AIM: To discuss the future direction of the Bluewater and Climate Node following the new funding opportunities now available. 

Purpose of Meeting

To assess the Existing observations delivers what Australia requires in a bluewater observing system

Priorities for sustained bluewater observations in the future.

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Who should come

Observational oceanographers, including coastal oceanographers to determine broadscale observational requirements,

modellers - those interested in reducing uncertainty in predictions and improving reanalyses

Physical, chemical, biological specialists

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The science implementation plan for the Bluewater and Climate Node is available at http://imos.org.au/bluewater.html

If you would like to present your ideas at the meeting, please let me know (ken.ridgway@csiro.au) by COB on 7 August 2009 to allow time to incorporate them into the final program. More details on the structure of the meeting will be provided shortly. Video- conferencing facilities will be available.  If required please contact Eric Schulz (E.Schulz@bom.gov.au).

Background:

What is IMOS

The Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) is an NCRIS (National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy) funded programme which is 3 years into a 5 year project. It has put in place extensive national ocean observing infrastructure in Australia. It consists of 11 facilities (gliders, acoustic arrays, moorings, etc) and 5 regional nodes (GBR, SA, WA, NSW and bluewater). Further details are found at  (www.imos.org.au). 

 The IMOS strategic research goal of IMOS is to assemble and provide free, open and timely access to streams of data that support research on:

• The role of the oceans in the climate system, and

• The impact of major boundary currents on continental shelf environments, ecosystems and biodiversity.

New Funding available

Of most immediate interest is that the 2009-10 Federal budget is providing an additional $52M for extending & enhancing IMOS.

       - The new funding increases the investment available within the original IMOS timeframe by $16M (or 32%), and extends IMOS by at least two years at an enhancedlevel of $18M pa or $36M in total

However,
       - The funding is being provided from the Education Investment Fund (EIF), which is governed by the Nation Building Act. 

EIF funding is for the "creation and development of infrastructure", but not for the operation of infrastructure.

The focus will continue to be on the development of a sustained observing system to meet national priorities.

The supporting information for the budget decision also says that IMOS "will be provided with enhanced Southern Ocean monitoring capability and extended coverage of northern Australian waters". 

Bluewater and Climate Node

This node has the role of providing science direction in the planning and choice of the observations collected in the ocean waters around Australia.  At present the main facilities included within the node are

the Argo array,

a Ship of Opportunity (SOOP) Network

and a Southern Ocean Time Series (SOTS) mooring (@ 45S , SW of Tasmania).