored for different cellular regions, particularly in cells with complex morphologies like neurons. Although messenger RNAs (mRNAs), and the proteins that they encode, can be differentially sorted between cellular regions, the information itself does not change. RNA editing by adenosine deamination can alter the genome’s blueprint by recoding mRNAs; however, this process too is thought to be restricted to the nucleus. In this work, we show that ADAR2 (adenosine deaminase that acts on RNA), an RNA editing enzyme, is expressed outside of the nucleus in squid neurons. Furthermore, purified axoplasm exhibits adenosine-to-inosine activity and can specifically edit adenosines in a known substrate. Finally, a transcriptome-wide analysis of RNA editing reveals that tens of thousands of editing sites (〉70% of all sites) are edited more extensively in the squid giant axon than in its cell bodies. These results indicate that within a neuron RNA editing can recode genetic information in a region-specific manner.

Description: National Science Foundation (NSF) [IOS1557748 to J.R.]; United States–Israel Binational Science Foundation [BSF2013094 to J.R. and E.E.]; The Grass Foundation grant in support of the Doryteuthis pealeii Genome Project, and a gift by Mr. Edward Owens. Funding for open access charge: United States–Israel Binational Science Foundation [BSF2013094].

Description: © The Author(s), 2020. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in da Fonseca, R. R., Couto, A., Machado, A. M., Brejova, B., Albertin, C. B., Silva, F., Gardner, P., Baril, T., Hayward, A., Campos, A., Ribeiro, A. M., Barrio-Hernandez, I., Hoving, H. J., Tafur-Jimenez, R., Chu, C., Frazao, B., Petersen, B., Penaloza, F., Musacchia, F., Alexander, G. C., Osorio, H., Winkelmann, I., Simakov, O., Rasmussen, S., Rahman, M. Z., Pisani, D., Vinther, J., Jarvis, E., Zhang, G., Strugnell, J. M., Castro, L. F. C., Fedrigo, O., Patricio, M., Li, Q., Rocha, S., Antunes, A., Wu, Y., Ma, B., Sanges, R., Vinar, T., Blagoev, B., Sicheritz-Ponten, T., Nielsen, R., & Gilbert, M. T. P. A draft genome sequence of the elusive giant squid, Architeuthis dux. Gigascience, 9(1), (2020): giz152. doi: 10.1093/gigascience/giz152.

Description: Background: The giant squid (Architeuthis dux; Steenstrup, 1857) is an enigmatic giant mollusc with a circumglobal distribution in the deep ocean, except in the high Arctic and Antarctic waters. The elusiveness of the species makes it difficult to study. Thus, having a genome assembled for this deep-sea–dwelling species will allow several pending evolutionary questions to be unlocked. Findings: We present a draft genome assembly that includes 200 Gb of Illumina reads, 4 Gb of Moleculo synthetic long reads, and 108 Gb of Chicago libraries, with a final size matching the estimated genome size of 2.7 Gb, and a scaffold N50 of 4.8 Mb. We also present an alternative assembly including 27 Gb raw reads generated using the Pacific Biosciences platform. In addition, we sequenced the proteome of the same individual and RNA from 3 different tissue types from 3 other species of squid (Onychoteuthis banksii, Dosidicus gigas, and Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis) to assist genome annotation. We annotated 33,406 protein-coding genes supported by evidence, and the genome completeness estimated by BUSCO reached 92%. Repetitive regions cover 49.17% of the genome. Conclusions: This annotated draft genome of A. dux provides a critical resource to investigate the unique traits of this species, including its gigantism and key adaptations to deep-sea environments.

Description: R.R.F. thanks the Villum Fonden for grant VKR023446 (Villum Fonden Young Investigator Grant), the Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT) for grant PTDC/MAR/115347/2009; COMPETE-FCOMP-01-012; FEDER-015453, Marie Curie Actions (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF, Proposal 272927), and the Danish National Research Foundation (DNRF96) for its funding of the Center for Macroecology, Evolution, and Climate. H.O. thanks the Rede Nacional de Espectrometria de Massa, ROTEIRO/0028/2013, ref. LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-022125, supported by COMPETE and North Portugal Regional Operational Programme (Norte2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). A.C. thanks FCT for project UID/Multi/04423/2019. M.P. acknowledges the support from the Wellcome Trust (grant number WT108749/Z/15/Z) and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory. M.P.T.G. thanks the Danish National Research Foundation for its funding of the Center for GeoGenetics (grant DNRF94) and Lundbeck Foundation for grant R52–5062 on Pathogen Palaeogenomics. S.R. was supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation grant NNF14CC0001. A.H. is supported by a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council David Phillips Fellowship (fellowship reference: BB/N020146/1). T.B. is supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council-funded South West Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (training grant reference BB/M009122/1). This work was partially funded by the Lundbeck Foundation (R52-A4895 to B.B.). H.J.T.H. was supported by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (#825.09.016), and currently by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) under grant HO 5569/2-1 (Emmy Noether Junior Research Group). T.V. and B. Brejova were supported by grants from the Slovak grant agency VEGA (1/0684/16, 1/0458/18). F.S. was supported by a PhD grant (SFRH/BD/126560/2016) from FCT. A.A. was partly supported by the FCT project PTDC/CTA-AMB/31774/2017. C.C. and Y.W. are partly supported by grant IIS-1526415 from the US National Science Foundation. Computation for the work described in this article was partially supported by the DeiC National Life Science Supercomputer at DTU.

Description: © The Author(s), 2021. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Tassia, M. G., David, K. T., Townsend, J. P., & Halanych, K. M. TIAMMAt: leveraging biodiversity to revise protein domain models, evidence from innate immunity. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 38(12), (2021): 5806–5818, https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msab258.

Description: Sequence annotation is fundamental for studying the evolution of protein families, particularly when working with nonmodel species. Given the rapid, ever-increasing number of species receiving high-quality genome sequencing, accurate domain modeling that is representative of species diversity is crucial for understanding protein family sequence evolution and their inferred function(s). Here, we describe a bioinformatic tool called Taxon-Informed Adjustment of Markov Model Attributes (TIAMMAt) which revises domain profile hidden Markov models (HMMs) by incorporating homologous domain sequences from underrepresented and nonmodel species. Using innate immunity pathways as a case study, we show that revising profile HMM parameters to directly account for variation in homologs among underrepresented species provides valuable insight into the evolution of protein families. Following adjustment by TIAMMAt, domain profile HMMs exhibit changes in their per-site amino acid state emission probabilities and insertion/deletion probabilities while maintaining the overall structure of the consensus sequence. Our results show that domain revision can heavily impact evolutionary interpretations for some families (i.e., NLR’s NACHT domain), whereas impact on other domains (e.g., rel homology domain and interferon regulatory factor domains) is minimal due to high levels of sequence conservation across the sampled phylogenetic depth (i.e., Metazoa). Importantly, TIAMMAt revises target domain models to reflect homologous sequence variation using the taxonomic distribution under consideration by the user. TIAMMAt’s flexibility to revise any subset of the Pfam database using a user-defined taxonomic pool will make it a valuable tool for future protein evolution studies, particularly when incorporating (or focusing) on nonmodel species.

Description: This work was supported by The National Science Foundation (Grant No. IOS—1755377 to K.M.H., Rita Graze, and Elizabeth Hiltbold Schwartz), and K.T.D. was supported by The National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

Description: © The Author(s), 2021. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Shoshan, Y., Liscovitch-Brauer, N., Rosenthal, J. J. C., & Eisenberg, E. Adaptive proteome diversification by nonsynonymous A-to-I RNA editing in coleoid cephalopods. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 38(9), (2021): 3775–3788, https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msab154.

Description: RNA editing by the ADAR enzymes converts selected adenosines into inosines, biological mimics for guanosines. By doing so, it alters protein-coding sequences, resulting in novel protein products that diversify the proteome beyond its genomic blueprint. Recoding is exceptionally abundant in the neural tissues of coleoid cephalopods (octopuses, squids, and cuttlefishes), with an over-representation of nonsynonymous edits suggesting positive selection. However, the extent to which proteome diversification by recoding provides an adaptive advantage is not known. It was recently suggested that the role of evolutionarily conserved edits is to compensate for harmful genomic substitutions, and that there is no added value in having an editable codon as compared with a restoration of the preferred genomic allele. Here, we show that this hypothesis fails to explain the evolutionary dynamics of recoding sites in coleoids. Instead, our results indicate that a large fraction of the shared, strongly recoded, sites in coleoids have been selected for proteome diversification, meaning that the fitness of an editable A is higher than an uneditable A or a genomically encoded G.

Description: This research was supported by a grants from the United States–Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF), Jerusalem, Israel (BSF2017262 to J.J.C.R. and E.E.), the Israel Science Foundation (3371/20 to E.E.) and the National Science Foundation (IOS 1827509 and 1557748 to J.J.C.R).

Description: The IOC Committee on International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange held its Twenty-fifth Session (IODE-XXV) at the Iino Hall, Tokyo, Japan between 20 and 22 February 2019. The Session was preceded by a 2-day scientific conference 18-19 February 2019, attended by 150 participants. The IODE Session was attended by 100 participants from 39 IOC Member States and 7 Organizations. The Session adopted 4 decisions (+ 2 draft decisions for the IOC Assembly) and 5 recommendations. The decisions concerned (i) the establishment of an inter-sessional working group on the review of NODC health status; (ii) the revision of the IODE management structure; (iii) the establishment of the inter-sessional working group to develop the implementation plan and cost-benefit analysis for the IOC Ocean Data and Information System (ODIS). The Recommendations concerned (i) the JCOMM/IODE Global Data Assembly Centres; (ii) the revision of the terms of reference of he JCOMM/IODE ETDMP; (iii) the establishment of the IOC Ocean Data and Information System Catalogue of Sources (ODISCat); (iv) the establishment of an inter-sessional working group to propose a strategy on ocean data and information stewardship for the UN Ocean Decade; and (v) the IODE work plan and budget for 2019-2020. In addition a draft decision was prepared for the IOC Assembly on the revision of the IOC Oceanographic Data Exchange Policy as well as a draft decision on the establishment of the IOC Ocean Best Practices System project. The Committee elected Dr Sergey Belov (Russian Federation) and Mr Taco de Bruin (The Netherlands) as IODE Co-Chairs.

Description: OpenASFA input

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Description: In pursuance of 38 C/Resolution 101 on Governance, procedures and working methods of the governing bodies of UNESCO, an intersessional open-ended working group was established to further examine views and proposals of Member States, the External Auditor’s report and other relevant evaluations and audits. Purpose of the document: This document presents background information to assist Member States in their discussions on reviewing the efficiency of the IOC governance and prepare a contribution to the work of the General Conference Working Group by the end of 2016.

Description: Published

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Description: The Joint Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM) was established by its parent organizations, the World Meteorological Organization and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (of UNESCO) in 1999, to coordinate worldwide marine meteorological and oceanographic services and their supporting observational, data management, forecasting, analysis and capacity building programmes. JCOMM coordinates and recommends standards and procedures for a fully-integrated marine meteorology and ocean observing, data management, forecasting and analysis system which uses state-of-the-art technologies and capabilities. It is responsive to the evolving needs of all users of marine data and products, including an outreach programme to enhance the national capacity of all maritime countries. It aims to maximize the benefits for its Members/Member States in the projects, programmes and activities that it undertakes in their interest as well as those of the global community in general

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Description: Author Posting. © The Author(s), 2022. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Oxford University Press for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Integrative & Comparative Biology 62(3), (2022): 805-816, https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icac108.

Description: Skates are a diverse group of dorso-ventrally compressed cartilaginous fish found primarily in high-latitude seas. These slow-growing oviparous fish deposit their fertilized eggs into cases, which then rest on the seafloor. Developing skates remain in their cases for 1–4 years after they are deposited, meaning the abiotic characteristics of the deposition sites, such as current and substrate type, must interact with the capsule in a way to promote long residency. Egg cases are morphologically variable and can be identified to species. Both the gross morphology and the microstructures of the egg case interact with substrate to determine how well a case stays in place on a current-swept seafloor. Our study investigated the egg case hydrodynamics of eight North Pacific skate species to understand how their morphology affects their ability to stay in place. We used a flume to measure maximum current velocity, or “break-away velocity,” each egg case could withstand before being swept off the substrate and a tilt table to measure the coefficient of static friction between each case and the substrate. We also used the programing software R to calculate theoretical drag on the egg cases of each species. For all flume trials, we found the morphology of egg cases and their orientation to flow to be significantly correlated with break-away velocity. In certain species, the morphology of the egg case was correlated with flow rate required to dislodge a case from the substrate in addition to the drag experienced in both the theoretical and flume experiments. These results effectively measure how well the egg cases of different species remain stationary in a similar habitat. Parsing out attachment biases and discrepancies in flow regimes of egg cases allows us to identify where we are likely to find other elusive species nursery sites. These results will aid predictive models for locating new nursery habitats and protective policies for avoiding the destruction of these nursery sites.

Description: This work was supported by the NSF-REU and FHL Blinks-Beacon for funding JNE. And the Stephen and Ruth Wainwright Endowed Fellowship, BEACON and Hoag Awards, Robert T. Paine Experimental and Field Ecology Award, FHL Award, FHL Marine Science Fund, FHL Student Fund (Kohn), Patricia L. Dudley Endowment for funding KCH.

Description: 2023-07-04

Description: Author Posting. © Oxford University Press, 2021. This article is posted here by permission of [publisher] for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Lund, S., Acton, G., Clement, B., Okada, M., & Keigwin, L. On the relationship between palaeomagnetic secular variation and excursions-records from MIS 8-ODP leg 172. Geophysical Journal International, 225(2), (2021): 1129-1141, https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggaa564.

Description: Palaeomagnetic secular variation (PSV) and excursion data obtained across MIS 8 (243–300 ka) from the western North Atlantic Ocean ODP (Ocean Drilling Program) sites 1060–1063 show composite high-resolution PSV records (both directions and relative palaeointensity) developed for each site and intercompared. Two methods of chronostratigraphy allow us to date these records. First, we used published results that compared the calcium carbonate records of ODP Leg 172 sediments and tuned them with Milankovich cyclicity. We also compared our palaeointensity records with the PISO-1500 global palaeointensity record that was dated with oxygen isotope stratigraphy. We prefer the PISO-1500 record to date our cores. Two excursions are preserved in our PSV records—Excursions 8α and 9α. Our revised age estimates for both excursions are 8α (236.7–239.8 ka) and 9α (283.7–286.9 ka). We have compared shipboard measurements of the two excursions with u-channel measurements of selected excursion intervals. Excursion 8α is interpreted as a ‘Class II’ excursion (local reversal) with in-phase inclination and declination changes; Excursion 9α is a ‘Class I’ excursion with 90° out-of-phase inclination and declination changes. Averaged directions (after removal of true excursional directions) and relative palaeointensity in 3 and 9 ka overlapping intervals show significant PSV directional variability over 104 yr timescales that is regionally correlatable among the four sites. A notable pattern of angular dispersion variability involves most time spent with low (∼10°) dispersion, with three shorter intervals of high (∼25°) dispersion. The relative palaeointensity variability also shows significant variability over 104 yr timescales with three notable intervals of low palaeointensity in all four records and a direct correspondence between the three low-palaeointensity intervals and the three intervals of high angular dispersion. The two magnetic field excursions occur in two of the three low-palaeointensity/high-dispersion intervals. This suggests that the geomagnetic field operates in two states between reversals, one with regular to high palaeointensity and low directional variability and one with low palaeointensity and significantly higher directional variability and excursions.

Description: © The Author(s), 2021. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Suca, J. J., Wiley, D. N., Silva, T. L., Robuck, A. R., Richardson, D. E., Glancy, S. G., Clancey, E., Giandonato, T., Solow, A. R., Thompson, M. A., Hong, P., Baumann, H., Kaufman, L., & Llopiz, J. K. Sensitivity of sand lance to shifting prey and hydrography indicates forthcoming change to the northeast US shelf forage fish complex. Ices Journal of Marine Science, 78(3), (2021): 1023–1037, https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsaa251.

