The Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) is the leading non-governmental organization for the promotion and coordination of international oceanographic activities. SCOR science activities focus on promoting international cooperation in planning and conducting oceanographic research, and solving methodological and conceptual problems that hinder research. Scientists from 32 nations have formed national SCOR committees as a foundation for international SCOR. Over 600 scientists from approximately 60 countries participate in SCOR activities every year.
SCOR operates through a number of modalities including Working Groups, Research Projects and Infrastructural Projects, which is where IOCCP provides its contributions. Infrastructural Projects of indefinite term are designed to focus not specifically on development of research, but on activities that support research, observations, modelling, etc. It is often difficult to fund such activities from national funding sources, and SCOR recognizes the critical role that such groups play in facilitating the compatibility and comparability of results from individual efforts and development of the ocean data products that can be integrated with the terrestrial, atmospheric and human dimensions of the globally integrated Earth observing system.
SCOR focal point for IOCCP:
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was established to promote international and intergovernmental coordination of programs in marine research, services, observation systems, hazard mitigation, and capacity development in order to understand and better manage the nature and resources of the ocean and coastal areas. Exchange of data and information, standardization of procedures and intercomparison of methods and equipment remain amongst IOC-UNESCO’s top priorities.
With regards to ocean observations, these IOC-UNESCO’s priorities are fulfilled by the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), which provides countries and end-users with critical information on physical, chemical, and biological essential ocean variables, aimed at delivery for climate, operational services, and ocean health. The GOOS mission is to lead the ocean observing community and create the partnerships to grow an integrated, responsive and sustained observing system. In 2012, the IOCCP has accepted a role of GOOS Expert Panel for Biogeochemistry to provide the GOOS Steering Committee with advise and expertise around identifying and setting requirements for disciplinary essential ocean variables, developing sampling requirements and implementation strategies and guiding evaluations and assessment of the system.
IOC-UNESCO focal point for IOCCP: