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program independent  coordination  mechanism  for  the  numerous  ocean  carbon  observation 

activities  being  carried  out  and  planned  as  part  of  national,  regional,  and  global  research 

programs. The mission of the IOCCP is to provide a global view of ocean carbon by: 

   Developing a compilation and synthesis of ocean carbon activities and plans; 

   Working with international research programs to fully integrate carbon studies into 

planning activities; 

   Standardizing methods, qc/qa procedures, data formats, and use of certified reference 

materials; 

   Promote regional and global data integration and synthesis activities. 

These  coordination  activities  are  laying  the  foundation  of  a  global  ocean  carbon 

observing system. Hood provided a brief status of the initial ocean carbon observing system, 

summarized  in  the  following  table,  which  includes  an  inventory  of  existing  activities, 

sampling resolution requirements, the coordinating organizations for each system element, the 

data  products  and  centers  managing  the  data,  and  the  next  steps  for  development  of  the 

system. A full status report of IOCCP activities for 2003 and plans for 2004 are available at 

the following website: 

http://ioc.unesco.org/iocweb/co2panel/Publications.htm

. 

The Global Ocean Carbon Observing System   April 2004 

Element 

Inventory 

Coordinatin

Data Centers / 

Next Steps (2004 2005) 

g Bodies 

Products 

Repeat 

31 funded / 7 

IOCCP & 

CDIAC Ocean CO

2

Develop implementation 

Sections 

pending  

CLIVAR IPO 

+ CLIVAR 

strategy:  

2003 2008 

Products: synthesis  2004 workshop to reach 

86% of WOCE / 

groups via OCCC, 

agreements on Global Survey 

JGOFS Survey 

Carbo Ocean, 

lines, and core and ancillary 

PICES, IMBER, 

variables.  

with coordination by  Establish data synthesis 

IOCCP where 

projects: Agreements pending 

needed. 

funding decision of Carbo 

Ocean, 7/2004. 

Carbon 

18 lines 

IOCCP 

CDIAC Ocean CO

1 

2

  Develop implementation 

SOOP 

operating / 4 

Products: synthesis  strategy: pending re analysis 

start 2004 

activities via 

of sampling requirements, 

SOLAS WG3. 

establish small working / 

writing group (2005 finish). 

Develop synthesis activities: 

agreements pending funding 

decision of Carbo Ocean, 

7/2004. 

Develop common formats for 

uncertainty estimates: late 

2004, establish small working 

group to develop common 

format for estimating 

uncertainty from SOOP 

systems. 

Time 

~9 operating 

OTS, 

OTS (Ifremer 

Initiate analysis of gaps and 

Series 

Research 

Coriolis)

1

duplications: pending approval 

Programs, 

of global science plans and 

(IOCCP to 

national projects (end 2004), 

collate 

perform an analysis of ocean 

information 

carbon TS activities within 

for carbon) 

each project. Ensure that 

ocean carbon systems are