Description: Northern sand lance (Ammodytes dubius) and Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) represent the dominant lipid-rich forage fish species throughout the Northeast US shelf and are critical prey for numerous top predators. However, unlike Atlantic herring, there is little research on sand lance or information about drivers of their abundance. We use intra-annual measurements of sand lance diet, growth, and condition to explain annual variability in sand lance abundance on the Northeast US Shelf. Our observations indicate that northern sand lance feed, grow, and accumulate lipids in the late winter through summer, predominantly consuming the copepod Calanus finmarchicus. Sand lance then cease feeding, utilize lipids, and begin gonad development in the fall. We show that the abundance of C. finmarchicus influences sand lance parental condition and recruitment. Atlantic herring can mute this effect through intra-guild predation. Hydrography further impacts sand lance abundance as increases in warm slope water decrease overwinter survival of reproductive adults. The predicted changes to these drivers indicate that sand lance will no longer be able to fill the role of lipid-rich forage during times of low Atlantic herring abundance—changing the Northeast US shelf forage fish complex by the end of the century.

Description: Research was funded by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (IA agreement M17PG0019; DNW, LK, HB, and JKL), including a subaward via the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (18-11-B-203). Additional support came from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Woods Hole Sea Grant Program (NA18OAR4170104, Project No. R/O-57; JKL, HB, and DNW) and a National Science Foundation Long-term Ecological Research grant for the Northeast US Shelf Ecosystem (OCE 1655686; JKL). JJS was funded by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship programme. ARR was funded by an NOAA Nancy Foster Scholarship.

Description: Central America lies between two oceans, the Pacific and the Atlantic through the Caribbean Sea. Although it has no records of great earthquakes (~8.0 to 9.0), a tsunami catalogue based on historical references for Central America lists more than 50 entries. Tsunamis caused damage and casualties in 1882 off the Caribbean coast of Panama, in 1991 in Costa Rica and Panama and in 1992 in the Pacific coast of Nicaragua. Coastal population has vastly increased in recent decades, along with tourism, increasing total exposure to tsunami. The outcomes of this meeting, organized by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), are initially intended to contribute with sound science inputs to the project "Building resilient communities and integrated Early Warning Systems for tsunamis and other ocean related hazards in Central America", funded by the European Commission's Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department (ECHO) implemented by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and national counterparts in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, in close cooperation with Panama and Costa Rica.

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Description: The International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE)1 programme of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO2 maintains a global network of National Oceanographic Data Centres (NODC) and Associate Data Units (ADU) responsible for the collection, quality control, archive, and online publication of many millions of ocean and marine observations which are made available to Member States. In addition, it coordinates a network of marine information (library) managers. The IODE Committee has long held the view that there is a need for a quality management framework to ensure that NODCs and ADUs are established and operate according to defined principles, including adherence to agreed standards and the requirements of the IOC Oceanographic Data Exchange Policy. This will ensure NODCs and ADUs are able to provide data of known quality to meet the requirements of a broad community of users.

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Description: This report reports on the establishment and working of the Advisory Group during its first session. This working group is a very good opportunity for the WESTPAC experts in the date and communication field to get together to constructively find a way to promote the project.

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Description: Through Decisions EC-XLVII/6.2 and XXVIII/5.1, IOC decided to establish an Intersessional Working Group and to support the production of the Global Ocean Science Report, which presents baseline information on human and technical capacities, infrastructure and investment, as well as impacts of ocean science at the global and national level. The Global Ocean Science Report (GOSR) was published in June 2017 where the Executive Secretary launched it at the United Nations “Oceans Conference” on 8 June 2017 in six languages. It includes information gathered from Member States via questionnaires, a bibliometric analysis, as well as other published resources. As acknowledged by the Inter-agency Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDG), part of the information provided in the GOSR contains the data needed to report towards the SDG target 14.a for increasing scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, and IOC was decided to be the custodian agency for the indicator 14.a.1. Continued support by IOC Member States would allow assessing the status of ocean science capacities, infrastructure and output in a regular analysis (each 4-5 years). In addition an endorsement by the IOC Assembly will enable and support Member States to submit and access the national data through the development of a GOSR data repository and data portal.

Description: OPENASFA INPUT Restricted Distribution; Item 5.1 of the Provisional Agenda of the 29th Session of the IOC Assembly held at UNESCO/IOC Headquarters in Paris between 21 and 29 June 2017.

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Description: This document prepared by the Secretariat illustrates the continuous alignment and synergies between the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) and relevant programmes and activities of the IOC, in particular the High-Level Objectives and Functions of IOC defined in its Medium-term Strategy and the Outcomes set out in the Decade Implementation Plan. This information is particularly noteworthy as the Ocean Decade has now received endorsement by the UN General Assembly at its 75th session in December 2021.

Description: OPENASFA INPUT

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Description: For many years now, we have known we were running out of time to stop and revert the decline of ocean health and start managing the ocean in a sustainable way. The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development is an initiative of all and for all stakeholders, embracing natural and social science disciplines, local and indigenous knowledge, science policy and innovation interfaces, technology and infrastructure, aimed to achieve sustainable management of the ocean and development. This Decade will be transformative and will create a paradigm shift in the generation of ocean related knowledge, based on the principles of synergies, co design and co development of actions towards the agreed goals in a multi-stakeholder environment From the very outset, data and information have been recognized between the key issues cutting across all other elements and dimensions of the Decade. The Decade will facilitate the exchange of ocean knowledge between generators and diverse users of ocean knowledge through new data, information and knowledge platforms and services. Amongst the identified outcomes, outcome #6 tackles an accessible ocean with open and equitable access to data, information, technology, and innovation, improving access to and quality control of data, knowledge and technology. Data and information is further referred to in two of the challenges identified in the implementation plan, namely Challenge 8: “Through multi-stakeholder collaboration, develop a comprehensive digital representation of the ocean, including a dynamic ocean map, which provides free and open access for exploring, discovering, and visualizing past, current, and future ocean conditions in a manner relevant to diverse stakeholders” and Challenge 9: “Ensure comprehensive capacity development and equitable access to data, information, knowledge and technology across all aspects of ocean science and for all stakeholders”. We have now an opportunity to build together a community of ocean related data and information practitioners that shares resources, experiences, guidelines, tools, ways of addressing recurring problems. In short, a shared practice, so we can address together, efficiently, and effectively, the challenges of the Decade.

Description: For bibliographic purposes this document should be cited as follows: UNESCO/IOC. 2020. International data sharing workshop for non-UN IGOs, Global and Regional organizations and projects, NGOs and private sector, Online meeting, 12 October 2020. Paris, UNESCO, 42 pp. (IOC Workshop Report No. 290) (English).

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Description: This document was initially prepared in April 2020 by Dr M. A. Atmanand, Chairman of the IOC Regional Committee of the Central Indian Ocean (IOCINDIO), pursuant to IOC Assembly Decision IOC-XXX/3.3.4 (Paris, 26 June–4 July 2019) to consider the transformation of IOCINDIO, an IOC Regional Committee, into an IOC Sub-commission. The document benefitted from inputs from IOCINDIO Vice-chairpersons Faiza Al-Yamani, Kuwait, Mohammad Muslem Uddin, Bangladesh, and Satish S. C. Shenoi, IOC Vice-Chairperson, Electoral Group IV. The document was originally intended as a working document for the consideration of the Executive Council in 2020 before its postponement as a virtual session with a limited agenda in February 2021. Upon further reflection of the authors with the IOC Chair and senior staff of the Secretariat, a broad and inclusive consultation on this subject among IOC Member States was initiated through a virtual meeting (see IOC Circular Letter 2824) and a discussion at the next IOCINDIO session during the first quarter 2021. The progress on this issue will be reported by the Executive Secretary in his report to the Executive Council -53 and through a working document for the consideration of the Assembly in June 2021.

Description: OPENASFA INPUT

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Description: Non Refereed

Description: This event entitled “Verso la Generazione Oceano” (Towards the Generation Ocean) was the first initiative organized in Italy to present the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (hereinafter the “Decade”). It was held on 22 October 2020 in Milan, Italy. Its goal was to illustrate to the Italian stakeholders the objectives and the plans of the Decade in order to pave the way for the creation of the Generation Ocean campaign (#versolagenerazioneoceano) that will be developed in Italy in 2021. Moreover, this event was organized with the aim to work with different stakeholders and sectors of the society in start developing ideas to be implemented during the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2031). This event was planned to take place in May 2020 and the preparatory work started in January 2020. However, due to the Covid-19 outbreak, it was postponed and rescheduled as a digital event to 22 October 2020. Nutrition, oxygen, energy, work, health: everything that allows us to live is linked to the ocean. To promote greater knowledge, conservation and sustainable use of the ocean and its resources, the United Nations declared 2021-2030 "Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development". The Decade aims to mobilise the scientific community, policymakers, business and civil society around a collaborative research and technological innovation programme. It will enable the coordination of research programmes, observation systems, capacity building, maritime spatial planning, and marine risk reduction, to improve the management of ocean and coastal zone resources. The Decade of Ocean Sciences should accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 for the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean, seas and marine resources. The goal is also to create together “the ocean we need, for the future we want”. With this in mind, the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) represented by its Executive Secretary, Dr Vladimir Ryabinin, organised a popular event "Towards the Generation Ocean" to present in Italy the Decade of Ocean Science. In collaboration with various partners, the event aims to initiate a movement that gives voice to the importance of having a resilient ocean, a productive ocean and a healthy ocean. The event focussed on three great challenges: "climate change, food safety and human health". From the No’hma theatre in Milan, “Towards the Generation Ocean” gathered virtually from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., researchers, professionals, sustainable entrepreneurs, and also chefs, musicians, journalists and experts from various sectors of society. The time to act is now and we must act together! was the message. The event was an initiative dedicated to the role of marine scientific research as an essential tool to ensure the health of the planet and the announcement of a new era represented by the "Generation Ocean". It strived to spread greater awareness of the importance of the ocean and to promote innovative solutions to the challenges we will face in the coming years. At the end of the morning, the event hosted the award ceremony of Oceanthon, the digital hackathon aimed at students, researchers, developers, experts in communication, economics, marketing and design, participating in the design of innovative ideas for the conservation of the ocean. The highlight of the mobilisation event was the presentation of the Oceanthon Prize by Davide Villa, CMO and Board Member of E.ON Italia to the winning “River Cleaner” project by Blue Eco Line startup. The initiative mobilized institutions, companies, non-profit organizations, media and popular people with great interest in the objectives of the Decade. All of them are called to become the promoters of specific initiatives and helper of the IOC as coordinator of the Decade in raising awareness, and facilitating stakeholders’ commitments for the Decade. See related web article: https://en.unesco.org/news/towards-generation-ocean-united-create-ocean-we-need-future-we-want .

Description: OPENASFA INPUT For bibliographic purposes this document should be cited as follows: UNESCO-IOC. 2020. Italian Digital Mobilization Event for the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development: “Towards the Generation Ocean”, 22 October 2020, Milan, Italy. Paris, UNESCO, (Workshop Reports, 292).

Description: Published

Description: Not Known

Description: The project 'Supporting internationally accepted maritime spatial planning guidance' - MSPglobal for short - is an initiative by UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO) and the European Commission's Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) to support their Joint Roadmap to Accelerate Marine / Maritime Spatial Planning processes worldwide (MSProadmap) (#OceanAction15346). Launched in November 2018 for a period of three years, MSPglobal aims to support international marine/maritime spatial planning (MSP) for the sustainable development of the blue economy, by enhancing cross-border and transboundary cooperation where it already exists and promoting MSP processes in areas where it is yet to be put in place. More specifically, it seeks to: - Develop a guidance on cross-border and transboundary MSP; - Increase awareness among governmental authorities and stakeholders about the importance of MSP; - Initiate an institutional coordinate dialogue between governmental authorities at regional, national and local levels, and - Increase cooperation between stakeholders. By providing the context for active and effective participation of policy-makers, scientists, businesses, citizens and other stakeholder, MSPglobal aims to improve governance at multiple levels and achieve an ecosystem-based approach in support of the blue economy. Doing so will require transparant data and information, sharing of best practices and new knowledge to inform, guide and support MSP at global scale.

Description: European Union

Description: OPENASFA INPUT This publication should be cited as follows: UNESCO/IOC. 2021. MSPglobal - Compendium of existing and emerging cross-border and transboundary MSP practices. Paris, UNESCO. (IOC/INF-1935).

Description: Published

Description: Refereed

Description: As a changing climate alters ocean conditions, the redistribution of marine ecosystem services and benefits will affect maritime activities and societal value chains. While the magnitude of the effects will be diverse and region-specific and vary across sectors, both humans and nature will be subjected to increasing and intense negative impacts. Furthermore, the impacts of a changing climate on maritime economies are yet largely unknown and there are uncertainties and limitations of climate and ocean management options, which are at a very early or experimental stage. Significant gaps in technical, institutional and financial capacities for climate change adaptation between developed and developing countries exist, pointing to an imbalanced response to the global climate crisis. Marine/Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) is being developed and implemented worldwide as a way to foster sustainable ocean use and management. The spatial and temporal distribution of human uses in marine spaces through MSP aims to minimise conflicts and promote synergies among uses, as well as between uses and the environment. In addition to the many environmental and socio-economic challenges which MSP seeks to address, a changing climate must now be included. Mainstreaming climate change into MSP will allow for improved preparedness and response, as well as reduced vulnerability of marine systems. “Climate-smart MSP” refers to planning initiatives in the ocean space which integrate and may adapt to the effects of a changing climate. For MSP to become “climate-smart”, data and knowledge on the pathways through which climate change impacts marine ecosystems and human uses are needed at appropriate spatial scales. These should address the inherent uncertainties in planning scenarios themselves with regard to climate change, particularly in relation to their ability to adapt to changing ocean conditions. In this regard, the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) will play a key role, as one of its main objectives is filling the significant remaining gaps in marine knowledge, including the effects of climate change. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and other spatial marine management tools can also be used to promote specific adaptation-relevant features, while climate literacy can help build capacities and facilitate behavioural change to better cope with climate-related challenges. Increasing the knowledge base on the impacts of a changing climate is necessary. This includes building evidence on the uses most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and integrating their possible spatial relocation in MSP; knowledge on conservation priority species and keystone ecosystem components and including them in impact analysis assessments to promote their sustainability and resilience; and an understanding of the social and economic implications of climate change, particularly in communities highly dependent on marine resources for their livelihoods. It is also necessary to raise awareness on the effects of a changing climate on marine ecosystems and maritime activities, and fostering new behaviours and social norms in local communities to improve knowledge and skills on opportunities for sustainable mitigation and adaptation options, for enhancing climate literacy and promoting sustainable actions at the local level. This involves integrating strategic climate objectives into overall sustainable development and environmental policies using climate-smart, nature-inclusive MSP as a common framework for setting up meaningful and effective actions across regions, which may be achieved through establishing interdisciplinary MSP networks. Practical adaptation and mitigation strategies at appropriate scales, using fit-for-purpose, spatially explicit and operationally mature nature-based solutions, as well as strategic investments to achieve long-term visions reflected in climate-smart, nature-inclusive spatial plans, are also required.

Description: European Union (DG MARE)

Description: OPENASFA INPUT

Description: Published

Description: Refereed

Description: The Integrated Ocean Carbon Research (IOC-R) programme is a formal working group of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) that was formed in 2018 in response to the United Nations (UN) Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), “the Decade.” The IOC-R will contribute to the science elements of the overarching Implementation Plan for the Decade1. The Implementation Plan is a high-level framework to guide actions by which ocean science can more effectively deliver its contribution and co-development with other entities to achieve the societal outcomes outlined in the Decade plan and the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the UN. Knowledge of the ocean carbon cycle is critical in light of its role in sequestering CO2 from the atmosphere and for meeting goals and targets such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement, the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the associated UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Increasing levels of CO2 in the ocean, predominantly due to human greenhouse gas emissions, and the partitioning of CO2 into organic and inorganic species have fundamental impacts on ocean carbon cycling and ecosystem health. The Integrated Ocean Carbon Research (IOC-R) effort aims to address key issues in ocean carbon research through investigative and observational goals. It takes advantage of the appreciable knowledge gained from studies over the last four decades of the ocean carbon cycle and its perturbations. IOC-R addresses the clear and urgent need to better understand and quantify the ocean carbon cycle in an integrative fashion in light of the rapid changes that are currently occurring and will occur in the near future. IOC-R can make significant breakthroughs, capitalizing on advances in modeling, data assimilation, remote sensing, and new in situ observing technologies, including novel biological observing techniques, artificial intelligence, and the use of bioinformatics. This IOC-R vision reflects an increasing appreciation for the significant role the ocean carbon cycle has on global well-being now and in the future, and for the critical need to study and monitor it in a holistic fashion.

