SAVE THE DATE!
Feb. 21, 2026 (Edinburgh, Scotland – hybrid format)
The workshop will feature presentations and discussions spanning observational, modeling, and remote-sensing approaches to better understand the physical, chemical, and biological processes at the air-sea interface. We look forward to connecting the SOLAS, OASIS, and CLIVAR communities to advance this vital global science effort.
https://mailchi.mp/xmu/solas-announcement-solas-oasis-clivar-workshop-5873377
The role of fish and other metazoans in the Biological Carbon Pump has long been overlooked. As part of an effort to identify the processes through which fish, krill, and squid contribute to carbon sequestration — and to evaluate where and how fishing might have the largest impact — we are conducting an IPCC-style confidence assessment of current scientific understanding.
This initiative originated during the ICES Workshop WKFISHCARBON2, held last April in Copenhagen. We invite the community to share insights by completing a short survey (~15 minutes, also accessible on smartphones).
Your contribution will help strengthen our collective understanding of how metazoans support the biological carbon pump, and to identify research priorities.
Take the survey here.
A glossary of the main terms used in the survey is available here.
Please feel free to reach out with any suggestions or comments. We are very grateful for your time and contribution!
Jérôme Pinti, Emma Cavan, and Gaël Mariani
(jpinti@gmri.org, e.cavan@imperial.ac.uk, gm@wmu.se)
OSM2026 Abstract submissions are open until August 20
https://www.agu.org/ocean-sciences-meeting/present#abstract-submission
Share your OCB-relevent special session via this OCB form.
Are you looking to submit an abstract to present? View the session compilation with descriptions, deadlines and more information here: https://tinyurl.com/OCB-related-sessions
April 22-25, 2025 (ASU/BIOS, Bermuda)
Photo credits: O. Arsenault (above) and B. Siddle (ASU/BIOS) (feature photo)
Sustained ocean time series measurements are fundamental to distinguish between natural and human-induced variability in ecosystems and processes required to advance ecological forecasting. Since 2007, OCB has led and contributed to numerous efforts and activities in support of building a global network of ocean time series with the aims of elevating the visibility and utility of these observing assets for understanding climate-ecosystem links and improving coordination, communication, and scientific synthesis products across ocean time series programs1.
A lack of Marine Ecological Time Series (METS) data and metadata reporting standards, combined with numerous disconnected data management efforts, makes it exceedingly difficult for prospective time series data users to find and gain access to these valuable and unique datasets. For many of the biogeochemical and biological parameters that are unique to ship-based METS, there is an urgent need to develop consensus on community-adopted data and metadata reporting standards that will make these data more Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR)2. An NSF EarthCube-funded METS Research Coordination Network was established in 2021, with leadership from OCB, Biological & Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO), and the Hawai’i Ocean Time-series (HOT) program. The goals of this RCN were to: Develop and build consensus around FAIR data solutions for ship-based ocean time series; broaden METS data users and applications; and build capacity for METS data analysis, statistics, and data-model integration. Small group meetings over the past three years, including an in-person meeting in Boston in April 2023 have enabled members of the time series and data science communities to develop initial use cases for biogeochemical and biological variables commonly measured by METS. Parallel to this effort, a METS RCN leadership team member led the development of a pilot biogeochemical ocean time series data product3 with funding from EuroSea. As its final community activity, the METS RCN hosted an invitational FAIR Data Workshop that convened 60 (45 in person, 15 virtual) time series program representatives, informatics and data management experts, and data repository managers. The goals of the workshop were to:
The agenda included a mix of plenary and poster sessions, breakout discussions, and small group activities to share FAIR tools and approaches for METS data sets, including draft metadata reporting templates for commonly measured ecological variables and a FAIR data primer to help METS PIs learn more about their (and their repositories’) roles in implementing FAIR data practices. Ultimately, we want these data sets to be as discoverable as possible to increase and broaden their use (which keeps them supported!).
In addition to documenting the outcomes of the RCN and workshop in a report, we aim to finalize and distribute the draft metadata templates and FAIR data primer. Pending continued community interest and engagement, we aim to involve additional globally distributed METS programs in the implementation of FAIR data protocols, METS data products, and community building activities, including proposing a science session at the upcoming 2026 Ocean Sciences Meeting and increasing time series dataset discoverability via the UN Decade-endorsed Ocean InfoHub. Future products and activities will be shared via OCB communication channels.
