ChlorOGIN
(Chlorophyll Ocean Global Integrated Network)
Report of the Plymouth Chlorophyll Meeting and Workshops (Extended
Antares Network)
Sponsored by GOOS, GEO, IOCCG, PML and POGO
18 - 22 Sept 2006
Executive Summary
The meeting consisted of three components: 1) a plenary planning
meeting, 2) a satellite remote sensing technical workshop and 3) an
in situ observations technical and calibration workshop. The 44 participants
represented Latin America, southern and east Africa, India, China,
Thailand, Sri Lanka, the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission,
and the sponsors: the Plymouth Marine Laboratory, GOOS, GEO and POGO.
Over 90% of the participants were under 50 years old and more than
half under 40. Most had been previously trained under the auspices
of the IOCCG and POGO.
The aim of the project is to deliver products, namely maps of ocean
chlorophyll and sea surface temperature, as indicators of the state
of the ecosystem needed for ecosystem and fisheries management, and
at some sites, a measure of light penetration into the ocean needed,
along with the other two variables, to calculate plankton primary
production. These are three of the core variables recommended for
the Global Coastal Network listed in the GOOS Coastal Panel strategic
plan. The value of decades-long time series is illustrated by two
case studies relating fish catch fluctuations to inter-annual ocean
chlorophyll variations in a spatial context. The meeting and workshops
were outstanding successes, resulting in many technical recommendations
given in the full report. Amongst the most important general recommendations
are: The project should have three initial principal regional centres,
in Latin America, southern Africa, and India linked by good communications
to three northern centres in UK, the European Commission, and USA.
During the first five-year phase, map products would be regularly
updated on a web site at each centre, while the infrastructure is
improved and personnel trained at new centres. During the second five-year
phase, the existing centres would become fully operational with a
range of products suited to local needs, and new centres developed.
Several case studies of existing uses for remotely-sensed ocean chlorophyll
products are given in the full report: 1) Monthly State of Environment
Reports for fisheries management (Namibia), 2) Maps of Ocean Chlorophyll
around Latin America (Antares Network), 3) Short-term forecasts of
harmful algal blooms for fisheries (BCLME programme, South Africa),
4) Directing research vessels to dynamic ocean phenomena for process
studies (Plymouth Marine Laboratory, UK), and 5) Fuel-saving by directing
fishing vessels to ocean fronts and convergences (India). The meeting
concluded that there is enormous synergy to be gained from linking
national and regional centres together to form an integrated network
including both satellite and in situ observations, and suited to local
needs.
Principal recommendations:
1) That the ChlorOGIN network be implemented with immediate effect,
linking existing national and regional centres;
2) That the appropriate bodies ensure that continuity of satellite
ocean colour sensors is achieved to provide inter-calibrated long
time series of surface ocean chlorophyll and SST;
3) That in situ time-series of surface and sub-surface observations
be made at each regional centre to support the satellite measurements
by integration/combination in a manner that suits local societal and
scientific needs;
4) The need for homogeneity/compatibility of protocols (e.g. for match-ups),
procedures and analysis tools/practises be recognised and that members
of the network move towards common protocols;
5) That physical infrastructure (such as the connection between networks
and receiving stations, data distribution, materials required to adopt
best practice protocols for in situ measurements) and human capacity
be developed in existing and new centres to expand the network in
two five-year phases;
6) That communications bandwidth be improved in most developing countries,
as this limits the delivery of ocean chlorophyll and related products
and is more important than satellite ground receiving stations;
7) That funding be sought for development of the ChlorOGIN Network
from national bodies, the Large Marine Ecosystem programmes, and other
sources.
John Field (GOOS) Co-chair
Trevor Platt (IOCCG) Co-chair
Shubha Sathyendranath (POGO) Organiser
Nick Hardman-Mounford (PML) workshop organiser
Vivian Lutz (Antares) workshop organiser
Mike Rast (GEO) (for co-sponsor)
Gavin Tilstone workshop organiser
20 Nov. 2006.
List of Acronyms:
Antares: Name of a Latin American network including ocean chlorophyll
estimations
BCLME: Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem programme
ChlorOGIN: Chlorophyll Ocean Global Integrated Network
GEO: Group on Earth Observations
GOOS: Global Ocean Observing System
IOCCG: International Ocean Colour Co-ordinating Group
JRC: Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, Ispra, Italy
PML: Plymouth Marne Laboratory, UK
POGO: Partnership for Observations of the Global Ocean
