As part of the 2011 U.S. Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) Summit and Ocean Carbon & Biogeochemistry (OCB) summer workshop, a joint science session was convened between the two communities. Its goal was to explore overlapping scientific interests and to identify initial high-priority research topics that may lead to joint activities between U.S. CLIVAR and OCB researchers over the next decade. The joint session, organized by members of the U.S. CLIVAR and OCB Scientific Steering Committees (SSCs), centered around the following motivating science questions:

• How do changes in ocean circulation and heat content affect the magnitude and distribution of ocean carbon sources and sinks on seasonal to centennial time scales?
• What are the coupled physical-biogeochemical processes and feedbacks that contribute to determining the future state of ocean circulation and carbon sources and sinks and ecosystem structure?
• What will be the future atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and other carbon-containing greenhouse gases, and how will marine carbon sources and sinks change in response to anthropogenic forcing in the future?

To foster research areas of mutual interest, the U.S. CLIVAR and OCB Programs seek to establish limited-lifetime (2 years) joint Working Groups (WGs) to implement focused crosscutting activities for the benefit of the U.S. CLIVAR and OCB communities, such as:

• assessing existing and developing new data and modeling products and capabilities
• leading community-wide analyses or syntheses
• providing scientific guidance and recommendations on specific subjects for further consideration by supporting agencies
• convening members of the U.S. CLIVAR and OCB communities at small focused meetings or workshops to address specific scientific questions
• organizing special journal volumes (or other peer-reviewed publications)

Guidelines for a joint Working Group prospectus

To establish a joint WG, interested scientists should prepare a prospectus that describes the goals, approach, and expected outcomes of the joint WG. The prospectus is limited to 5 pages and should address the following:

• Scientific justification and relevance: How is this WG relevant to the respective missions and scientific objectives of the U.S. CLIVAR (http://www.usclivar.org) and OCB (http://www.us-ocb.org) programs? Why is this WG needed right now?
• Objectives, products, and time line: What are the specific activities, outcomes, and products (these must be measurable and attainable) of this WG, and how will they benefit the U.S. CLIVAR and OCB communities? Please include an approximate time line with milestones for WG activities.

• Publications and outreach: A final write-up on the WG activities and products, as well as updates throughout the duration of the project as appropriate, should be provided for the U.S. CLIVAR and OCB newsletters and websites. Please describe any peer-reviewed publications, communication and outreach materials that will emerge from WG activities.  

• Leadership and suggested membership: WGs typically have ~8-12 members. WG leadership (two co-chairs) and membership should include representation from both the U.S. CLIVAR and OCB communities, as well as the appropriate breadth of expertise to carry out the proposed WG tasks. International members, if well justified, are permitted, as contributing members only.  WGs are great opportunities for junior scientists. Diversity of membership should also be considered.
• Budget: What are the activities for which resources are sought (e.g., travel for WG meetings and workshops, communications (i.e. monthly teleconferences), reporting through published manuscripts, etc.)? Please provide a budget breakdown (maximum of $25K/year for two years = $50K total) for proposed activities.

WGs should focus on utilizing and maximizing efficient use of existing or expected resources (at this time most agencies are not seeking recommendations for activities requiring new agency resources). WGs will not be formed to explicitly develop proposals for consideration by research agencies. WGs are also not intended to be a mechanism to seek support for routine scientific workshops that provide little or no linkage to U.S. CLIVAR and OCB planning or implementation.

The SSCs will jointly review WG Prospectuses submitted and make recommendations to the funding agencies regarding support.  For selected WGs, the SSCs will approve the final WG membership. They will consider the suggested membership described in the prospectus, but reserve the option of soliciting and appointing WG members from the broader community.  It is recommended that organizers of a proposed WG not contact potential members until after the members are determined through this process.

Previously funded WG Prospectuses are available at http://www.usclivar.org/Organization.php. Unless otherwise justified, the start date for new Working Group activities will be January 1, 2012. Working Groups should plan to complete their tasks by December 31, 2013.

Electronic copies of prospectuses (in Word, PDF, or plain text form) for joint U.S. CLIVAR/OCB Working Groups should be submitted to the U.S. CLIVAR Office (usco@usclivar.org) no later than October 1, 2011. The U.S. CLIVAR and OCB SSCs will then consider the requests, and in consultation with the U.S. CLIVAR and OCB Offices, respond as rapidly as possible to facilitate the initiation of the approved WG(s). Each approved WG will report annually to the U.S. CLIVAR and OCB SSCs.