8 Nicholas C. Flemming
quite quickly, while research is stiH needed on others. OECD Megascience Forum
concluded that operational satellites are needed for ocean observations, and it was
thus significant that at the User Consultation Meeting on Earth Observing Satellites
convened by ESA in October 1994 the importance of planning ocean observation
and coastal monitoring was given the highest priority for the Earth Watch operational series of missions.
EuroGOOS was formed in December 1994. and MedGOOS held its first formal
meeting in March 1999, although preliminary meetings had been held earlier
(MedGOOS, 1999). These two organisations exemplify the development of interest in regional co-ordination for GOOS. Another successful region of GOOS was
also set up in 1994 North East Asia, and known as NEAR-GOOS (NEAR-GOOS,
1999). GOOS itself is now managed through the GOOS Steering Committee,
which meets annually; the GOOS International Project Oftice based at lOC Paris,
and the GOOS Intergovernmental Committee, which meets periodically, usually in
conjunction with the lOC Assembly.
In the next section I will review the way in which strategic planning has influenced the development ofEuroGOOS, and more recently MedGOOS.
1.4 Regional Operational Ocean Systems
Notwithstanding the consensus on the importance of global ocean measurements
that developed in the early 1990s, and the establishment of GCOS, the actual priorities that would motivate one country or agency to invest in GOOS varied considerably. During the late 1980s and early 1990s different regions, govemments, and
agencies identified different priority objectives or justifications for GOOS within
the general complex of climate forecasting and shorter term economic and social
benefits. In the USA, the benefits of forecasting the 3-7 year ENSO cycle and its
impacts throughout the tropical zone quickly emerged as a priority. India and
China both have interest in improving the forecasting of the monsoon system and
large scale rainfall patterns, linked to the dynamics ofthe Indian Ocean, and possibly the ENSO cycle and the Pacific Decadal OsciHation. The heavy flooding in
China during 1998 illustrates yet again the importance ofthis factor.
Australia, through its Heads of Marine Agencies structure has co-ordinated its
commitments to GCOS and GOOS. Several national studies have shown the overall importance of marine resources and trade to Australia, including a large offshore oiI industry, and so their policy tends to favour a general purpose observing
and information product approach designed to provide a wide range of services.
Netherlands conducted a survey oftheir options for commitment to any or all ofthe
G30Ss, and identified a lead agency for each global system. RIKZ was designated
as the lead agency for GOOS and EuroGOOS. In the UK the Inter Agency Committee for Marine Science and Technology (lACMST) made preliminary assessment as early as 1993 ofthe national value ofparticipation of GOOS, and set up a
sub-committee on GOOS and EuroGOOS which is still active.
quite quickly, while research is stiH needed on others. OECD Megascience Forum
concluded that operational satellites are needed for ocean observations, and it was
thus significant that at the User Consultation Meeting on Earth Observing Satellites
convened by ESA in October 1994 the importance of planning ocean observation
and coastal monitoring was given the highest priority for the Earth Watch operational series of missions.
EuroGOOS was formed in December 1994. and MedGOOS held its first formal
meeting in March 1999, although preliminary meetings had been held earlier
(MedGOOS, 1999). These two organisations exemplify the development of interest in regional co-ordination for GOOS. Another successful region of GOOS was
also set up in 1994 North East Asia, and known as NEAR-GOOS (NEAR-GOOS,
1999). GOOS itself is now managed through the GOOS Steering Committee,
which meets annually; the GOOS International Project Oftice based at lOC Paris,
and the GOOS Intergovernmental Committee, which meets periodically, usually in
conjunction with the lOC Assembly.
In the next section I will review the way in which strategic planning has influenced the development ofEuroGOOS, and more recently MedGOOS.
1.4 Regional Operational Ocean Systems
Notwithstanding the consensus on the importance of global ocean measurements
that developed in the early 1990s, and the establishment of GCOS, the actual priorities that would motivate one country or agency to invest in GOOS varied considerably. During the late 1980s and early 1990s different regions, govemments, and
agencies identified different priority objectives or justifications for GOOS within
the general complex of climate forecasting and shorter term economic and social
benefits. In the USA, the benefits of forecasting the 3-7 year ENSO cycle and its
impacts throughout the tropical zone quickly emerged as a priority. India and
China both have interest in improving the forecasting of the monsoon system and
large scale rainfall patterns, linked to the dynamics ofthe Indian Ocean, and possibly the ENSO cycle and the Pacific Decadal OsciHation. The heavy flooding in
China during 1998 illustrates yet again the importance ofthis factor.
Australia, through its Heads of Marine Agencies structure has co-ordinated its
commitments to GCOS and GOOS. Several national studies have shown the overall importance of marine resources and trade to Australia, including a large offshore oiI industry, and so their policy tends to favour a general purpose observing
and information product approach designed to provide a wide range of services.
Netherlands conducted a survey oftheir options for commitment to any or all ofthe
G30Ss, and identified a lead agency for each global system. RIKZ was designated
as the lead agency for GOOS and EuroGOOS. In the UK the Inter Agency Committee for Marine Science and Technology (lACMST) made preliminary assessment as early as 1993 ofthe national value ofparticipation of GOOS, and set up a
sub-committee on GOOS and EuroGOOS which is still active.