Description: OPENASFA INPUT The complete report should be cited as follows: IOC-R. 2021. Integrated Ocean Carbon Research: A Summary of Ocean Carbon Research, and Vision of Coordinated Ocean Carbon Research and Observations for the Next Decade. R. Wanninkhof, C. Sabine and S. Aricò (eds.). Paris, UNESCO. 46 pp. (IOC Technical Series, 158 Rev.) doi:10.25607/h0gj-pq41.

Description: Published

Description: Refereed

Description: This report is an output of the Large Marine Ecosystems component of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Transboundary Waters Assessment Programme (TWAP)(2013-2015). TWAP conducted indicator-based assessments for transboundary water systems in five categories: aquifers, rivers, lakes, Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) and Open Oceans. These included assessment of governance arrangements and overall architecture for transboundary systems. This report covers the arrangements for LMEs, while its companion (Volume 2) covers arrangement for Open Ocean with a focus on Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ). Each report is summarised as a chapter in the overall assessment report for the respective water category (Open Ocean and LME).

Description: OpenASFA input

Description: Published

Description: Not Known

Description: In recent years, the Caribbean region has faced challenges from oil spills and an influx of floating sargassum seaweed. Large-scale oil spill incidents have included an April 2017 spill at Pointe-à-Pierre, Trinidad and Tobago and a July 2017 oil spill in Kingston Harbor, Jamaica. Illegal dumping of oil-contaminated waste by ships operating in the region is also a common occurrence. An increase in the frequency and volume of sargassum beachings and coastal overabundance has caused another challenge for the region with mats preventing the deployment and retrieval of fishing gear and clogging popular beaches, harbors and bays. Based on the amounts of Sargassum detected in the Central West Atlantic and the Caribbean and in January–April 2018, researchers at the University of South Florida (USF) predict high amounts of Sargassum in Caribbean in coming months. In response to these challenges, a meeting of 40 experts from 15 countries was held in May f this year to discuss sargassum and oil spill monitoring in the Caribbean and Adjacent egions. The participants included representatives from various United Nations entities, academia, governments, private companies and international initiatives. The workshop was organized by IOCARIBE of IOC UNESCO and its Global Ocean Observing System Regional Alliance, IOCARIBE-GOOS, and the GEO Blue Planet Initiative, and hosted by the Ministry of Education of Mexico and Mexico National Council of Sciences. The overarching goal of the workshop was to develop a plan for the development of a region-wide system for monitoring and forecasting oil spills and sargassum presence. At the workshop, experts reviewed the existing technologies and challenges for monitoring and forecasting oil spills and sargassum in the Caribbean and adjacent regions and ultimately drafted a plan to create an information system based on existing efforts. It was determined that the objective of the information service will be to provide a publicly available monitoring platform and alerting system for oil spills and sargassum based on publically available data (e.g. satellite data and in situ data from countries with open data sharing policies). The service will initially be based on existing technologies and activities, working to augment and improve the framework for information management and delivery and mechanisms for the region and demonstrate the utility of ocean observations and products. It was agreed that the initial development of the service would be done by partner organizations, and the NOAA CoastWatch program and the Caribbean Marine Atlas volunteered to host service components initially. The long-term goal is to have the information service coordinated and built upon by a regional body in a model similar to that of the International Tsunami Information Centre.

Description: Government of Mexico

Description: Government of Flanders

Description: NOAA

Description: Published

Description: Not Known

Description: This document outlines a framework for communication activities for 2015-2017 identifying new objectives while building on previous outcomes. It acknowledges the need to broaden the understanding of MIM by the wider IODE Data Management community and identify robust mechanisms, which will improve communication between IODE Officers and GE- MIM and with other relevant agencies in marine information management. This strategy will underpin the ability of GE-MIM to effectively raise its’ profile and ensure that there is an acknowledgement of the role of GE-MIM and the marine information profession and its potential contribution to the work of IODE. In this way, communications will directly contribute to the fulfilment of IODE programme goals and objectives with the aim to further build GE-MIM reputation and the credibility and relevance of its’ actions by formulating and disseminating messages on the activities and concerns of GE-MIM. Effective communications will allow GE-MIM to disseminate these outcomes in a targeted and efficient manner, thereby promoting marine information management.

Description: OpenASFA input

Description: Published

Description: Non Refereed

Description: During the second meeting of the Group of Experts on Capacity Development (GE-CD), a task team was established to conduct a review of the IOC Capacity Development Strategy 2015–2021, which is expiring at the end of December 2021. This information document presents a summary of the task team’s review, articulating the main elements that would justify a revision of the current Strategy: mainly the challenges and objectives promoted by the UN Ocean Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) and the outcomes of the 2nd GE-CD survey. Feedback from consultations with other global and regional programmes were also considered in developing the recommendations contained in this report. Based on this analysis, the Task Team recommends that the GE-CD continue its work on revising the IOC CD Strategy for the period 2023–2030, extending the current Strategy until 2023.

Description: OPENASFA INUT

Description: Published

Description: Non Refereed

Description: This Scientific Summary on Multiple Ocean Stressors for Policy Makers offers a reference for all concerned stakeholders to understand and discuss all types of ocean stressors. This document will help coordinate action to better understand how multiple stressors interact and how the cumulative pressures they cause can be tackled and managed. It is a first step towards increased socio-ecological resilience to multiple ocean stressors (Figure 1). Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM)1 recognizes the complex and interconnected nature of ecosystems, and the integral role of humans in these ecosystems. EBM integrates ecological, social and governmental principles. It considers the tradeoffs and interactions between ocean stakeholders (e.g. fishing, shipping, energy extraction) and their goals, while addressing the reduction of conflicts and the negative cumulative impacts of human activities on ecosystem resilience and sustainability. Thus, EBM is an ideal science-based approach for managing the impacts of cumulative stressors on marine ecosystems. The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030; Ocean Decade), which is based on a multi-stakeholder consultative process, identified 10 Ocean Decade Challenges. Challenge 2: Understand the effects of multiple stressors on ocean ecosystems, and develop solutions to monitor, protect, manage and restore ecosystems and their biodiversity under changing environmental, social and climate conditions addresses the overall outcomes of the Decade. In particular, outcomes aimed at a clean, healthy and resilient, safe and predicted, sustainably harvested and productive, and accessible ocean, with open and equitable access to data, information and technology and innovation by 2030. This Scientific Summary for Policy Makers is also a call to action underlining the urgency to understand, model and manage multiple ocean stressors now. We cannot manage what we do not understand, and we cannot be efficient without prioritization of ocean actions appropriate to the place and time.

Description: OPENASFA INPUT The complete report should be cited as follows: IOC-UNESCO. 2022. Multiple Ocean Stressors: A Scientific Summary for Policy Makers. P.W. Boyd et al. (eds). Paris, UNESCO. 20 pp. (IOC Information Series, 1404) doi:10.25607/OBP-1724

Description: Published

Description: Refereed

Description: This document has been prepared by Laura Kong, Director International tsunami Information Centre (ITIC). The Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme is an international community-based recognition programme developed by UNESCO/IOC. It aims to build resilient communities through awareness and preparedness strategies that will protect life, livelihoods and property from tsunamis in different regions. In June 2021, the IOC Assembly through IOC Decision A-31/3.4.1 (Warning Mitigation Systems for Ocean Hazards) approved the establishment of the IOC Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme, with the aim of making 100% of communities at risk of tsunami prepared for and resilient to tsunamis by 2030 through the implementation of the UNESCO/IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme and other initiatives. The implementation of the Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme will be a key contribution to achieving the societal outcome ‘A Safe Ocean’ of the Ocean Decade. This document presents the main features of a UNESCO/IOC Tsunami Ready Programme. It is presented to the TT DMP for discussion and approval for recommendation to the TOWS-WG-XV, for the establishment of the programme.

Description: OPENASFA INPUT Working Document from the Meeting of the Inter-ICG Task Team on Disaster Management and Preparedness held online on 21-22 February 2022, Proposal for endorsement by IOC.

Description: Published

Description: Not Known

Description: This document provides an overview of the IODE structural elements, programmes and projects between 1961 and 2003, showing also their evolution during that period. This document was produced as a background information document for the First Session of the Task Team on the Development of an IOC Strategic Plan for Oceanographic Data and Information Management (Paris, 23 June 2003).

Description: OPENASFA INPUT

Description: Published

Description: Non Refereed

Description: A series of severe earthquakes hit Central Chile on Saturday, 27th February 2010. The main shock off Concepcion at 06:34 UTC (3:34 AM local time) had a magnitude of 8.8 Mw. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center PTWC in Hawaii, USA issued a regional warning at 06:46 UTC (12 minutes after the event). This was the first ocean wide test of a system that was put in place nearly 45 years ago by UNESCO’s Member States through its Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), after a 9.5 magnitude earthquake on 22 May 22 1960 off Chile triggered a wide ocean tsunami that caused 61 fatalities in Hawaii and 142 fatalities in Japan, several hours after the earthquake. As indicated above, 12 minutes after the 27th February 2010 earthquake the Pacific Ocean Tsunami Warning System (PTWS) went into action, with timely and adequate information produced and disseminated across the Pacific Ocean. There were no fatalities reported far from the epicenter, however, near the epicenter off the Chilean coast, official accounts indicate over 156 fatalities due to the tsunami. Preliminary measures of a Rapid Survey Team deployed the week after the event by UNESCO showed run up measurements as high as 30 meters with most common measurements between 6 and 10 meters in the most affected area of the Chilean coast. This earthquake and tsunami event presented an ideal opportunity to assess the performance of the PTWS. To that end the UNESCO/IOC Secretariat for the PTWS sent out a post-event survey questionnaire to the Tsunami Warning Focal Points (TWFPs) and Tsunami National Contacts (TNCs) from its 32 Member States and territories. This report has been prepared by the Secretariat based on the responses received from 19 TWFPs and TNCs. Factual details of the earthquake event and the tsunami are presented and the results of the survey are listed in tables and displayed as timelines and maps. We underscore that all TWFPs received the first PTWC bulletin. In addition, most of the countries reported PTWC as source of awareness of the earthquake. Fourteen countries issued a tsunami warning and in 9 Member States coastal zones were evacuated. It would be pertinent that each Member State analyze if an evacuation would have been necessary in zones where no evacuation was made. In four countries, some areas were evacuated preventively (self-evacuation). Moreover, it was observed that sea level was monitored by most of the countries. In addition, some countries used results from numerical modelling and calculated earthquake parameters. Based on data and information collected from Member States the PTWS acted promptly and efficiently throughout the Pacific. However, and at the same time, this event demonstrated the need to reinforce the work of PTWS for near field events, particularly with denser sea level real time networks close to active subduction areas. Indeed, as it has been demonstrated by the case of the sea level station located in Talcahuano, Chile, sea level stations close to the epicenter may be partially or totally destroyed by the impact of an earthquake and/or a tsunami. Given the critical role sea level readings have in all tsunami warning systems, the sea level monitoring networks should be densified close to active subduction areas and redundancy of sensors and transmission paths be strongly considered. Most of the issues revealed by the survey can be addressed both by the PTWS and at the national level through increased regional cooperation and training where needed. Post-event assessments assist in this process by highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the PTWS at regional, national and local levels and by raising the awareness of how Member States responded, both individually and collectively. The true value of such assessments is that it allows Member States to share information and experiences for the mutual benefit of improving the PTWS performance for all members.

Description: OpenASFA input

Description: Published

Description: Non Refereed

Description: The Global Sea-level Observing System (GLOSS) was established by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1985 to provide oversight and coordination for global and regional sea-level networks in support of scien- tific research. The first GLOSS Implementation Plan (GIP) in 1990 established the GLOSS Core Network (GCN) of ~300 tide gauges distributed around the world, technical standards for GLOSS tide gauge stations, as well as the basic terms and obligations for Member States participating in GLOSS. The second GIP in 1997 expanded the GLOSS programme to include sub-networks focused on long historical records suitable for the detection of long-term sea- level trends and accelerations (GLOSS-LTT), a cali- bration network for satellite altimetry (GLOSS-ALT), and a network suitable for monitoring aspects of the global ocean circulation (GLOSS-OC). In addition, a strategy for integrating Global Positioning System (GPS) into monitoring of land levels at GLOSS tide gauges was developed. The focus of the GIP 2012 remains the GCN and the datasets that result from this network. The new plan calls for two significant upgrades to the GCN moti- vated by scientific and operational requirements: 1) all GCN stations are required to report data in near-real time, which will be tracked at a Sea-level Station Monitoring Facility. This will involve upgrades in power, data acquisition plat- forms, and communication packages; however, these upgrades are cost-effective in terms of the benefits that a real-time system will provide for ocean monitoring and improved station perfor- mance due to early detection of station malfunc- tions; 2) continuous measurements of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), in particular the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS), the Russian GLONASS, or the newly established European GALILEO, or equivalent systems, in the vicinity of the tide gauge benchmark (TGBM) are required for all GCN stations. This upgrade will support satellite altimetry calibration and research efforts aimed at determining geocentric global sea-level rise rates as well as regional changes in sea level. Most relevant, vertical land movements can signifi- cantly alter the rates of sea-level rise expected from the sole climatic contributions of ocean ther- mal expansion and land-based ice melting, possi- bly magnifying the impacts of sea-level rise on the coast. In many cases, this requirement can be met by taking advantage of existing GNSS receivers maintained by other groups, as long as a precise geodetic tie to the GCN tide gauge can be made using, e.g. conventional levelling. The organization of the plan is as follows. An over- view of the GLOSS programme (chapter 1) and a brief summary of the uses of tide gauge data (chapter 2) are presented. The current status of the GLOSS programme is considered (chapter 3), followed by a discussion of the sea-level monitoring requirements raised by advisory groups and panels (chapter 4), as well as a self-assessment based on specific research and operational applications (chapter 5). These requirements are used to develop implementation goals for the GLOSS networks and data centres (chapter 6). Minor modifications are proposed for the administrative structure of GLOSS aimed at providing improved oversight of the imple- mentation plan (chapter 7). The success of the plan depends critically on the participation of Member States, whose obligations are summarized (chapter 8). The successful Training, Education and Mutual Assistance programmes that have been a corner stone of GLOSS will be continued to help meet implementation requirements (chapter 9). Additional technical and programmatic details are included in a set of appendices.

