Announcement


We are pleased to inform you that the first International Ocean Colour Science meeting will be held in the Frankfurt area, Germany from 6 to 8 May 2013. The symposium is organized by the International Ocean Colour Coordinating Group (IOCCG) and is co-sponsored by EUMETSAT and NASA. The International Ocean Colour Science (IOCS) meeting will provide a forum for discussion of various topics related to ocean colour radiometry including algorithms, calibration/validation, ocean colour applications, and generation of ocean colour products for climate research, amongst others. Members of the IOCCG Executive Committee (i.e. representatives from each of the space agencies with an interest in ocean colour) will also be present to discuss issues related to ocean colour data from their respective agencies, as well as long-term agency plans and areas of cooperation. The meeting is expected to attract ocean colour scientists from around the world thus helping to bring together the users and providers of ocean colour data for in depth discussions of detailed requirements for ocean colour products and services.

The IOCS meeting will incorporate specific sessions dedicated to NASA's Ocean Colour Research Team (OCRT), ESA's MERIS Validation Team (MVT), sessions on Essential Climate Variables, including those related to ESA's Climate Change Initiative (CCI), and a session on the transition into routine and sustained ocean colour operations by NOAA and Eumetsat. The primary objectives of the IOCS Meeting are to:

  • provide updates on the status of current ocean colour missions and discuss the science requirements for future missions;
  • review the progress of ocean colour science research;
  • conduct splinter sessions on issues related to the establishment of ocean colour Climate Data Records;
  • conduct special sessions on satellite data access (SeaDAS, BEAM etc.); and
  • discuss operational ocean colour data in support of research & applications and associated services.

The Symposium will highlight each of these components through invited keynote speakers, splinter sessions, poster sessions and open floor discussions. Although the overall goal is to provide a forum to develop a strong voice for the ocean colour user community, the meeting will also offer an opportunity to interact and collaborate with other ocean colour scientists. The full program will be finalized in the next few months.

All international space agencies, institutions, and PIs or interested parties involved in ocean colour missions, research or applications are invited to attend.

Please direct any inquiries to iocs@ioccg.org.