Challenges for global ocean observation: the need for increased human capacity

TLDR

Sustained global ocean observations are essential to understand and manage marine biodiversity, resources, and habitats, and the Global Ocean Observing System proposes Essential Ocean Variables to guide this effort, but building a truly global network requires expanding participation beyond well‑resourced countries to a broader global community. The study calls for new approaches that provide appropriate training, resources, and technology to enable broader participation in global observing networks and data use, and for new funding models and initiatives that support sustained research capacity and marine technology transfer. Investments in technical capacity, along with training, resources, technology, and new funding models, are needed to fulfill UN Sustainable Development Goal 14A obligations and support the application of training in global observing networks.

Abstract

Sustained global ocean observations are needed to recognise, understand, and manage changes in marine biodiversity, resources and habitats, and to implement wise conservation and sustainable development strategies. To meet this need, the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), a network of observing systems distributed around the world and coordinated by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) has proposed Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) that are relevant to both the scientific and the broader community, including resource managers. Building a network that is truly global requires expanding participation beyond scientists from well-resourced countries to a far broader representation of the global community. New approaches are required to provide appropriate training, and resources and technology should follow to enable the application of this training to engage meaningfully in global observing networks and in the use of the data. Investments in technical capacity fulfil international reporting obligations under the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14A. Important opportunities are emerging now for countries to develop research partnerships with the IOC and GOOS to address these obligations. Implementing these partnerships requires new funding models and initiatives that support a sustained research capacity and marine technology transfer.