Description: OpenASFA input

Description: Published

Description: Refereed

Description: The 26 December 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean killed over 230,000 people, displaced more than 1 million people and left a trail of destruction. Considering that the Caribbean is a region prone to tsunamis, and recognising the need for an early warning system, the Intergovernmental Coordination Group (ICG) for the Tsunami and other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE EWS) was established in 2005 as a subsidiary body of the IOC-UNESCO with the purpose of providing assistance to all Member States of the region to establish their own regional early warning system. The main objective of the CARIBE EWS is to identify and mitigate the hazards posed by local and distant tsunamis. The goal is to create a fully integrated end-to-end warning system comprising four key components: hazard monitoring and detection; hazard assessment; warning dissemination; and community preparedness and response. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) in Hawaii is the interim tsunami warning service provider for the Caribbean. The West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Centre (WC/ATWC) is providing tsunami warning service for the USA territories in the Caribbean region. The magnitude 7.0 earthquake in Haiti on the 12 January 2010 was one of the most severe earthquakes that occurred in this country in the last 100 years. It caused a large number of casualties and material destruction.In addition, the earthquake generated a tsunami that caused a runup of 3m at both Jacmel and Petit Paradis, Haiti and 1m in Pedernales, Dominican Republic. Furthermore, it was recorded with an amplitude of 12 cm (peak to trough) at the Santo Domingo sea level station in the Dominican Republic. The arrival time was at 22:40 UTC, namely 47 minutes after the earthquake occurred. This tsunami recalled the need to effectively implement the CARIBE EWS to be prepared for future potentially destructive tsunamis in the region. The event therefore presented an ideal opportunity to evaluate the performance of the CARIBE EWS to highlight both the strengths and weaknesses of the system, to identify areas that require further attention, and to provide a benchmark of the present status of the system. The UNESCO IOC Secretariat for the CARIBE EWS sent out a post-event survey questionnaire to Member States and territories that have identified their Tsunami Warning Focal Points (TWFP). Out of 28 questionnaires sent out, 23 responses were returned to the CARIBE EWS Secretariat in Paris. The objectives of the survey were to confirm that the NTWCs received bulletins from the interim advisory service in a timely manner, to determine what actions were taken by the NTWCs, and to find out if the Member States activated their emergency response plans based on the available information. The survey was very useful to get an overview of the current status of the CARIBE EWS. Tsunami bulletins were received timely by most of the countries that answered the survey. On the other hand, it was identified that sea level was scarcely monitored during the event, and that some National Warning Centres (NWC) do not know how to access sea level data over the GTS or over the IOC Sea Level Observation Facility website. Most NWCs did not use any numerical models during the event. It was observed, as well, that countries placed in watch level were able to distribute warnings and even preventively evacuate some areas. It is beyond the scope of this report to conduct a detailed interpretation of the results, and the survey results have been presented so that individual Member States and the ICG can draw conclusions from this exercise and decide on future action. Although progress has been made since 2005, it should be recognized that the CARIBE EWS is not yet fully implemented and much remains to be done to bring the system to full operational status. The ICG will continue to monitor the system to ensure continuous improvement during the development phase.

Description: OpenASFA input

Description: Published

Description: Non Refereed

Description: The PTWS Medium-Term Strategy (PTWS MTS) outlines the vision of a continuously improving Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (PTWS) to meet stakeholder requirements during the period 2014–2021. This MTS is aligned with the eight year cycle of our parent body’s Medium–Term Strategy. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) MTS (Resolution XXVII-2, part B) identifies early warning systems as an important part of its strategic vision and has aligned its MTS with the strategic planning cycle of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The PTWS MTS focuses on describing general and essential strategic objectives to ensure an effective and efficient tsunami warning and mitigation system that is interoperable wherever possible with the other ocean basins and seas. The structure of the PTWS Working Group (WG) derives from the PTWS MTS and is described in the PTWS Working Group Structure document (ICG/PTWS-XXIII, Annex VI). Details of the methods of accomplishing these strategic objectives are defined in the PTWS Implementation Plan (version 2, 2001, draft document, IOC Technical Series No 86).

Description: OpenASFA input

Description: Published

Description: Non Refereed

Description: The Tsunami Public Awareness & Education (PAE) Strategy for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions forms part of the Enhancing Resilience to Reduce Vulnerability in the Caribbean (ERC) initiative, funded by the Italian Development Cooperation (Government of Italy). The project’s core outputs include the establishment of a sustainable network of real-time decision support centres to facilitate early warning and post-disaster recovery; strengthened national disaster mechanisms to incorporate best practices in volunteerism; enhanced institutional capacities; and enhanced public awareness and education programmes for tsunamis and other coastal hazards. This Tsunami Public Awareness and Education Strategy focuses on building long-term education and awareness on how to prepare and respond to tsunamis for countries in the Caribbean and adjacent regions1. It concentrates on planning and preparedness rather than providing guidelines to manage crisis communications during a disaster. Earthquakes2 and other coastal hazards are also addressed since many countries are affected by hurricanes, coastal flooding, storm surges and landslides. Indeed, long-term success of this strategy will require strong correlation between public awareness and emergency responses to tsunamis, earthquakes and other coastal hazards. This is the first time that a tsunami awareness and educational strategy of this scope and magnitude has been developed for this region. It is the result of over seven months of extensive research, analysis and consultation with over 30 stakeholders during 2012 and 2013. Once this communications strategy is validated, a harmonized approach to tsunami public awareness and education can be used by countries and territories from the Caribbean and adjacent regions. Long-term implementation results of this framework are expected to standardize messaging, increase information flow, strengthen cooperation, and bring regional continuity amongst countries and partners. Tsunami education and awareness are made within the context of broader disaster risk reduction (DRR) initiatives including the establishment of a Caribbean Tsunami Information Centre (CTIC), and building and sustaining disaster resilience as a shared responsibility across the region. It is also expected to complement other public awareness and education (PAE) work being done in each of the countries. Global initiatives that underpin this framework include several priorities in the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA), the Post−2015 Framework for DRR, and the Post−2015 Development Agenda that will supersede the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Regional initiatives that also affect this document are the sustainable development agenda for the 2014 International Conference of Small Island Developing States, and the Regional Stakeholder Consultation on the Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Strategy Beyond 2012 of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). This document uses as a starting point the 2009 Tsunami Smart® PAE Strategy initially drafted by CDEMA with input from several stakeholders, including the Seismic ResearchCentre (SRC). The Tsunami Smart® Strategy remains a good “How-To” manual for PAE Officers. The current strategy takes into account lessons learned from recent disasters, and integrates feedback from PAE practitioners in all relevant regions, particularly from Central and South America. It also incorporates lessons learned and best practices from the early warning component of the implemented Regional Risk Reduction Initiative (R3I) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for 11English and Dutch Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) and the US National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP). This communications strategy proposes that certain target audiences are more in need of public awareness and education than others. The following four areas were chosen so as to generate the highest potential public awareness impact which consequently would lead to the highest possible return on investment. These four communication approaches are listed below followed by the intended audience(s), in brackets:  Curriculum integration (education sector);  Specialized training (media, teachers, first responders, PAE professionals);  Community participation and input (multiple stakeholders);  Country/community designation or recognition by a program such as Tsunami Ready®. Communities could also become designated as “Marine and Coastal Hazards Ready”. If designation or recognition is not possible, at a minimum, install unaffiliated tsunami or other coastal hazard signage on key public beaches (tourism and private sectors, residents). Some of the strategic concepts discussed in this document include:  The changing role of a communicator from ‘implementer’ to ‘leverager’ and the resulting need for more partnerships, coordination of existing resources, and sharing information effectively, efficiently, and with the least cost.  The need for resource utilization that can be achieved through leveraging and content iteration rather than duplication.  The need to advocate for citizens to share the responsibility and take accountability for their own awareness. It is more than just the responsibility of the National Disaster Office (NDO) or PAE officers /governments.  The need for buy-in. PAE cannot work in isolation. It needs support from the National Disaster Office authorities, Ministers and Cabinet, elected officials, other key departments and from the media. Strong and exercised standard operating procedures (SOPs), policies and legislation are required to guide communications, particularly during emergencies.  The acknowledgement that this strategy focuses on long-term awareness and education on tsunamis to a variety of stakeholders rather than providing guidelines on doing crisis communications during a disaster.  The need to measure progress on projects and activities and take the pulse of the community at regular intervals. The strategy is not prescriptive because a one-size-fits-all formula that will work best for all countries does not exist. Each island/country is unique with unique economic, political, cultural factors that guide in the implementation of PAE. This strategy provides each country and territory with overall guidance and a range of options. It is then incumbent upon eachjurisdiction to do the due diligence using environmental and national analyses3 to adapt this framework to regional/local experiences and realities. This allows flexibility to prioritize target groups, approaches and tools/processes according to available resources. This Tsunami PAE Strategy identifies key areas that are common to all and which could have powerful multiplier effects when adapted and utilized by a majority of countries and territories in the region. It is acknowledged however that changing public perception and behaviour takes time. Behavioural communication guidelines show that real change requires about five years to begin to notice differences, and close to ten years for sustainable change. This could also be approximately the same number of years it could take to add or change a country’s educational curriculum. This reinforces the need to undertake continuous evaluation of the PAE already completed and to update this Tsunami PAE Strategy every two to three years.

Description: OpenASFA input

Description: Published

Description: Non Refereed

Description: The Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME) is one of the 4 major upwelling systems in the world. 54 marine scientists from 25 institutions have worked in a collaborative manner to make a complete characterization of the CCLME. The result is a detailed description of: (i) the ocean geomorphology and geological materials; (ii) the hydrographic structure and the ocean circulation; (iii) the biogeochemical characteristics of the marine ecosystem; (iv) the life in the sea; (v) and the interannual, interdecadal and long‐term variability. Here we present a summary of the oceanographic and biological features of the CCLME, based in reviews of the scientific knowledge built over decades of research in the area, combined with new data shared by the authors of each of the articles. The main conclusions of this global analysis are presented below, followed by the challenges for scientific research and management goals in the CCLME, which can be used to guide new scientific projects in the region. Ocean Geomorphology and Geological Materials  The CCLME shelf is the typical, in width and composition, of the passive continental margins. In general, the continental shelf has a mean width between 40–50 km, with exceptions like Bank D ́Arguin (widest) or Dakar (narrowest).  Geomorphological variations are the result of the sedimentary contributions associated to river basins. This river basins influence the genesis and the presence of the canyons in the platform and slope. These canyons are the main geomorphological features in the region. The sedimentary rocks have a maximum age of 200 Ma. It is important to remark the presence of a coral reef with more than 400 km of length in the shallowest Mauritania slope.  Although tectonic processes occur throughout the entire CCLME, they do not have a great influence.  The Canary Islands and the Cape Verde Islands Volcanic Provinces, placed within the CCLME, show sets of volcanic islands and seamounts related to magma‐driven processes over tens of millions of years at the Canary and Cape Verdean hotspots. Continuous volcanism in both provinces has been reported for the last 142 Ma (Upper Cretaceous) on the Canaries and the last 26 Ma (Oligocene) on Cape Verde Islands, with contemporary volcanism in both archipelagos and on different islands and seamounts.  Islands and seamounts of CCLME appear with complex or simple morphologies, dome‐shaped to irregular relieves, and total heights ranging 4000‐8000 m from the bottom to island highest peak (Teide‐Pico Viejo, Tenerife Island), but less than 3500 m on seamounts. The geomorphological studies in the intraplate volcanic islands confirm the presence of the island platform developed in the older islands, not observed in the younger islands. Gravitational slides and canyons have been detected in all the islands.  Seamounts are also biodiversity hotspots, where slopes modify the circulation regimen of both deep and shallow currents, and thus changing the biogeochemical constituents of seawater.  Other geomorphologies have been found in the CCLME, such as: (i) gravitational process like debris flows; (ii) salt domes; (iii) pockmarcks.  Atmospheric dust deposition is an important source of essential and limiting nutrients and metals to the ocean affecting the oceanic carbon uptake, phytoplankton growth and productivity.

Description: OpenASFA input

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Description: This current version of the Implementation Plan (ImpPlan) 2013–2017 updates on the status of the system, specifications of the requirements for designing and establishing the system for Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System in the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE-EWS). It incorporates the work and views of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group (ICG) and of the sessional and inter-sessional Working Groups (WGs), namely of the WG 1 (Monitoring and Detection Systems, Warning Guidance), of the WG 2 (Hazard Assessment), of the WG 3 (Warning Dissemination and Communication), and of the WG 4 (Preparedness, Readiness and Resilience). The structure of the ImPlan is based on the participation of each WG in the development of the Early Warning System (EWS). The 2008–2011 ImPlan proposed two phases of implementation. The Initial Phase involved the real-time seismic and sea level data exchange between existing Regional Seismic Networks (RSN) followed by the establishment of one or more Caribbean Tsunami Information Center (CTIC) and one or several regional tsunami warning centres (RTWC). The Second Phase CARIBE-EWS (Fully-fledged CARIBE-EWS) was to focus on the full development of the Early Warning System, which would cover both distant and local earthquake generated tsunamis and, as science permits, tsunamis generated by volcanic activity or by landslides, in cooperation with regional networks with this area of expertise. Currently, the first phase can be considered to almost have been met. The new ImPlan will thus focus on the second phase including: (1) Vulnerability, (2) Hazard Assessment, (3) Monitoring and Detection Systems, (4) Tsunami Services, and (5) Public Awareness, Education and Resilience. It is to be noted that the implementation of the CARIBE-EWS is a complex process involving the Member States through their agencies and institutions as well as international organizations and local communities. In addition to the ICG Working Groups, the tasks are also to be completed thru task teams. This complexity implies that changes and on-the-way corrections are to be taken into account for this Implementation Plan in the course of the realization of the system, since implementation priorities, requirements or details may have to be adapted to new circumstances. Hence, the Implementation Plan will be at the same time a reference document, providing guidelines; and a dynamic document, reflecting the current status of the implementation of the Tsunami Warning System (TWS) at a given time. Updated versions of the Implementation Plan will be maintained at the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) website and distributed at ICG/CARIBE-EWS sessions.

Description: OpenASFA input

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Description: Sustained ocean observations, including ships, autonomous platforms, and satellites, are critical for monitoring the health of our marine ecosystems and developing effective management strategies to ensure longterm provision of the marine ecosystem services upon which human societies depend. Ocean observations are also essential in the development and validation of ocean and climate models used to predict future conditions. Ship‐based biogeochemical time series provide the high‐quality biological, physical and chemical measurements that are needed to detect climate change‐driven trends in the ocean, assess associated impacts on marine food webs, and to ultimately improve our understanding of changes in marine biodiversity and ecosystems. While the spatial ‘footprint’ of a single time series may be limited, coupling observations from multiple time series with synoptic satellite data can improve our understanding of critical processes such as ocean productivity, ecosystem variability, and carbon fluxes on a larger spatial scale. The International Group for Marine Ecological Time Series (IGMETS) analyzed over 340 open ocean and coastal datasets, ranging in duration from five years to greater than 50 years. Their locations are displayed in a world map (Discover Ocean Time Series, http://igmets.net/discover) and in the IGMETS information database (http://igmets.net/metabase). These cross‐time‐series analyses yielded important insights on climate trends occurring both on a global and regional scale. At a global level, a generalized warming trend is observed over the past thirty years, consistent with what has been published by the IPCC (2013) report as well as other research. There are regional differences in temperature trends, depending on the time window considered, which are driven by regional and temporal expressions of large‐scale climatic forcing and atmospheric teleconnections. This warming is accompanied by shifts in the biology and biogeochemical cycling (i.e. oxygen, nutrient, carbon), which impact marine food webs and ecosystem services. The surface waters of the Arctic Ocean have been steadily warming over the past 30 years, from 1983‐2012. Chlorophyll biomass, as determined by satellite observations, has increased slightly over the past fifteen years, from 1998‐2012. The complexity of the Arctic marginal seas and central basin settings, and the scarcity of in situ data, limit the analysis of biogeochemical and biological community changes across the pan‐Arctic. The first comprehensive analysis of in situ time series provided for the North Atlantic Ocean revealed that, despite being the most studied region of the global ocean, there are large areas in this region still lacking multidisciplinary in situ observations. However, over the 25‐ and 30‐year analysis periods, 〉 95% of the North Atlantic Ocean significantly warmed and the chlorophyll concentrations decreased (p 〈 0.05). At the same time, negative trends in salinity, oxygen and nutrients, as exemplified by nitrate, were noted. The analysis of existing time series showed that even in adjacent areas that appear to be relatively homogenous, there is large variability in ecosystem behaviour over time, as observed in the continental shelves at both sides of the North Atlantic Ocean. In general, over the 5‐year period prior to 2012, ~70% of the area of the South Atlantic showed cooling and 66% decreasing chlorophyll concentrations. However, over the past 30 years, 〉 85% of the South Atlantic increased in temperature. The paucity of in situ time series in this region, and the striking changes that have been reported in South Atlantic ecosystems over the past two decades, highlight the need to have a better observing system in place. Both long‐term trends and sub‐decadal cycles are evident in the Southern Ocean on multiple trophic levels, and they are strongly related in complex ways to climate forcings and their effects on the physical oceanographic system. Antarctic marine ecosystems have changed over the past 30 years in response to changing ocean conditions and changes in the extent and seasonality of sea ice. These changes have been spatially heterogeneous which suggests that ecological responses depend on the magnitude and direction of the changes, and their interactions with other factors. Of all the ocean basins, the Indian Ocean showed the greatest extent of warming, with 92% of its area showing a significant (p 〈 0.05) positive trend over 30 years, compared with the Atlantic (89%), the Pacific (66%), the Arctic (79%) and the Southern (32%) oceans. In addition to having a high degree of warming, the Indian Ocean also had the greatest proportion of its area (55%) showing a significant (p 〈 0.05) decline of chlorophyll between 1998 and 2012. Given the spatial scale of warming in the Indian Ocean, it does seem likely that climate impacts on marine ecosystems will be most pronounced in this basin. The Indian Ocean has very few in situ biogeochemical time series that can be used to assess impacts of climate change on biota or biodiversity. Over the past 30 years, significant (p 〈 0.05) surface warming has been recorded for 67% of the area of the South Pacific Ocean. A strong physical coupling with planktonic ecology and biology is evident in the South Pacific, with a dominant warming pattern and significantly declining phytoplankton populations. The North Pacific Ocean has undergone significant changes in ocean climate during the past three decades. Based on both satellite and ship‐based SST measurements, over 65% of its surface area has undergone significant warming since 1983 (p 〈 0.05). The patterns of change suggest that the PDO has been the dominant mode of climate variability in the North Pacific Ocean between 1983 and 2012. However, marked variability in SST has been observed, with episodes of warming in 2002, 2004 and 2010 interspersed with periods of cooling, particularly since 2008 due to the combined effects of La Niña and a negative, cooling PDO phase. Long‐term time series in the central, subarctic northeast and western North Pacific Ocean show an increase in phytoplankton biomass during the past 30 years. However, satellite observations suggest that over 65% of the surface of the North Pacific has experienced a decline in chlorophyll concentration since 1998. Available time series show an increase in zooplankton biomass in the waters off Hawaii, southern Vancouver Island and the western United States during the last 15 years but an overall decrease at most other locations, with no significant correlation between zooplankton biomass and chlorophyll. Nutrients, salinity and dissolved oxygen at the ocean surface appear to be negatively correlated with SST across the North Pacific. The IGMETS effort highlights the value of biogeochemical time series as essential tools for assessing, and predicting, global and regional climate change and its impacts on ecosystem services. The capacity to identify and differentiate anthropogenic and natural climate variations and trends depends largely on the length of the time‐series, as well as on the location. Most of the ship based ecological time series are concentrated in the coastal ocean. While coastal zones in North America and Europe are being monitored, there is a conspicuous lack of biogeochemical time‐series in other coastal regions around the world, and an almost complete absence of such observational platforms in the open ocean, which limits the capacity of analyses such as this. A more globally distributed network of time‐series observations over multiple decades will be needed to differentiate between natural and anthropogenic variability.

