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Observing System
Facilitating and Enhancing Global Southern Ocean Observations
Data Efforts
Data sharing is at the heart of SOOS. Our aim is that support the development of systems that maximise the discoverability, access and impact of Southern Ocean observations, no matter who collected them, or when, or why.
Explore and download curated and standardised Southern Ocean observational data on an interactive map.
Search the Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) portal for Southern Ocean data from around the world.
Explore Regional Working Groups that coordinate and implemente the observing system in each region.
Field Coordination
SOOS brings together exisiting communities and observational efforts to enhance the coordinated collection of observations, through the development of coordination networks and tools. These faciliate collaborative logistics, sharing of resources, alignment of observational priorities, and supporting community effort towards achieving the SOOS mission.
Enhancing Capabilities
SOOS enhances our ability to observe the Southern Ocean integrated, multidiscplinary and sustained way, through support of community-driven working groups and task teaks. These efforts focus on development and implementation of technologies, building networks, improvement of observational design, and development of associated methods.
Explore Capability Working Groups (CWGs), developing and enhancing important Southern Ocean observational capabilities.
Find Task Teams producing specific products, organising events, or solving a particular observing problem.
Enhancing observations of the Southern Ocean
SOOS is an international initiative of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR). SOOS' mission is facilitating the collection and delivery of essential physical, chemical and biological oceanographic observations from the Southern Ocean, to ensure all stakeolders have access to the data required to address key societal issues, such as sea-level rise, heat, freshwater and nutrient transport, and ecosystem responses to changes in the system.
The SOOS 5-year Implementation Plan defines the actions of the SOOS community for the period 2016-2020.
The Southern Ocean community has identified 6 scientific challenges that are used to focus our observational priorities.
SOOS has a simple governance structure, with close connections to external scientific and coordination bodies.
The International Project Office (IPO) is the central hub of the SOOS effort, click above for details on how to contact the IPO.
Sponsors
