Edson Represents OOI at POGO-26 Meeting in Malaysia

Jim Edson, Lead Principal Investigator of the NSF’s Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), recently attended the Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO)-26 Meeting, held in Penang, Malaysia and hosted by the Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS). This international gathering brought together leading ocean researchers and policymakers to discuss issues and efforts in global ocean observation, capacity development, and outreach and advocacy.

The meeting covered a wide range of topics, including the role of blue carbon ecosystems in climate mitigation, biomolecular observations and environmental DNA (eDNA), sustainable ocean observation practices, digital twin technologies, marine heatwaves, and the far-reaching impacts of El Niño and La Niña on coastal and marine environments.

As part of the event, Edson participated in a panel discussion and delivered a presentation on the impact of El Niño and La Niña in the Northeast Pacific, drawing on a decade of Endurance Array data collected by OOI. His talk highlighted the importance of long-term oceanic datasets in understanding and predicting climate-driven changes in marine environments. The presentation sparked significant discussion among attendees, emphasizing the growing need for sustained ocean observations to improve forecasting, resource management, and climate resilience strategies.

Edson also provided an update on efforts to share metadata between the OOI and OceanSITES/OceanOPS.  This effort will make the OOI surface mooring data more discoverable within this global network. This effort is led by the Coastal Global Scale Node (CGSN) team, which is conducting a pilot study using several methods to share the metadata.  The OceanSITE component of this effort is supported by GOOS and represents a joint effort between the NSF, NOAA, POGO and GOOS.

By participating in POGO-26, Edson reinforced OOI’s role as a key contributor to global ocean monitoring efforts and OOI’s commitment to providing high-quality, long-term ocean data that can inform scientific research and decision-making worldwide.

[caption id="attachment_36143" align="alignnone" width="640"]Jim Edson stands at podium presenting at POGO-26 Jim Edson, OOI PI at presents at POGO-26[/caption] [caption id="attachment_36144" align="alignnone" width="640"] POGO-26 in Penang, Malaysia[/caption] Read More

Edson Discusses Ocean Observing at Global Level

Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) Principal Investigator James Edson spent the past week discussing global ocean observing needs at the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 27). COP27 drew leaders from around the world who came together to develop strategies for minimizing and managing climate change. Edson was invited to travel to Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt to represent both Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and OOI at the first-ever Ocean Pavilion at COP27.

Edson was a panelist for three sessions at COP27.  The first brought together leaders of ocean observing systems to figure out a way to build a local to global ocean observing system to mitigate and adapt to climate change. This panel was organized by Partnership for Observations of the Global Ocean (POGO). The second, organized by the UK’s National Oceanography Centre, looked at blue carbon” and the role the ocean can and might play in the uptake and storage of carbon in the marine system.  Lastly, Edson addressed opportunities that the blue economy, or marine-related commerce, might facilitate sustainable development and to identify where investment is needed in research, skills, and innovation. The panel was organized by Egypt’s National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries and Edson described his experience with offshore wind energy and it potential for job training and growth.

[media-caption path="/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_3778-scaled.jpg" link="#"]During COP27, OOI PI Jim Edson shared his expertise on three panels, one of which focused on how the blue economy might be harnessed for sustainable development.  Credit: Ken Kostel ©WHOI.[/media-caption]

The Ocean Pavilion was jointly organized by WHOI and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and supported by 15 additional oceanographic research institutions from around the world, serving as partners in the Pavilion.  The Ocean Pavilion was a buzz with conversations from morning to evening each day. When not sharing his expertise in panel discussions, Edson spent his time at the Pavilion networking with scientists, educators, students, dignitaries, bankers and industry representatives who stopped by to learn more about the ocean’s role in climate regulation.

“This is exactly the type of place OOI needs to be so that our data are visible and accessible to researchers the world over,” said Edson. “The idea behind the Ocean Pavilion was to bring needed attention to the role of the ocean in regulating climate and how much the ocean is changing in response to ongoing changes.  It was important that OOI had a presence there because our data are needed to determine what’s happening in the ocean.  This is perfectly aligned with our mission to encourage use of our data to advance understanding. I hope the contacts we made at COP27 will lead to a continued and expanded use of OOI data at a global level.”

[media-caption path="/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IMG_3660-2-COP1-2-scaled.jpg" link="#"]OOI PI Jim Edson presenting at COP27 about how and types of data are collected by OOI and how scientists are using those data to better understand the changing ocean.  Credit: Ken Kostel ©WHOI.[/media-caption]

 

 

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