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Description: Through Resolution XXIV-14, the IOC Assembly at its 24th session decided on the establishment of a Working Group on Tsunamis and Other Hazards Related to Sea-Level Warning and Mitigation Systems (TOWS-WG), tasked primarily to advise the IOC Governing 3. AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ICGS The Area of Responsibility (AoR) of each regional tsunami warning system and the Area of Service (AoS) of Tsunami Service Providers (TSPs) operating within a regional tsunami warning system should be decided by respective ICGs. While addressing the above aspects, it is to be ensured that these systems should offer coverage to the coastal regions of all IOC as well as non IOC Member States that are vulnerable to a tsunami. IOC Technical Series, 130 Bodies on coordinated development and implementation activities on warning and mitigation systems for tsunamis and other hazards related to sea level of common priority to all Intergovernmental Coordination Group on Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Systems (ICG/TWSs). The Assembly adopted Resolution XXV-13 at its 25th Session in 2009, which established an Inter-ICG Task Team on Tsunami Watch Operations which has since been working towards working towards harmonization of methods and standards for issuance of tsunami advisories, advice on modalities of operation and develop guidelines for the requirements of Regional Warning Systems. This Task Team has already come up with several important recommendations to this effect. The TOWS-WG during its seventh meeting held at Paris in February 2014 actioned the Task Team to develop a Global Tsunami Service Definition Document based on agreed concepts and guidelines and informed by the Task Team report to TOWS-WG-IV. Accordingly, this document describes global tsunami warning services that are provided by regional tsunami warning systems operating in different ocean basins as a global system of systems and coordinated by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.

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Description: To date, capacity development in Marine/Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) has mostly targeted professionals directly involved in the development of MSP plans. However, MSP is a public process that must engage all levels of stakeholders effectively during the policy development, and, in order to accomplish it, stakeholders need to have the appropriate knowledge about MSP to take informed decisions. In this context, communication, knowledge exchange and transfer, and ocean literacy activities are key aspects that need to be promoted. Within capacity development, knowledge exchange is a two-way process of sharing different types of knowledge (technical, scientific and traditional), but also ideas and experiences. It is intended to be mutually beneficial and provide inputs to problem solving. Therefore, these recommendations were developed to advise professionals directly involved in the development of MSP plans on how to promote knowledge exchange and transfer towards other public authorities, private actors and civil society. These stakeholders are, indeed, the final users, implementers and beneficiaries of the MSP plans. The publication was developed in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 and its target on transfer of marine technology, as well as taking into account the “Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission”1 . The issue of which knowledge needs to be transferred, to whom and how to do it are aspects approached in this document, with concrete actions and recommendations whenever possible. What is Transfer of Marine Technology (TMT)? The United Nations Convention of the Law of The Sea (UNCLOS) contains a number of provisions dealing with transfer of marine technology (TMT). In this regard, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (UNESCO-IOC) is the only intergovernmental organization with a specific mandate in marine capacity building in all of the world’s ocean basins. Marine technology may include instruments, equipment, vessels, processes or methodologies required to produce and use knowledge to improve the study and understanding of the nature and resources of the ocean and coastal area.

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Description: At its 24thsession the IODE Committee approved the Report of the Inter-sessional Working Group to Propose a Re-structuring of IODEwhich recommended revising the current structure, projects and activities of IODE and decided that the relation between projects (e.g. data flow) should be better communicated within the IODE community but also to the user communities. The Committee agreed that both existing and new IODE projects and activities will benefit from a more effective tracking and oversight process to help ensure that they meet IODE strategic goals and objectives. The Committee adoptedDecision IODE-XXIV.3 IODE (Project and Activity Performance Evaluation). These procedures apply to both existing and new projects and activities.

Description: OPenASFA input

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Description: The NERC Vocabulary Server provides access to groupings of standardised terms that cover a broad spectrum of disciplines of relevance to the oceanographic and wider environmental sciences communities. Using standardised sets of terms (otherwise known as "controlled vocabularies") in metadata and to label data solves the problem of ambiguities associated with data markup and also enables records to be interpreted by computers. This opens up data sets to a whole world of possibilities for computer aided manipulation, distribution and long term reuse. An example of how computers may benefit from the use of controlled vocabularies is in the summing of values taken from different data sets. For instance, one data set may have a column labelled "Temperature of the water column" and another might have "water temperature" or even "temperature". To the human eye, the similarity is obvious but a computer would not be able to interpret these as the same thing unless all the possible options were hard coded into its software. If data are marked up with the same term, this problem is resolved. In the real world, it is not always possible or agreeable for data providers to use the same terms. In such cases, controlled vocabularies can be used as a medium through which data centres can map their equivalent terms. The controlled vocabularies delivered by the NERC Vocabulary Server contain the following information for each term:

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Description: The Tenth Meeting of the Working Group on Tsunamis and Other Hazards Related to Sea-Level Warning and Mitigation Systems (TOWS-WG-X) was held in Paris, France, on 23-24 February 2017 under the Chairmanship of Mr Alexander Postnov (IOC Vice-Chair). The meeting evaluated progress in actions and decisions taken by the Governing Bodies through IOC-XXVIII/Dec. 8.2 and IOC EC-XLIX/3.4. The Group reviewed reports by the IOC Intergovernmental Coordination Groups as well as its own Task Teams on Disaster Management and Preparedness and Watch Operations. The Group noted with satisfaction the progress made during the intersessional period, including: - Three exercises carried out (CARIBEWave 2016, IOWAVE 2016, PACWAVE 2017) and regular communication tests - Accreditation of four Tsunami Service Providers in the North-Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (NEAMTWS) - With regards to Tsunami Evacuation Mapping: a) The PTWS successfully completed a Pilot Tsunami Evacuation Maps, Plans and Procedures (TEMPP) over two years in Honduras with regional participation b) The ITIC, CTWP & IOC-UNESCO programme CARIBE EWS built experience with regards to implementation of the TEMPP and are ready to provide guidance to countries that want to implement similar projects c) The Project identified and references existing best practice evacuation mapping guidelines that countries have developed d) The PTWS will finalise project documentation and make it available to ICGs, noting the interest of IOTWMS and CARIBE-EWS  Tsunami Ready Community based performance recognition program achieved in St. Kitts & Nevis and Cedeño (Honduras)  The progress made by DBCP in developing an educational strategy to address buoy vandalism and endorse the development of the strategy and recommend that each ICG review the strategy The Group recommended the Assembly to encourage Member States to - sustain and increase technical and financial support of the tsunami warning systems in their respective regions - further promote tsunami awareness in communities and among authorities through communication and tsunami wave exercises, training, information, and community preparedness and recognition programmes - share Tsunami source scenario data as well sea level data relevant to tsunami detection and alerts - densify sea level networks particularly nearby tsunamigenic sources - extend exercises to community level and include critical infrastructure in exercises (e.g. hospitals, fire stations, police stations, electric power plants, airports, ports and harbors) The Group recommended the Assembly to instruct ICGs - to consider piloting the CARIBE EWS Tsunami Ready guidelines and report back to the TOWS-XI with a view to develop harmonized consistent global guidelines - to advocate the UN designated World Tsunami Awareness Day (5 November) among member states and advise them of the availability of material from the UNISDR in this regard, and share activities and materials with UNISDR and TICs - to recommend TSPs and NTWCs to also use the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) to facilitate warning messages to be consistently disseminated simultaneously over many warning communication systems to many applications - to recommend TSPs and NTWCs register with international register of alerting authorities through WMO National Permanent Representative - to consider contributing any education or outreach materials related to data buoy vandalism to the DBCP for inclusion in a tool kit of regionally relevant materials to counter vandalism - the ICG/PTWS, in line with the IOC XXVII Assembly decision 8.2, to continue its work on the Key Performance Indicators to cover all aspects of the Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Systems, aligning as closely as possible with the Sendai Framework, and share it to the other ICGs for consideration by the Member States, and report back to TOWS XI with a view to establish global KPIs - to encourage NTWCs disseminate tsunami bulletins to ports, harbours and other maritime authorities within their countries - to share the results of Tsunami exercises and communication tests with WMO to facilitate improved performance of WMO related communication systems The Group recommended the Assembly to take the following actions - to conduct a symposium in early 2018 in Paris on enhancing existing TSP and NTWC operational tsunami forecasting to further develop warning products and enhancing timely, accurate, reliable and effective decision-making and community response, involving experts from monitoring networks, seismology, tsunami forecast modelling and warning centres, maritime authorities, and national and local emergency management authorities with advice on product requirements - to extend the tenure of TOWS and its Task Teams on (i) Disaster Management and Preparedness and (ii) Tsunami Watch Operations, with ToRs as given in IOC Resolution XXIV-4 [for TOWS-WG] and IOC/TOWS-WG-VI/3 [Annex II; for TTDMP] and ToRs for TTTWO to reflect work related to enhancements to the accuracy and effectiveness of tsunami forecast information for users The Group accepted the reports from the Task Teams on Disaster Management and Preparedness and Watch Operations and instructed the Task Team on Watch Operations - to develop in consultation with WWNWS-SC specific tsunami threat messages for vessels at sea - to consider tsunamis generated by non-seismic sources for integration into Tsunami watch operation The Group noted the information presented by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on the new developments on the WMO Information System and its use for dissemination of Tsunami alerts as well as WIS performance monitoring of messages and particular types of messages. The Group recommended WMO to explore rendering assistance to CARIBE-EWS concerning usage of GTS and WIS for dissemination of tsunami alerts in the Caribbean region. The Group recognized that the current financial situation strongly limits the implementation of the tasks of the Group, ICGs and Inter-ICG Task Teams and recommended that the Member States to increase their extra-budgetary contributions to the IOC to provide the needed resources for the priorities identified by TOWS-WG and ICGs.

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Description: Dr Nasser Hadjizadeh Zaker, Director of the Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science (INIOAS) and Vice Chair of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS) sub-regional working group for the North West Indian Ocean (WG-NWIO) welcomed all the participants to the meeting. He mentioned that it is very important to pay attention to the risk of tsunami to the countries of the NWIO from the Makran subduction zone. He acknowledged the contribution of the IOC-UNESCO ICG/IOTWMS in reducing tsunami risk in the region and reminded the Terms of Reference of the WG-NWIO. He wished all the participants a very successful meeting and an enjoyable stay in Iran. Dr Juma Al Maskari, Chair of the ICG/IOTWMS WG-NWIO thanked Dr Zaker and the Iranian government for hosting this meeting in Iran, the ICG/IOTWMS Secretariat for making preparations and all the participants for participating this meeting. He recalled that the WG-NWIO has been set up in the ICG/IOTWMS-X session in March 2015. Dr Al Maskari mentioned that this meeting offers a good opportunity to take stock of the progress made in the inter-sessional period and plan future activities. He concluded by welcoming all participants to the meeting. Dr Srinivasa Kumar Tummala, Head of the ICG/IOTWMS Secretariat welcomed all the participants to the meeting. He recalled that the WG-NWIO was established in the ICG/IOTWMS-X session with initial membership comprising India, Iran, Oman, Pakistan and Yemen to enhance tsunami warning system in the Makran region. He mentioned that the recent earthquake and minor tsunami events in September 2013 and February 2017 in Pakistan serve as a strong reminder that we need to closely study the Makran subduction zone to enhance the technical aspects of tsunami warning as well as awareness and preparedness. He listed the progress made in the inter-sessional period and also informed that this meeting offers a great opportunity to identify priorities in the region and develop a funding proposal for submission to United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). Dr. Tummala thanked Dr. Zaker and the government of Iran for hosting this important meeting. Dr Mahin Ghazani, Director of Science Department of the Iranian National Commission to UNESCO and Secretary of the Iranian National Committee for Oceanography welcomed all of the participants to the meeting. She informed that the IOC-UNESCO has an overall mandate for ocean science and capacity development in support of the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development. With strong regional presence, links to other regional bodies and expertise, IOC-UNESCO is rightly placed to support ocean related activities of the 148 Member States. She mentioned that IOC developed strong outreach to support national policy in ocean observations, monitoring ocean health, ocean hazards and emerging ocean issues. Dr. Ghazani listed the contribution of IOC to implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN) Agenda 2030. She thanked Dr. Zaker for hosting this important event in Iran and wished the meeting a success.

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Description: The coast forms a dynamic, interface zone where the land and sea realms meet and is characterised by some of the world’s most sensitive ecosystems, such as mangroves, wetlands, coral reefs, dunes and beaches. Unlike watersheds, coastal areas have no natural, clear nor precise boundaries. They are subjected continuously to the natural processes of weathering, coastal erosion, coastal flooding and sea-level rise. The impacts of these processes and events vary from one coastal zone to another depending on the geology and geomorphology of the coast and its exposure to natural processes. As the interface between land and sea, coastal areas perform many essential functions like natural protection against storms, regulation of water exchange between land and sea, regulation of the chemical composition of sediments and water, storage and recycling of nutrients and maintenance of biological and genetic diversity. From socio-economic perspectives, coastal zones are important settlement areas which play a critical role in the wealth creation of many nations as they offer access to fisheries and commerce, proximity to rich agricultural lowlands, aesthetic landscapes as well as cultural and recreational opportunities.

