In the context of the EU AtlantOS Project, IOCCP started it's work towards defining quantifiable targets for the biogeochemical observing system. As with development of Essential Ocean Variables we hope for a wide community input over time. The first step of this effort is to focus on the Atlanic Ocean before expanding the process to other basins.

A second inter-laboratory comparison of seawater CO₂ measurements is planned for the second quarter of 2017. The goal of this comparison is to assess the present quality of seawater CO₂ measurements for total alkalinity, total dissolved inorganic carbon, and pH. We encourage all laboratories to participate, whether they participated in 2013 or not. 

On behalf of the Surface Ocean CO₂ Atlas (SOCAT) Team, we would like to remind you that submission of data for SOCAT version 5 ends 15 January 2017, and that Quality control for version 5 ends 31 March 2017.

We are very happy to announce that SCOR-JAMSTEC Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) will be available to anyone wanting to use them from a brand new English language JAMSTEC-based website at this address: http://www.jamstec.go.jp/scor/. 

We would like to let you know about the call for expert nominations for the Author Team for the Atlantic Ocean Observing System Blueprint 2019. The rationale for developing the Blueprint, to be delivered for the OceanObs19 conference, is to advance the current ocean observing system components to obtain an international, more sustainable, more efficient, more integrated, and fit-for-purpose ocean observing system, coordinated through the UNESCO-IOC Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). Self-nomination for the Blueprint Author Team can be submitted under the following website: https://www.surveymonkey.de/r/B8GSSFX. Such a group will benefit from the work of EU Horizon 2020 AtlantOS and similar projects.

The deadline for applications is the 6 January 2017.

Save the date for the 4^th International Symposium: The Effects of Climate Change on the World's Oceans, which will take place on June 4-8, 2018, in Washington DC, USA. The Symposium will bring together experts from around the world to better understand climate impacts on ocean ecosystems – and how to respond.

We would like to let you know that the Global Carbon Budget 2016 has now been published. Please see the Global Carbon Project website (http://www.globalcarbonproject.org) to access the highlights, paper, data, and a myriad of figures related to the annual update of the global carbon budget and trends for the year 2015, and projections for 2016.

We are pleased to let you know that the Everyone's Gliding Observatories (EGO) Team has released its first EGO Newsletter. In this issue you will find information on the 7^th EGO meeting (access to meeting documents upon registration), and the first "OceanGliders" (glider component of the Global Ocean Observing System) meeting report, among other news items.

If you are interested in contributing to the next release (May 2017), please contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. These inputs can relate to any new programs/projects/deployments, presentation of your glider facilities, tool development, scientific experiment/results, publications, etc.

The Biogeochemical-Argo program, co-chaired by Hervé Claustre and Ken Johnson, have just launched the first Biogeochemical-Argo Newsletter announcing the publication of the science and implementation plan of the Biogeochemical-Argo program as well as the release of the program web site (http://biogeochemical-argo.org/). On the web site you will find a wealth of information relevant to our community: current network status and interactive float maps, a list of measured variables and relevant scientific questions these measurements help address, data management and quality control protocols and manuals, and much more. Also be sure to check out the 'Adopt a Float' outreach initiative which could become a fantastic resource for all those involved in teaching.

To continue receiving the Biogeochemical Argo newsletters please subscribe here.

We are pleased to inform you that the 3^rd Blue Planet Symposium will be held in College Park, MD, USA, May 31-June 2, 2017. The Symposium will serve as a forum for discussion of societal information needs resulting from the important role the oceans play in Earth's life-support system and the challenge of minimizing the impacts of human activities on the oceans while utilizing the resources of the oceans to meet our needs. The symposium will also be a platform for the participating communities to exchange information on their activities and identify potential pilot and prototype projects for Blue Planet to focus on in the coming years.

Registration will open in January 2017.