Strategic Planning for Operational Oceanography
9
EuroGOOS was established in 1994 and for the first two years devoted its activities to strategic analysis of the needs of Europe for operational ocean services, and
defining objectives. This period culminated in the publication of the Strategy for
EuroGOOS (Woods et al., 1996) and the First EuroGOOS Conference held at the
Hague in 1996, with a Conference Proceedings volume published in 1997 (Stei et
al., 1997).
Two key e1ements were created during that phase, which have stood the test of
time. These were the sub-regional sea Task Teams, each responsible for identifying needs and developing strategies for implementation in the sea areas ofthe Baltic, North West Shelf Seas, Arctic, Atlantic, and Mediterranean. These areas are so
radically different in terms of oceanographic conditions and economic exploitation
of the sea and coastal zone that they have to be treated as separate and distinct
units. The scale of such subdivisions would naturally vary in different regions of
the globe, but it is equally elear that the Mediterranean itself would benefit from
detailed analysis at the sub-regionallevel, and then implementation of observations
at an integrated level.
The second key principle established early on was the so-called Virtuous Cirele,
whereby sectors of activity are continuously reviewed and progressed through a
changing suite ofprojects. The sectors of activity are Customer and User analysis;
Economic assessment; Scientific research to remove obstacles; Technology development; Trials and case studies; Operational Observing Systems; Numerical assimilation of data, models and forecasting; Product design and services; and thence
back to the Customers and Users.
From 1997 to 1999 EuroGOOS developed a range ofprojects on different scales
related to various problems, technological requirements, regional studies, designed
to test pre-operational systems. At the same time, existing operational services
provided by national agencies were analysed to see how they could fit together or
reinforce each other on a European scale. In March 1999 EuroGOOS he1d its Second Conference in Rome, and the development of operational and pre-operational
observing systems and products was manifest. The speed of development has been
greatly assisted by the increased speed and range of services on the Internet. At the
end of 1999 EuroGOOS published a short document entitled "The EuroGOOS Forward Look" (EuroGOOS, 1999). This sets out in a brief way the targets which
EuroGOOS hopes to achieve by the year 2008. The next few years will be dedicated to implementing operational and pre-operational systems to achieve those
targets.
Analysis of the reasons for investing in EuroGOOS, and justifying the expenditure has proceeded continuously but in a somewhat erratic fashion. Very broad
brush figures were set out in the Strategy for EuroGOOS (Woods et al., 1996), but
far more detailed work is needed, and the EuroGOOS Economics Working Group
has held two meetings in order to develop further methodoIogy (EuroGOOS,
1998). This is a subject which requires more work.
EuroGOOS now ineludes 28 Government Agencies from 15 European countries.
Between 3% and 5% of input to the European GNP (EU) is generated directly by
9
EuroGOOS was established in 1994 and for the first two years devoted its activities to strategic analysis of the needs of Europe for operational ocean services, and
defining objectives. This period culminated in the publication of the Strategy for
EuroGOOS (Woods et al., 1996) and the First EuroGOOS Conference held at the
Hague in 1996, with a Conference Proceedings volume published in 1997 (Stei et
al., 1997).
Two key e1ements were created during that phase, which have stood the test of
time. These were the sub-regional sea Task Teams, each responsible for identifying needs and developing strategies for implementation in the sea areas ofthe Baltic, North West Shelf Seas, Arctic, Atlantic, and Mediterranean. These areas are so
radically different in terms of oceanographic conditions and economic exploitation
of the sea and coastal zone that they have to be treated as separate and distinct
units. The scale of such subdivisions would naturally vary in different regions of
the globe, but it is equally elear that the Mediterranean itself would benefit from
detailed analysis at the sub-regionallevel, and then implementation of observations
at an integrated level.
The second key principle established early on was the so-called Virtuous Cirele,
whereby sectors of activity are continuously reviewed and progressed through a
changing suite ofprojects. The sectors of activity are Customer and User analysis;
Economic assessment; Scientific research to remove obstacles; Technology development; Trials and case studies; Operational Observing Systems; Numerical assimilation of data, models and forecasting; Product design and services; and thence
back to the Customers and Users.
From 1997 to 1999 EuroGOOS developed a range ofprojects on different scales
related to various problems, technological requirements, regional studies, designed
to test pre-operational systems. At the same time, existing operational services
provided by national agencies were analysed to see how they could fit together or
reinforce each other on a European scale. In March 1999 EuroGOOS he1d its Second Conference in Rome, and the development of operational and pre-operational
observing systems and products was manifest. The speed of development has been
greatly assisted by the increased speed and range of services on the Internet. At the
end of 1999 EuroGOOS published a short document entitled "The EuroGOOS Forward Look" (EuroGOOS, 1999). This sets out in a brief way the targets which
EuroGOOS hopes to achieve by the year 2008. The next few years will be dedicated to implementing operational and pre-operational systems to achieve those
targets.
Analysis of the reasons for investing in EuroGOOS, and justifying the expenditure has proceeded continuously but in a somewhat erratic fashion. Very broad
brush figures were set out in the Strategy for EuroGOOS (Woods et al., 1996), but
far more detailed work is needed, and the EuroGOOS Economics Working Group
has held two meetings in order to develop further methodoIogy (EuroGOOS,
1998). This is a subject which requires more work.
EuroGOOS now ineludes 28 Government Agencies from 15 European countries.
Between 3% and 5% of input to the European GNP (EU) is generated directly by