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Description: The International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) project office of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) held the IODE/OBIS-Event-Data workshop on animal tagging and tracking (ATT) from 23 to 26 April 2018 in Ostend, Belgium, to test the OBIS-ENV-DATA standard through the development of data products for scientific applications. This workshop was attended by 22 participants from 8 countries representing the major animal telemetry networks in Africa, Antarctica, Australia, Canada, Europe and the USA. The participants agreed to use the OBIS-ENV-DATA Darwin Core standard to exchange and publish detection data through OBIS (both acoustic and satellite) and work with OBIS and the scientific community to develop data products for the Essential Ocean Variables (EOV) of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), in particular the “Marine turtles, birds, mammals abundance and distribution EOV” and the “Fish abundance and distribution EOV”. The guidelines for the implementation of the OBIS-ENV-DATA standard for tracking data (acoustic and satellite detections) were agreed upon and will be further refined and documented in collaboration with the data standardization working group of the International Bio-logging Society as well as the Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG) community which oversees development of Darwin Core. In collaboration with several scientists involved in animal tracking, the OBIS Secretariat is developing a data aggregation tool (which will be available as an R package) to calculate home ranges, migration pathways and movement patterns based on the tracking data in OBIS. It is expected that new public tracking data will be made available to OBIS before mid-2018 and the first products be available early 2019. It was felt important that OBIS provides access to the relevant (aggregated) data used to calculate the scientific products and provide links back to the original (raw) data sources to ensure proper data provenance and allow reproducibility. This was the first workshop of the IODE pilot project entitled OBIS-Event-Data, which aims at seeking early adopters of the OBIS-ENV-DATA standard and develop data products and scientific applications in particular to support the work of the Biological and Ecosystem EOVs of GOOS and the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network of the Group on Earth Observations (GEOBON MBON).

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Description: The 6th International XBT (Expendable bathythermograph) Science team workshop took place at the IODE Project Office of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, in Ostend, Belgium from 18 to 20 April 2018 following on from the 5th IODE Steering Group for the International Quality Controlled Ocean Database (SG-IquOD) meeting at the same venue. The workshop was divided in oral presentations and plenary discussions, held with the objective of exchanging ideas on how to proceed with the implementation, maintenance, and enhancement of the XBT network. A total of 19 scientists participated (4 remotely) from Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Africa, UK, and the USA. XBTs represent the largest fraction of the temperature profile observations since 1970s until the full implementation of Argo profiling floats in approximately 2005. These historical XBT profiles comprise most of the temperature data base that is used to compute time series of ocean heat content. One focus of the XBT Science team (along with IQuOD) is to improve and understand the accuracy of these historical data so that we can understand the uncertainties in this climatically important time series. The global XBT network is logistically complex and so requires strong collaboration between many organizations and countries (Figure 1). Many of these transects have now been in place for multiple-decades. Today, XBT transects mainly operate in High Density (also referred as High Resolution) and Frequently Repeated modes. High Density transects are occupied at least 4 times per year XBT deployed at approximately 25 km intervals along the ship track. Frequently repeated tracks are occupied at around 18 times per year with XBT deployments at 100 km intervals. The repeat sampling nature of XBT transects along fixed transects makes the XBT profiles our best present observing system for the important boundary current systems (including the Antarctic Circumpolar Current) that convey heat, freshwater and nutrients around the global ocean. XBT observations are currently used mainly to: (i) Monitor the variability of location and transport of key surface and subsurface ocean currents and boundary currents, (ii) Monitor the variability of the meridional heat transport and the Meridional Overturning Circulation across ocean basins, (iii) Provide a significant amount of upper ocean thermal observations, particularly in areas undersampled by other observational platforms, used for global ocean heat content estimates, and (iv) Initialization and validation of numerical ocean forecast models. A strong synergy exists between XBT observations and observations from other platforms, such as altimetry, surface drifters, Argo, etc. the enables more robust scientific analysis.

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Description: The establishment of Regional Education and Research Centre on Oceanography for West Asia (RCOWA) was approved by 37th UNESCO General Conference as a Category 2 under the Auspices of UNESCO in the Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science (INIOAS) in November 2013 (37 C/18 Part XVII) and the agreement was signed in 2015. The center aims to achieve the objectives of the agreement which are as follows: (a)ensure the harmonious and mutually reinforcing involvement of the members of the region in Ocean studies by organizing joint projects, conferences and training/educational courses; (b)define regional problems, the solution of which requires regional and international cooperation, assist in the identification of training, education, and mutual assistance needs, particularly those related to the Centre programs; (c)assist in identification and meeting national and regional priorities by sharing knowledge and experience through organizing training courses and symposiums; (d)engage the academic and research community, experts from governmental and non-governmental organizations, industry, and decision-makers from the region and abroad in finding ways to solve the challenging economic and social problems facing the region by organizing exchange visits, consultations, etc. This objective will be achieved through the organization of regional forum/network to address the challenges, explore scientific understanding of the impacts and to discuss policies on the use and protection of the sea and coasts in supporting economic development of each country of the region, and the region as the whole;(e)supervise and coordinate the implementation of joint projects in consultation with national and international institutions of the Member States concerned in order to avoid duplication and overlap of efforts by organizing regular meetings with regional partners; (f)promote the standardization of data collection and data analysis methods based on existing protocols and agreements. Advocate open access and free exchange of oceanographic data along the guidelines specified in the IOC/IODE data exchange policy to facilitate scientific progress and improve education and training results. Reanimate IOC/IODE ODIN type program for the region; (g)advice on the application of new knowledge on science and technology to various priority areas at the local/national/regional levels by organizing workshops and briefings; (h)provide general guidance and recommendations, as well as serve as a mechanism for Member States, to formulate, evaluate, and follow-up on proposals for projects aimed at strengthening national and regional capabilities in marine scientific research, education and the establishment of common services and facilities; (i)make the operations of the Centre open and transparent by producing regular newsletters/bulletins to describe the progress of the Canter’s operations, developing the Centre’s web-site and increasing communication flow/exchange of information on activities, in order to discuss common issues and explore opportunities for further collaboration; (j)promote activities of the Centre and UNESCO as well as UNESCO/IOC role in marine and coastal matters; raise public awareness concerning the need for the sustainable management of the sea and coastal areas; and introduce the benefits of national and regional cooperation approach and of the importance of the operation of the sea and coasts by supporting establishment of Marine Protected Areas, through active participation in World Ocean Day and other awareness raising efforts; (k)collect information on the state of the art technology required for the implementation of the maritime program activities, develop an inventory of regional institutions and experts working on marine related issues, as well as catalogues of regional oceanographic data and make this information available to decision-makers and regional/international partners; (l)organize assistance in mobilizing human, financial, and material resources to respond to the needs of the coastal countries of the region in dealing with emergency situations triggered by marine natural disasters; and, (m)make recommendations to the governing bodies of the region on policy matters, and submit proposals on the budgetary and other forms of support required for the successful work of the Centre. Geographical Coverage of the Centre17 countries of the West Asia region are covered by the Centre activities: (Pakistan, Iraq, Oman, Turkey, India, Qatar, Lebanon, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Yemen, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Palestine, Jordan and Iran). On case to case basis, neighboring countries to the region are invited to take part in the activities of the Centre.

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Description: This article has been accepted for publication in Geophysical Journal International ©: The Authors 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy.

Description: Defining the regional variability of minimum magnitude for earthquake detection is crucial for planning seismic networks. Knowing the earthquake detection magnitude values is fundamental for the optimal location of new stations and to select the priority for reactivating the stations of a seismic network in case of a breakdown. In general, the assessment of earthquake detection is performed by analysing seismic noise with spectral or more sophisticated methods. Further, to simulate amplitude values at the recording sites, spectral methods require knowledge of several geophysical parameters including rock density, S-wave velocity, corner frequency, quality factor, site specific decay parameter and so on, as well as a velocity model for the Earth's interior. The simulation results are generally expressed in terms of Mw and therefore a further conversion must be done to obtain the values of local magnitude (ML), which is the parameter commonly used for moderate and small earthquakes in seismic catalogues. Here, the relationship utilized by a seismic network to determine ML is directly applied to obtain the expected amplitude [in mm, as if it were recorded by a Wood–Anderson (WA) seismometer] at the recording site, without any additional assumptions. The station detection estimates are obtained by simply considering the ratio of the expected amplitude with respect to the background noise, also measured in mm. The seismic noise level for the station is estimated starting from four waveforms (each signal lasting 1 min) sampled at various times of the day for a period of one week. The proposed method is tested on Italian seismic events occurring in 2019 by using the locations of 16.879 earthquakes recorded by 374 stations. The first results indicate that by evaluating the station noise level with 5-s windows, a representative sample of the variability in expected noise level is generated for every station, even if only 4 min of signal per day over a week of recordings is used. The method was applied to define the detection level of the Italian National Seismic Network (RSN). The RSN detection level represents a reference for the definition and application of guidelines in the field of monitoring of subsurface industrial activities in Italy. The proposed approach can be successfully applied to define the current performance of a local seismic network (managed by private companies) and to estimate the expected further improvements, requested to fulfil the guidelines with the installation of new seismic stations. This method has been tested in Italy and can be reproduced wherever the local magnitude ML, based on synthetic WA records, is used.

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Description: 4T. Sismicità dell'Italia

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Description: © The Author(s), 2022. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Aoki, L. R., Brisbin, M. M., Hounshell, A. G., Kincaid, D. W., Larson, E., Sansom, B. J., Shogren, A. J., Smith, R. S., & Sullivan-Stack, J. Preparing aquatic research for an extreme future: call for improved definitions and responsive, multidisciplinary approaches. Bioscience, 72(6), (2022): 508-520, https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biac020.

Description: Extreme events have increased in frequency globally, with a simultaneous surge in scientific interest about their ecological responses, particularly in sensitive freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems. We synthesized observational studies of extreme events in these aquatic ecosystems, finding that many studies do not use consistent definitions of extreme events. Furthermore, many studies do not capture ecological responses across the full spatial scale of the events. In contrast, sampling often extends across longer temporal scales than the event itself, highlighting the usefulness of long-term monitoring. Many ecological studies of extreme events measure biological responses but exclude chemical and physical responses, underscoring the need for integrative and multidisciplinary approaches. To advance extreme event research, we suggest prioritizing pre- and postevent data collection, including leveraging long-term monitoring; making intersite and cross-scale comparisons; adopting novel empirical and statistical approaches; and developing funding streams to support flexible and responsive data collection.

Description: This document provides the chronological history of the development of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) from its inception until its establishment. The IOC Assembly at its 16th session in March 1991 decided through Resolution XVI-8 "to undertake development of a Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)". The Management bodies for GOOS development were created at the 25th IOC Executive Council in March 1992.

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Description: The coastal zone and the marine areas represent a strategic component for the development of Latin America and the sustainable blue growth. However, the existing initiatives on Integrated Coastal Area Management (ICAM) and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) amongst the Southeast Pacific countries (Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and Peru) are with different implementation degree. Therefore, there is a need to improve the transboundary coordination and cooperation for coastal and marine management and planning in this region. The Southeast Pacific Data and Information Network to Support the Integrated Coastal Area Management (SPINCAM) is developing a harmonized coastal and marine environmental management framework for the beneficiary countries in the Southeast Pacific, thereby providing the right tools to apply the ecosystem approach in their national waters, while also providing a foundation for planning sustainable economic development (blue growth) through inter-institutional capacity-building, which will translate into concrete recommendations and strategies at the regional level.

Description: Flanders et al

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Description: The goal of the proposed implementation plan is self-directed Capacity-Building through projects addressing local priorities with modern oceanographic tools. This information document is intended to representatives of IOC Member States attending the 23rd session of IOC Assembly (Paris, 21–30 June 2005). A summary has been prepared in English, French, Russian and Spanish and is available for the session as working document IOC-XXIII/2 Annex 7.

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Description: This document provides an overview of the IOC contribution and engagement in the proceedings of the Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal14: ‘Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development’, which was convened at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 5 to 9 June 2017, and was co-hosted by the Governments of Fiji and Sweden. It also provides the main outcome of the Conference that resulted in the adoption by UN Member States of a Call for Action and a list of voluntary commitments.

Description: OpenASFA input

Description: OpenASFA input

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Description: The establishment of the Regional Education and Research Centre on Oceanography for West Asia (RCOWA) was approved by UNESCO General Conference at its 37th session as a Category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO in the Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science (INIOAS) in November 2013 and the agreement was signed in 2015. This document conveys the summary report of the Second Session of the Governing Board of UNESCO Category 2 Regional Education and Research Centre on Oceanography for West Asia (RCOWA) and contains the results of the implementation activities since its First Session.

Description: OpenASFA input

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Description: A reform of WMO constituent bodies has potential implications for co- sponsored bodies and programmes, including most notably the Joint WMO-IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM), but also the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), and the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP). These last three have other co-sponsors in addition to IOC and WMO. Here, the proposal for a new mechanism of cooperation between WMO and IOC, the Joint Committee for Oceanography and Meteorology (JCOM), is described in greater detail. A potential future for present essential functions under JCOMM is described, along with potential benefits and risks

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Description: This document provides information on the process since the 29th session of the IOC Assembly in June 2017 (documents IOC-BBNJ-Inf.1 and IOC/INF-1347). It contains a reference to the UNGA Resolution 72/249 of December 2017, following the recommendations of the BBNJ PrepCom, to convene an Intergovernmental Conference on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ IGC). The document recalls the IOC perspectives on a potential role of the IOC and proposes how IOC could engage in the IGC process.

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Description: The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO implements activities in Africa through global programmes in coordination with regional subsidiary bodies (IOCEA—Central Eastern Atlantic Ocean Region; and IOCWIO—Western Indian Ocean Region). A high level of implementation of IOC activities in all sections took place in Africa during the 2008–2009 (34 C/5) biennium, and is projected to continue in the current biennium (35 C/5: 2010–2011). The activities, results, and budgets for the last biennium and those proposed for the current biennium are summarized in the report.

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Description: Summary Report of the meeting held in Ostend, Belgium between 26 and 28 April 2006. The session considered recommendations of the Second ODINAFRICA Seminar held 24-26 April 2006, the third session of the Project Management Committee and the reports of the Regional Coordinators in order to develop a work plan and budget for the remaining project period, and provide guidance for development of proposals for a possible next phase of ODINAFRICA.The session considered recommendations of the Second ODINAFRICA Seminar held 24-26 April 2006, the third session of the Project Management Committee and the reports of the Regional Coordinators in order to develop a work plan and budget for the remaining project period, and provide guidance for development of proposals for a possible next phase of ODINAFRICA.

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Description: Timely access to quality data is essential for the understanding of marine processes. The International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) programme, through its distributed network of National Oceanographic Data Centres (NODCs), is developing the Ocean Data Portal (ODP) to facilitate seamless access to oceanographic data and to promote the exchange and dissemination of marine data and services. The ODP provides the full range of processes including data discovery, evaluation and access, and delivers a standards-based infrastructure that provides integration of marine data and information across the NODC network. The key principle behind the ODP is its interoperability with existing systems and resources and the IODE is working closely with the Joint WMO-IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM) to ensure the ODP is interoperable with the WMO Information System (WIS) that will provide access to marine meteorological and oceanographic data and information to serve a number of applications, including climate. Following the IODE-XX recommendations high priority has been assigned to the interaction with the SeaDataNet infrastructure (SDN). The ODP web site is available at www.oceandataportal.org. This site provides background information on the project, software, documentation and training materials in addition to assistance to users on how to use ODP and how to become ODP data providers. The ODP data access is available at http://data.oceandataportal.org .

Description: OpenASFA input

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Description: This Toolkit aims to support policy-makers, curriculum developers and educational authorities in implementing Ocean Literacy into their national curriculum framework. Ocean Literacy is a tool, a framework and, more broadly, a mindset that forefronts the ocean in all aspects of life on Earth. As an approach for society as a whole, Ocean Literacy catalyzes actions to protect, conserve and sustainably use the ocean. The ocean is intrinsically connected to every part of the globe, to human livelihoods and to sociocultural practices. Understanding the ocean’s influence on us and our influence on the ocean is vital to develop and practice sustainable ways of living together. With the launch of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), this Toolkit builds on the momentum of the global Ocean Literacy movement to support Ocean Decade Outcome 7 – ’An inspiring and engaging ocean’. By synthesizing the latest research and case studies provided by Member States who currently are already promoting ocean literacy, this Toolkit aims to offer orientation on how to ‘blue’ curriculum and guidelines, in line with trends in education. Enhancing the knowledge and capacity of schools, teachers and learners about the ocean furthers society’s understanding of the importance of ocean life and ocean–human interactions. In turn, this knowledge advances the need to preserve and care for ocean resources, and to support better decision-making by society as a whole.