Relevant Resources
1. Benway, H. M., L. Lorenzoni, A. E. White, B. Fiedler, N. M. Levine, D. P. Nicholson, M. D. DeGrandpre, H. M. Sosik, M. J. Church, T. D. O’Brien, M. Leinen, R. A. Weller, D. M. Karl, S. A. Henson, R. M. Letelier (2019).Ocean time series observations of changing marine ecosystems: An era of integration, synthesis, and societal applications. Frontiers in Marine Science, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00393.
2. Benway, H., J. Buck, L. Fujieki, D. Kinkade, L. Lorenzoni, M. Schildhauer, A. Shepherd, A. White (2020). NSF EarthCube Workshop for Shipboard Ocean Time Series Data Meeting Report. 59 pp. DOI 10.1575/1912/25480.
3. Lange, N., Fiedler, B., Álvarez, M., Benoit-Cattin, A., Benway, H., Buttigieg, P. L., Coppola, L., Currie, K., Flecha, S., Gerlach, D. S., Honda, M., Huertas, I. E., Lauvset, S. K., Muller-Karger, F., Körtzinger, A., O'Brien, K. M., Ólafsdóttir, S. R., Pacheco, F. C., Rueda-Roa, D., Skjelvan, I., Wakita, M., White, A., and Tanhua, T.: Synthesis Product for Ocean Time Series (SPOTS) – a ship-based biogeochemical pilot, Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 16, 1901–1931, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-1901-2024, 2024.
New webinar series! Find out more 4D-BGC group website: https://4d-bgc.github.io
Past: Webinar #1 on November 26 at 0600 EST/1200 CET
Title: Advancements in Biogeophysical 4D reconstructions: New methods development and exploitation of existing products for scientific investigations
Presenter: Dr. Bruno Buongiorno Nardelli Italian National Research Council
This presentation will address two key topics: the development of physically-informed neural network methods for the joint reconstruction of physical and biological variables in the Mediterranean Sea, and the analysis of existing data-driven 4D reconstructions of POC, combined with advanced dynamical diagnostics, to uncover the interannual variability of organic carbon export in the global ocean. The first part will introduce the approach tested in the European Space Agency’s 4DMED-Sea project, while the second will focus on research conducted within the H2020 AtlantEco project.
Webinar Series Information: The 4D-BGC Working Group seeks to enhance access and utility of Biogeochemical (BGC) Argo observations through four-dimensional (4D) data products. These advanced data products aim to refine our understanding of ocean biogeochemistry, improve biogeochemical models and reanalysis products, and provide valuable insights for policy-making. The goal of this webinar series is to introduce new and in-development BGC data products, review techniques used to develop data products from in situ observations, and to explore ways in which 4D-BGC products are leveraged to answer scientific questions.
This event will highlight, in parallel, the quantitative aspects of Blue Carbon (e.g., their roles in NDCs) as well as the more qualitative aspects of Blue Carbon (e.g., cultural ecosystem services). Specifically, this event will address the ways in which blue carbon has been and can be further included in GG inventories and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), through the 2025 NDC revision cycle. This event will highlight some of the tools the United States Government and Pacific partners have created to track and quantify blue carbon sinks, and to identify effective opportunities for conservation and restoration as well as emphasize the
intrinsic and cultural ecosystem services provided by blue carbon in the Pacific.
26-31 March 2025 · Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
https://www.aslo.org/charlotte-2025/
DEADLINE EXTENDED!! Abstracts due Oct. 28!
Share your OCB-relevent special session via this OCB form.
Are you looking to submit an abstract to present? View the session compilation with descriptions, deadlines and more information here: https://tinyurl.com/OCB-related-sessions
Learn more about GeoXO and the future of hyperspectral ocean color. If you are interested in the use of cutting-edge remote sensing technology to monitor the health of oceans, estuaries, lakes, and rivers, we highly encourage your participation.
July 29, 11-4 EDT
Learn more and register (in person and virtual) HERE
Millette, N. C. et al. (2024). Recommendations for advancing mixoplankton research through empirical-model integration. Front. Mar. Sci., 05 June 2024, Sec. Marine Ecosystem Ecology, Volume 11 - 2024 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2024.1392673.
Learn more about this working group here.
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Funding for the Ocean Carbon & Biogeochemistry Project Office is provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The OCB Project Office is housed at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.