JCOMM in situ Observations Programme Support Centre
Original (non-English) name
Acronym
JCOMMOPS
Citation
Abstract
The global ocean observing system delivers more than 1 million daily observations to a rapidly growing number of users and stakeholders, including most major ocean, weather, and climate prediction centers around the world. The analyses, forecasts, and products based on these ocean observations are the bedrock of decisions across an increasing swath of socio-economic sectors, especially in marine transportation, coastal communities, climate, agriculture, and healthy oceans.
The global ocean observation system has significant complexity, including full depth oceanic and atmospheric observations, requiring tools and resources to coordinate within and amongst communities of observers from over 100 countries around the world. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)-Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Joint Centre for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology in situ Observations Programmes Support (OceanOPS, formerly named JCOMMOPS), grew out of the need for improved technical coordination across a number of such communities, e.g. to assist in deploying observing programs (such as Argo floats and drifters); assist in developing and tracking timely exchange of data and metadata; and to monitor the status and growth of the system. OceanOPS has grown in prominence and visibility over the past 10 years. It has become increasingly central to the coordination of the global ocean observing enterprise, leading to ever-increasing interests and expectations amongst current and potential stakeholders.
OceanOPS acts as a focal point for implementation and operation of relevant observing platforms. The Centre which is located in Brest (France) is funded thanks to voluntary contributions from IOC/UNESCO and WMO Member States, through the marine observing programmes and panels such as Argo, DBCP, OceanSITES, GO-SHIP, SOT, GLOSS, OceanGliders.