Description: OPenASFA input

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Description: • Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) result from noxious and/or toxic algae that cause direct and indirect negative impacts to aquatic ecosystems, coastal resources, and human health. • HABs are present in nearly all aquatic environments (freshwater, brackish and marine), as naturally occurring phenomena. • Many HABs are increasing in severity and frequency, and biogeographical range. Causes are complex, but in some cases can be attributed to climate change and human impacts, including eutrophication, habitat modification, and human- mediated introduction of exogenous species. • There is no plan, and nor realistic possibility, to eliminate HABs and/or their depend-ent consequences. Decades of research and monitoring have, however, improved our understanding of HAB events, leading to better monitoring and prediction strate-gies. • HABs are a worldwide phenomenon requiring an international understanding leading ultimately to local and regional solutions. Continued progress in research, management, mitigation, and prediction of HABs benefits from international coordination. In this spirit, the international community has developed programmes sponsored by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) to coordinate international HAB research, framework activities, and capacity building. • HABs are recognized as one facet of complex ecosystem interactions with human society. HAB research, monitoring, and management must be closely integrated with policy decisions that affect our global oceans. • New initiatives, such as GlobalHAB sponsored by IOC and SCOR, will continue to provide the mechanisms to further understand, predict, and mitigate HABs. Research, management, and mitigation efforts directed towards HABs must be coordinated with other local, national, and international efforts focused on food and water security, human and ecosystem health, ocean observing systems, and climate change.

Description: OPENASFA INPUT For bibliographic purposes this document should be cited as: R.M. Kudela et al. 2015. Harmful Algal Blooms. A Scientific Summary for Policy Makers. IOC/UNESCO, Paris (IOC/INF-1320).

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Description: Further to Assembly Decision IOC-XXVIII/6.2(II) of June 2015, this document contains the results of the review of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) – IOC General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) project conducted during the intersessional period and recommendations for consideration by this Executive Council prepared by the review group with regard to IOC’s role and involvement in the GEBCO project. The responses to a questionnaire survey conducted during the intersessional period are contained in an addendum in English only to the present document. The Executive Council is invited to consider the recommendations presented in the document for further action. There are no financial and administrative implications.

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Description: The workshop exchanged information on existing and proposed ocean acidification monitoring and research approaches, methods, and techniques at global, regional, and national levels; established an ocean acidification research and observing network in the Western Pacific and its adjacent region by bringing together regional experts who have been making efforts on the research and monitoring of ocean acidification. In view of the pressing need to draw the attention of high-level policy-makers and relevant stakeholders in the region to ocean acidification, the workshop established a task force to start formulating, with technical assistance of the NOAA Ocean Acidification Program, an outreach flyer on ocean acidification and its social-economic impacts in the region. With the case study on the US NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program, particularly its Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program, the workshop recognized great challenges and gaps in monitoring the ecological impacts of ocean acidification on coral reef ecosystems in the region. Given the limited understanding on the ecosystem responses to ocean acidification against a critical need to develop meaningful projections on future impacts of ocean acidification on marine ecosystem, especially on coral reefs in the region to enable resource and fisheries managers, and policy-makers to develop effective long-term mitigation and adaptation strategies for the people of the region, the workshop stressed the need, building on existing coral reef monitoring initiatives, to develop a joint long-term monitoring programme/network on the impacts of ocean acidification on coral reefs in the region. To this end, the workshop selected several pilot sites as a starting point for developing the regional monitoring program/network. A table for monitoring capacity analysis was developed and will be distributed to participants willing to join the programme development, with a view to analysing the current monitoring capacity, identifying common monitoring methods, and further considering developing a consistent, comparable and cost-effective “Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)” for all pilot sites.

Description: OPENASFA INPUT For bibliographic purposes this document should be cited as follows: WESTPAC Workshop on Research and Monitoring of the Ecological Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reef Ecosystems. Phuket, Thailand, 19–21 January 2015. Paris, UNESCO, 40 pp, 2015. (IOC Workshop Report, 271) (English)

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Description: Capacity building is an essential tenet of IOC’s mission: It enables all Member States to participate in and benefit from ocean research and services that are vital to sustainable development and human welfare on the planet. This Strategy’s vision identifies capacity development as the primary catalyst through which IOC will achieve its four high level objectives in the current 2014–2021 IOC Medium-Term Strategy. Over the past 55 years Member States have derived numerous benefits from IOC’s capacity development from the first International Indian Ocean Expedition to the revitalisation of African marine science coordination and establishment of the global tsunami warning network including the monitoring/forecasting networks that save lives (see addendum, section III). Reinforced partnerships between IOC and its Member States, other UN agencies, donors, and the scientific community have been the cornerstone of this success. During this period, the transformation of ocean science capabilities, accelerating threats to ocean health and ecosystem services, and the growing challenge of sustainable development require the IOC and its Member States to accelerate the pace of IOC capacity development. Resource constraints, both staff and funding, limit IOC’s ability to mobilise the necessary partnerships to address Member State science and services that will enhance human welfare and sustainable economic development. In 2014, the UN General Assembly adopted the Oceans and the law of the sea Reso lution   (A/RES/69/245) which reiterated the essential need for cooperation, including through capacity building and transfer of marine technology, “to ensure that States, especially developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as coastal African States, are able both to implement the Convention1 and to benefit from the sustainable development of the oceans and seas, as well as to participate fully in global and regional forums and processes dealing with oceans and law of the sea issues.” 2015 will mark the establishment of the Post-2015 Development Agenda, which is expected to be integrated as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). IOC has a unique international niche in ocean science, services and capacity development: (a) fostering international cooperation for sustained observations of the oceans; (b) generating oceanographic data and information products and services and interaction between research, operational, user communities and decision-makers in order to derive maximum societal benefit from new knowledge to achieve IOC’s High Level Objectives. The IOC will mainstream its natural and social science approach to capacity development in its Member States and, in particular, in Priority Africa, SIDS and Gender Equality. This strategic framework provides six outputs and numerous activities that are elaborated in detail below. These outputs call for investing in people and the institutions of which they are a part, enhancing access to scientific tools and methodologies, reinforcing IOC’s capabilities to provide services to Member States, enhancing the communication between scientific and policy makers communities, expanding ocean literacy in civil society and mobilising resources to accomplish these goals. While this framework provides general guidance on elements of an implementation plan yet to be developed, elevating IOC’s impact to the scale required is contingent on: • Reinforcing and valuing IOC staff at global and regional levels and, where necessary, participating national ocean scientific and governance institutions; • Integrating IOC global and regional mechanisms to rapidly expand Member State participation in IOC programmes: - Empowering IOC regional sub-commissions and other subsidiary bodies o engage with Member States, expanding collaboration and capacity development (including transfer of marine technology) on their coastal and marine affairs priorities - Strengthening global science programmes to increase scientific engagement with Member State coastal and marine priorities; • Recommitting to partnerships through the IOC with its Member States, UN organizations and other agencies, scientific community and civil society; • Mobilizing resources, e.g., personnel, funds, knowledge, and observing networks, to deliver the capacity development on which science, services and human communities depend; and • Continued attention to “enabling institutional conditions” as identified in discussions on “The Future of IOC”. The conclusions identify elements of a draft work plan including conducting needs assessments to establish CD work plans, mobilizing associated resources and enhanced communication and collaboration.

Description: OPENASFA INPUT

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Description: Arid countries throughout the world are heavily reliant on seawater desalination for their supply of drinking and municipal water. The desalination industry is large and rapidly growing, approaching more than 20,000 plants operating or contracted in greater than 150 countries worldwide and capacity projected to grow at a rate of 12% per year for the next several decades (http://www.desaldata.com; 2016). Desalination plants are broadly distributed worldwide, with a large and growing capacity in what will be referred to as the “Gulf” region throughout this manual. Here the Gulf refers to the shallow body of water bounded in the southwest by the Arabian Peninsula and Iran to the northeast. The Gulf is linked with the Arabian Sea by the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman to the east and extends to the Shatt al-Arab river delta at its western end. One of the operational challenges facing the industry is also expanding globally – the phenomena termed harmful algal blooms or HABs. Blooms are cell proliferations caused by the growth and accumulation of individual algal species; they occur in virtually all bodies of water. The algae, which can be either microscopic or macroscopic (e.g., seaweeds) are the base of the marine food web, and produce roughly half of the oxygen we breathe. Most of the thousands of species of algae are beneficial to humans and the environment, but there are a small number (several hundred) that cause HABs. This number is vague because the harm caused by HABs is diverse and affects many different sectors of society (see Chapter 1). HABs are generally considered in two groups. One contains the species that produce potent toxins (Chapter 2) that can cause a wide range of impacts to marine resources, including mass mortalities of fish, shellfish, seabirds, marine mammals, and various other organisms, as well as illness and death in humans and other consumers of fish or shellfish that have accumulated the algal toxins during feeding. The second category is represented by species that produce dense blooms - often termed high biomass blooms because of the large number of cells. Cells can reach concentrations sufficient to make the water appear red (hence the common term “red tide”), though brown, green and golden blooms are also observed, while many blooms are not visible. In this manual, we define toxic algae as those that produce potent toxins (poisonous substances produced within living cells or organisms), e.g., saxitoxin. These can cause illness or mortality in humans as well as marine life through either direct exposure to the toxin or ingestion of bioaccumulated toxin in higher trophic levels e.g. shellfish. Non-toxic HABs can cause damage to ecosystems and commercial facilities such as desalination plants, sometimes because of the biomass of the accumulated algae, and in other cases due to the release of compounds that are not toxins (e.g., reactive oxygen species, mucilage) but that can still be lethal to marine animals or cause disruptions of other types. Both toxic and non-toxic HABs represent potential threats to seawater desalination facilities. Although toxins are typically removed very well by reverse osmosis and thermal desalination processes (see Chapter 10), algal toxins represent a potential health risk if they are present in sufficiently high concentrations in the seawater and if they break through the desalination process. It is therefore important for operators to be aware when toxic blooms are near their plants so they can ensure that the removal has indeed occurred (Chapter 3). High biomass blooms pose a different type of threat, as the resulting particulate and dissolved organic material can accelerate clogging of media filters or contribute to (bio)fouling of pretreatment and RO membranes which may lead to a loss of production. Impacts of HABs on desalination facilities are thus a significant and growing problem, made worse by the lack of knowledge of this phenomena among plant operators, managers, engineers, and others involved in the industry, including regulatory agencies. Recognizing this problem, the Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC) and the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) organized a conference in 2012 in Muscat, Oman, to bring HAB researchers and desalination professionals together to exchange knowledge and discuss the scale of the problem and strategies for addressing it. One of the recommendations of that meeting was that a “guidance manual” be prepared to provide information to desalination plant operators and others in the industry about HABs, their impacts, and the strategies that could be used to mitigate those impacts. With support from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the IOC Intergovernmental Panel for Harmful Algal Blooms (IPHAB), an editorial team was assembled and potential authors contacted. For the first time, HAB scientists worked closely with desalination professionals to write chapters that were scientifically rigorous yet practical in nature – all focused on HABs and desalination. During the planning of this manual, it became clear from an informal survey of the desalination industry that generally, HAB problems are far more significant for seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) plants than for those that use thermal desalination. Both types of processes are very effective in removing HAB toxins (Chapter 10), but the SWRO plants are far more susceptible to clogging of pretreatment granular media filters and fouling of membranes by algal organic matter and particulate biomass. Accordingly, the focus of this book is on SWRO, with only occasional reference to thermal processes. Likewise, emphasis has been placed on seawater HABs, with reference to estuarine and brackish-water HABs only when practices from those types of waters can be informative or illustrative. A brief synopsis of the book follows. Chapter 1 provides a broad overview of HAB phenomena, including their impacts, the spatial and temporal nature of their blooms, common causative species, trends in occurrence, and general aspects of bloom dynamics in coastal waters. Chapter 2 describes the metabolites of HAB cells, including toxins, taste and odor compounds. Methods for analyses are presented there, supplemented by detailed methodological descriptions of rapid toxin screening methods in Appendix 2. As discussed in Chapters 8 and 10, thermal and SWRO operations are highly effective in the removal of HAB toxins, but plant personnel should have the capability to screen for these toxins in raw and treated water to ensure that this removal has been effective. This would be critical, for example, if the public or the press were aware of a toxic HAB in the vicinity of a desalination plant intake and asked for proof that their drinking water is safe. Currently, most desalination plants do not collect data on seawater outside their plants, so they are generally unaware of the presence (now or anticipated) of a potentially disruptive HAB. Chapter 3 provides practical information on the approaches to implementing an observing system for HABs, describing sampling methods and measurement options that can be tailored to available resources and the nature of the HAB threat in a given area. Appendix 4 provides more details on methods used to count and identify HAB cells during this process. All are based on direct water sampling, but it is also possible to observe HABs from space – particularly the high biomass events. Chapter 4 describes how satellite remote sensing can be used to detect booms. The common sources of imagery (free over the Internet) are presented, as well as descriptions of the software (also free) that can be used to analyze the satellite data. It is relatively easy and highly informative for plant personnel to use this approach to better understand what is in the seawater outside their plants. The cover of this guide provides a graphic example of the incredible scale and resolution of this observational approach. Chapter 5 discusses typical water quality parameters that are measured online or in feedwater samples at desalination plants that could be used to detect blooms at the intake or evaluate process efficiency in removing algal particulates and organics. Emerging parameters that also show promise are examined to provide a resource for plant personnel. Chapter 6 looks at desalination seawater intakes that are the first point of control in minimizing the ingress of algae into the plant. A brief overview of siting considerations that may ultimately drive the location of an intake is also provided. One question asked frequently of HAB scientists is whether the blooms can be controlled or suppressed in a manner analogous to the treatment of insects or other agricultural pests on land. This has proven to be an exceedingly difficult challenge for the HAB scientific and management community, given the dynamic nature of HABs in coastal waters, their large spatial extent, and concerns about the environmental impacts of bloom control methods. Chapter 7 presents a summary of the approaches to bloom prevention and control that have been developed, and discusses whether these are feasible or realistic in the context of an individual desalination plant. Chapter 8 describes management strategies for HABs and risk assessment, including Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) and Alert Level Framework procedures. Once a HAB is detected, a wide range of approaches can be used to address the problems posed by the dissolved toxins associated with those blooms. Chapter 9 presents many of these pretreatment strategies and discusses their use in removing algal organic matter and particulates to prevent filter clogging and membrane fouling. This is necessary to maintain effective plant operation and avoid serious operational challenges for the reverse osmosis step. The chapter covers common pretreatments such as chlorination/dechlorination, coagulation, dissolved air flotation, granular media filtration, ultrafiltration, and cartridge filtration, in addition to discussing issues experienced due to the inefficiencies of each pretreatment on reverse osmosis. Chapter 10 then addresses the important issue of HAB toxin removal during pretreatment and desalination, and describes laboratory and pilot-scale studies that address that issue. Finally, Chapter 11 provides a series of case studies describing individual HAB events at desalination plants throughout the world, detailing the types of impacts and the strategies that were used to combat them. These studies should be of great interest to other operators as they encounter similar challenges. The manual concludes with a series of appendices that provide images and short descriptions of common HAB species (Appendix 1), rapid screening methods for HAB toxins (Appendix 2), methods to measure transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) and their precursors (Appendix 3), methods to enumerate algal cells (Appendix 4), and reverse osmosis autopsy and cleaning methods (Appendix 5).

Description: OPENASFA INPUT For bibliographic purposes this document should be cited as follows: Anderson D. M., S. F. E. Boerlage, M. B. Dixon (Eds), Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Desalination: A Guide to Impacts, Monitoring and Management. Paris, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, 2017. 539 pp. (IOC Manuals and Guides No.78.) (English.) (IOC/2017/MG/78).

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Description: This report presents a summary of the activities carried out by the Member States and Secretariat since the 29th session of the IOC Assembly (June 2017) up to July 2018. This document and the “Report on Budget Execution 2016–2017 and Outline of 2018–2019 Budget” (IOC/EC- LI/2 Annex 2) support the oral presentation of the Executive Secretary to the plenary session of the Executive Council. Part I provides detailed report by “functions” on the work accomplished since the 29th session of the Assembly in June 2017 up to this session of the Executive Council. Part II of this report provides an analytical overview of the IOC Programme implementation from January 2014 to December 2017 as presented to the Executive Board of UNESCO at its 2018 Spring session. An update on IOC Communication activities completes this report as an addendum. Decision proposed: The Executive Council is invited to take note of this report as in the draft decision EC-LI/3.1 in the Provisional Action Paper (document IOC/EC-LI/2 Prov.)

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Description: The rapid development of operational oceanography in recent years has led to improved access to real-time data and products generated from in-situ and satellite observations as well as ocean modelling. Examples of such observations in the African oceans and coasts include the Argo programme, which collects temperature and salinity data from more than 3,500 buoys deployed in many parts of the world oceans, and the network of sea level stations established by IOC and other organizations under the framework of the Joint IOC-WMO Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM) and the IOC-led Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). A number of large open data sets and metadata from observations (in situ and remote sensing) and from model outputs exist which have application to a number of challenges and problems in coastal environments. The International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) programme has assisted several institutions in Africa to access these data sets through the Ocean Data and Information Network for Africa (ODINAFRICA). However these resources have not been utilised optimally in Africa due to limited capacities, and lack of information on their availability and applicability. The goal of the African Summer School on Application of Ocean and Coastal Data and Modelling Products was to build African capacity to access and utilize ocean and coastal data (and relevant meteorological data) from in situ and satellite observations, as well as those generated from ocean models to produce useful services for local use, for a wide variety of human and economic benefit purposes. On the basis of case studies, the participants learnt how to optimise the use of widely available data and analysis tools.

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Description: The Eighth Meeting of the Working Group on Tsunamis and Other Hazards Related to Sea- Level Warning and Mitigation Systems (TOWS-WG-VIII) was held in Morioka, Japan, on 12 and 13 March 2015, at the Iwate Prefecture, under the Chairmanship of Mr Yutaka Michida (IOC Vice-Chair)

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Description: Argo is a major contribution to the Global Ocean Observing System, and its initial development over the past 15 years represented a revolution in the collection of climate information in the global ocean, as well as a revolution in the culture of free and open data sharing amongst oceanographers. The capabilities of Argo are evolving, and this information document serves to transparently let IOC Member States know how it is changing, how they can participate, and how they can benefit.

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Description: This paper summarizes IOC document IOC/IODE-XXIV/6.2.1 (Ocean Data and Information System – Concept Paper), describing a recommended strategy to move towards the implementation of a universal marine data and information system in response to the 2016 external audit of the IOC and its activities. After considering the observations presented in the audit, identifying the root causes which have contributed to the current state of the marine data and information systems landscape, it is recommended that the IOC work with existing stakeholders, linked and not linked to the IOC, to improve the accessibility and interoperability of existing data and information, and to contribute to the development of a global ocean data and information system, to be referred to as the Ocean Data and Information System in this document, leveraging established solutions.

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Description: The reports of water-related category 2 centres under the auspices of UNESCO cover the activities for the intersessional period between the 22nd and the 23rd sessions of the Intergovernmental Council of the IHP (June 2016 – June 2018).

Description: OpenASFA input

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Description: Established at the 3rd meeting of the GE-CD in December 2021, the Working Group on the revision of the IOC CD Strategy started discussions and noted at its first meeting in January 2022 the need to: (i) capture current CD initiatives by individual Member States, global and regional programmes, and other organizations/institutions; and (ii) make this information available as an ongoing service to Member States. The Working Group proposed the creation of an ocean science related ‘Capacity Development Compendium'

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Description: The development of the Ocean Science programme of IOC is based on science in support of sustainability of ocean ecosystems in a changing environment according to EC-XLV/Dec.4.4. This document presents three science initiatives and the related Terms of Reference. All three initiatives represent an intensified effort to distinguish between natural and human-induced earth system variability though analysing possible impacts and consequences on certain marine ecosystems and marine life in general: (i) the IOC International working Group for Marine Time Series (IGMETS) to be continued; (ii) a new IOC working group to investigate Climate Change and Global Trends of Phytoplankton in the ocean (TrendsPO), in particular the coastal ocean; and (iii) a new IOC working group for the Global Ocean Oxygen Network (GO2NE).

Description: OPENASFA INPUT

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Description: This document supersedes IOC Manuals and Guides No. 5 Rev. 2 (2008) (http://www.iode.org/mg5) which was entitled “Guide for Establishing a National Oceanographic Data Centre”. Taking into account the substantive evolution in information technology, capabilities of organizations other than existing IODE National Oceanographic Data Centres to manage and make available ocean data, information, products and services, the IODE Committee, at its 25th Session (2019) recommended the updating of IOC Manuals and Guides. This document is the result of that revision.

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Description: The project “Supporting internationally accepted maritime spatial planning guidance” – MSPglobal for short – is an initiative by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO) and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) to support their Joint Roadmap to Accelerate Maritime/Marine Spatial Planning processes worldwide (MSProadmap) (#OceanAction15346). Launched in November 2018 for a period of three years, MSPglobal aims to support international maritime/marine spatial planning (MSP) for the sustainable development of the blue economy, by enhancing cross-border and transboundary cooperation where it already exists and promoting MSP processes in areas where it is yet to be put in place. By providing the context for active and effective participation of policy-makers, scientists, businesses, citizens and other stakeholders, MSPglobal aims to improve governance at multiple levels and achieve an ecosystem-based approach in support of the blue economy. Doing so will require transparent data and information, sharing of best practices and new knowledge to inform, guide and support MSP at global scale. Two pilot projects, one in the Western Mediterranean and another in the Southeast Pacific, will facilitate concrete transboundary and cross-border activities, respectively, at different geographical levels as well as support the participating countries in successfully implementing MSP initiatives.

Description: co-funded by the European Union (DG MARE)

Description: OPENASFA INUT This publication should be cited as follows: UNESCO-IOC. 2021. Technical Report on Current Conditions and Compatibility of Maritime Uses in the Western Mediterranean. Paris, UNESCO. (IOC Technical Series no 160).

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Description: Author Posting. © The Author(s), 2021. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Oxford University Press for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Toxicological Sciences 182(20), (2021): 310-326, https://doi.org/10.1093/toxsci/kfab066.

Description: Harmful algal blooms produce potent neurotoxins that accumulate in seafood and are hazardous to human health. Developmental exposure to the harmful algal bloom toxin, domoic acid (DomA), has behavioral consequences well into adulthood, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms of DomA developmental neurotoxicity are largely unknown. To assess these, we exposed zebrafish embryos to DomA during the previously identified window of susceptibility and used the well-known startle response circuit as a tool to identify specific neuronal components that are targeted by exposure to DomA. Exposure to DomA reduced startle responsiveness to both auditory/vibrational and electrical stimuli, and even at the highest stimulus intensities tested, led to a dramatic reduction of one type of startle (short-latency c-starts). Furthermore, DomA-exposed larvae had altered kinematics for both types of startle responses tested, exhibiting shallower bend angles and slower maximal angular velocities. Using vital dye staining, immunolabeling, and live imaging of transgenic lines, we determined that although the sensory inputs were intact, the reticulospinal neurons required for short-latency c-starts were absent in most DomA-exposed larvae. Furthermore, axon tracing revealed that DomA-treated larvae also showed significantly reduced primary motor neuron axon collaterals. Overall, these results show that developmental exposure to DomA targets large reticulospinal neurons and motor neuron axon collaterals, resulting in measurable deficits in startle behavior. They further provide a framework for using the startle response circuit to identify specific neural populations disrupted by toxins or toxicants and to link these disruptions to functional consequences for neural circuit function and behavior.

Description: This research was supported by a WHOI Von Damm and Ocean Ridge Initiative Fellowships to J.M.P. and the Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health (NIH: P01ES021923 and P01ES028938; NSF: OCE-1314642 and OCE-1840381).

Description: 2022-06-07

Description: Mr David Korenfeld Federman, the outgoing Chairperson of the IHP Intergovernmental Council, opened the session and welcomed all participants, expressing his wish for fruitful deliberations. He emphasized that water has emerged as one of the key issues on the international agenda due to major global developments such as the adoption of the standalone water goal in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the establishment of the High-level Panel on Water, and the recognition of the importance of water in climate change adaptation during the discussions of the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the implementation of UNFCCC (COP 21). As major IHP achievements over the past two years, he highlighted: (a) the technical meeting of the IHP Bureau, held in Mexico in November 2014; (b) the celebration of the 50th anniversary of UNESCO water programmes; and (c) the publication “Water, People and Cooperation: 50 years of water programmes for sustainable development at UNESCO”. Mr Korenfeld, as the Chairperson of the Mexican IHP National Committee, further noted that during his tenure, Mexico has initiated the process for the establishment of a category 2 water centre on water security and published a 50th anniversary commemorative stamp.

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Description: The southern coast of Dominican Republic is a very populated region, withseveral important cities including Santo Domingo, its capital. Important activities are rooted in the southern coast including tourism, industry, commercial ports, and, energy facilities, amongothers. According to historical reports, it has been impacted by big earthquakes accompanied by tsunamis as in Azua in 1751 and recently Pedernales in 2010, but their sources are not clearly identified.With partial support of the European Union funded project "Life-Saving Actions: Disaster preparedness and seismic and tsunami risk reduction in the south coast of San Cristóbal province, Dominican Republic» implemented by UNDP, UNESCO and the Assembly of Cooperation for Peace in Dominican Republic (ACPP),UNESCO together with the Seismological Institute of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo,organized the meeting of experts "Sources of tsunamis in the Caribbean with possibility to impact the southern coast of the Dominican Republic", on 6 and 7 May 2016, with invited experts and specialists ofDominican Republic, France, Haiti, Spainand theUnited States.The invited experts analysedin a closed meeting three groups of tsunami sources(tectonic sources, landslides and volcanic eruptions)of which they identified two groups of crediblesources of tsunamis in the Caribbean that could impact the southern coast of the Dominican Republic(tectonic sources and submarine landslides):I. Tectonic Sources: A.Near-field tectonic sources(less than 500 km from impact zone):-Western Muertos Trough (WMT) –Mw 8.0:-Small Muertos Trough 1 (SMT1) –Mw 7.6-Small Muertos Trough 2 (SMT2) –Mw 7.6-Muertos Trough Mega-splay (MS)–Mw 7.7B.Far-field tectonic sources:1. Southern Caribbean:-Northern Panama Deformed Belt (NPDB)–Mw 8.5-West branch of the South Caribbean Deformed Belt (WSCDB)–Mw 8.6-Full South Caribbean Deformed Belt (FSCDB)2. Northeastern Caribbean: Although thefollowing sources are at less than500 km of the impact zone, experts classified them as far-field given its expectedlower impact:-Puerto Rico Trench (PRT) –Mw 8.6-Mona Extension Fault (MEF) –Mw 7.6II. Submarine landslides: Within the different sourcesdiscussed only one was consideredasa potential threat, a potential landslide located ~100 km off the coast of Santo Domingo, denominated Complutense Slump (CS)by Granja et al. (2014).Volume of slump: 224km3.

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Description: The Twelfth Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas (ICG/NEAMTWS) was hosted by Ireland in Dublin, from 16 to 18 November 2015.The ICG welcomedthe continuation of the interim operational phase of the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas (NEAMTWS), through the Candidate Tsunami Service Providers (CTSPs) of France, Greece, Turkey, and Italy and the intention of Portugal to start operations as a CTSP in 2016.The ICG further welcomed the progress achieved by the CTSPs and the application by National Observatory of Athens (Greece) for accreditation and the intention expressed by France, Italy and Turkey to also apply for accreditation in the next intersessional period. The ICG adoptedthe document ‘Procedures for the Accreditation of TSP, as included in Annex 6.Notingfurthermore the positive results of the extended communication tests since the Tenth Session and of the second tsunami exercise for the region, NEAMWave14,and the significant increase of the participation of Civil Protection Authorities.The ICG while confirmingthe continuation of the Working Groups, as follows: Working Group 1 on Hazard Assessment and Modelling; Working Group 2 on Seismic and GeophysicalMeasurements; Working Group 3 on Sea Level Data Collection and Exchange, including Offshore Tsunami Detection and Instruments; and Working Group 4 on Public Awareness, Preparedness and Mitigation, decidedto establish a new Task Team on Architecture for ICG/NEAMTWS Governance and reorganisation review.The ICG confirmedthe continuation of regular Communication Test Exercises for the next intersessional period and quarterly Extended Communication Test Exercises based on a scenario event involving Member State Civil Protection Agencies.Decides to organise and conduct a further tsunami exercise in 2017 (NEAMWave17).The ICG confirmedthe continuation of the Steering Committee composed by the Officers and the Co-Chairs of the Working Groups and the Task Teams, and representatives of CTSPs.Recommends:I.To increase the participation of Member States in the ICG activities,II.That each CTSP provide threat level information based on their best practices, including (possibly different) decision matrices, scenario databases or other methods, these methodologies needing to be documented in the NEAMTWS Operational Users Guide),III.That all sea level data should be made available to the CTSPs and NTWCs using bilateral agreements, between NTWCs whenever possible,IV.That all tide gauge stations should transition to operational, real time status,V.To increase the number of seismic and sea level stations available in the North of Africa, and for sea level to reduce sampling and latency to 1 minute or less as far as possible,VI.That Member States should urge the active involvement of their national Civil Protection Authorities (CPAs) in the routine activities of the ICG, with the aim of making the ICG products more suitable for meeting the needs and expectations of those CPAs, VII. That NTWCs, in consultation with their CPAs, evaluate the need to provide enhanced products in the NTWC messages, such as maps, and to present and make proposals for discussion and adoption at the next ICG; The ICG acknowledged the importance of Tsunami Information Centre for the North Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas (NEAMTIC, neamtic.ioc-unesco.org)and recommended Member States to contribute funding and secondments to its maintenance and development. The Twelfth Session of ICG/NEAMTWS was attended by 46 participants from 16 Member States, and one observer organization. The need for a stronger cooperation with the ICG/CARIBE-EWS was reiterated.

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Description: This document has been prepared in pursuance of Decision IOC-XXVIII/4 of the IOC Assembly at its 28th session (18-25 June 2015), which decided that the inter-sessional work on this subject should continue under the leadership of the IOC Officers with a view of providing a fully developed document with recommendation to the IOC Executive Council at its 49th session in 2016. Consistent with the decision, the document proposed for the review by the Executive Council results from the discussions at the Joint ‘Think Tank’ Retreat of the IOC Officers and the IOC Management Team, held from 5 to 8 January 2016 in Gilleleje, Denmark. The appendices to the document contain: (i) the draft messages adapted to specific audiences about the societal benefits of IOCs mission, programmes and activities based on the input from the sessional working group and the discussions in plenary; and (ii) a Concept note: A Second International Decade of (Integrated) Ocean Exploration, 2021-2030. Document IOC/INF-1337, ‘Synthesis of IOC development, work and results: opportunities and coincidences 1960–2015’ by Gunnar Kullenberg (past Executive Secretary) completes the documentation for this agenda item. Decision proposed: Full draft decision is presented in para. 173. The Executive Council will be requested to provide its recommendations on the proposed documentation to be used by the Officers in the intersessional period with a view of presenting the final proposal to the IOC Assembly at its 29th session in 2017.

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Description: Mr Renato Solidum, Director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology PHIVOLCS delivered the welcome speech on behalf of the Government of Philippines. He recalled that Philippines is a country that is exposed to several natural hazards. He indicated that PHIVOLCS is happy to host the 5th meeting of the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (PTWS) South China Sea Region Working Group (SCS-WG), and emphasized the importance of monitoring real time data from regional and global seismic networks in order to detect and rapidly locate, size, and characterize the source of tsunami, forecast coastal impacts and assess potential hazards. He officially opened the meeting.

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