The aim of the WIGOS Pilot Project is to promote and develop integration of marine and other appropriate observations into the global observing system through three core deliverables (i) integration of instrument best practices, (ii) development of interoperable arrangements between the ocean data systems and the WMO Information System (WIS), and (iii) the integration of quality management systems.

The cooperation between WMO and IODE on WIGOS frames within the JCOMM data management programme area (DMPA) and Joint JCOMM/IODE ETDMP .

Relevant Events and Documents:

IODE OceanDataPortal and WIS Technology Workshop

The IODE Ocean Data Portal and WIS Technology Workshop was held in Obninsk, Russian
Federation, from 18 to 19 March 2009. The aim of the meeting was to address Ocean Data Portal
(ODP) and the WMO Information System (WIS) technologies and interoperability issues in order to
refine ODP version 1 and produce plans for ODP version 2.

The workshop reviewed the progress of the ODP version 1 development, discussed ODP and WIS
interoperability issues to support the WIGOS Pilot Project fro JCOMM, and considered the
reference model and development plan for ODP version 2.

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This event is also relevant to the IODE OceanDataPortal project

Meeting of the joint Steering Group for the IODE Ocean Data Portal (ODP) and the WIGOS Pilot Project for JCOMM

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The meeting of the Joint Steering Group for the IODE Ocean Data Portal and the WIGOS Pilot Project for JCOMM was held at the WMO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, from 18 to 19 September 2008. The goal of the meeting was to review the project plan, the draft implementation plan, discuss the business plan, capacity-building issues, and address the core deliverables of the WIGOS Pilot Project for JCOMM and the IODE Ocean Data Portal.

In particular, the Meeting addressed interoperability issues between the ODP and the WIS, and between other ocean data systems and the WIS. The Meeting agreed that interoperability with the WIS would be mainly achieved through: (i) ocean data centres contributing to the ODP and (ii) ODP becoming fully interoperable with the WIS. While recognizing that it was difficult at this point to make precise recommendation regarding the convergence of the WMO Core Metadata Profile, and other metadata profiles used in the marine community (e.g., MCP, CDI). The meeting recommended submitting MCP and / or any other relevant metadata profile through the JCOMM / IODE standards process for review by a wider community. This would also help MCP to build on WIS specifications, and permit to identify specific recommendations that will permit achieving interoperability with the WIS.

The Meeting addressed instrument best practices and the development of better cooperation between JCOMM and CIMO and with HMEI. The Meeting recommended that the JCOMM Observing Panels and associated programmes address the issue of documenting their best practices in light of the WIGOS developments. A strategy was proposed for the updating of the WMO guide to meteorological instruments and methods of observation (WMO No. 8 – CIMO Guide) to better integrate oceanographic issues. Future updates concerning the Guide should be submitted to the JCOMM Focal Point on CIMO matters and the CIMO Focal Point for WMO No. 8. The Meeting proposed that instrument best practices related to surface meteorological and marine observations be included in the relevant chapter of the CIMO Guide while inviting JCOMM to consider developing similar best practices for the sub-surface observations as part of a separate document. All relevant documentation would avoid duplication, provide for appropriate links, and be referenced in the JCOMM Catalogue of Best Practices and Standards. This work will have to be coordinated between WMO and IOC accordingly. The EC WG WIGOS-WIS was invited to address this issue again - taking IOC’s ownership into account - and provide further guidance to the Pilot Project.

The meeting discussed establishment of marine instrument centres using CIMO as a model. The NOAA National Data Buoy Centre (NDBC) offered to investigate feasibility and agreed starting acting as such on a trial basis. The JCOMM Focal Point on CIMO matters was invited to review and draft the Terms of Reference (ToR) for marine instrument centres and develop a proposal to be circulated to the joint Steering Group.

Quality management aspects agreed upon at the ad hoc planning meeting (Ostend, Belgium, 29 March 2008) have been included in the Project and Implementation Plans.

The Meeting noted the excellent progress made with regard to the development of Version 1 of the IODE Ocean Data Portal (ODP). While a Version 2 of the ODP is also being developed for the next two years, the Meeting agreed that the Pilot Project should - as part of the Pilot Project deliverables - target Version 1 for connecting specific data sets to the ODP and the WIS. This strategy will also permit to refine the requirements for Version 2.

The Meeting reviewed potential partners and data contributions. It noted that discussions had taken place since the March 2008 meeting to address some of them, namely the SeaDataNET, the GHRSST-PP, and the Global Collecting Centres (GCCS). The Meeting noted with appreciation the development of a virtual constellation for the measurement of Ocean Surface Vector Wind. Thirteen potential partners were identified for providing key data sets to the Pilot Projects as key deliverables. The Secretariat was asked to write to the relevant organizations in order to seek their participation in the Pilot Project.

The Meeting updated its Project Plan, reviewed the draft Implementation Plan, adopted them, and proposed a strategy for reviewing progress considering risks, and trade-offs between time to deliver the project, costs and available resource, and quality of the deliverables. The Implementation Plan was rationalized to avoid overlap, include specific tasks with identified deadlines, and groups or individuals responsible for carrying out those tasks and / or following up their implementation.

The Meeting discuss issues and progress to report to the Sub-group of the WMO Executive Council Working Group on WIGOS-WIS as well as to the twentieth Session of the IODE.

The Meeting addressed capacity-building issues, and focused on the cooperation of developing countries in the Ocean Data Portal Project. These issues included the need for collaboration in the development of training materials between WMO and IOC on topics related to JCOMM, the promotion of WIGOS at the national level, and the organization of training courses in topics relevant to the WIGOS Pilot Project for JCOMM.

Ad hoc planning meeting for the JCOMM Pilot Project for the WMO Integrated Global Observing Systems (WIGOS)

The ad hoc planning meeting for the JCOMM Pilot Project for the WMO Integrated Global Observing Systems (WIGOS) was held in Ostend, Belgium on 29 March 2008 at the kind invitation of the IOC Project Office for the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE).

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The meeting agreed that the cooperation with the ocean community was essential to the success of the Pilot Project, especially regarding interoperability issues and the cooperation required with the IODE Ocean Data Portal (ODP) being developed by the ocean community. The synergies between the ODP and WIS are potentially important regarding historical and recent data. In the process, the ownership of IOC for some of the components of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), and the WMO and IOC respective data policies will be respected, as well as specific data policies for specific data sets.

Development of standards and their wide acceptance within the meteorological and oceanographic communities is also an important activity that will addressed by the Pilot Project. It will link naturally with the development of a Standards process engaged recently by JCOMM and IODE. (see http://www.oceandatastandards.org).

The meeting addressed instrument best practices issues and recommended to establish a cooperation with the WMO Commission on Instruments and Methods of Observation (CIMO) and to build on its experience with regard to instrument intercomparisons, instrument centres, etc. The various related publications available via WMO and IOC will be reviewed and updated as required. JCOMM has also recently proposed to compile a catalogue of instrument best practices to be eventually published as a JCOMM Technical Document. Related activity will be included in the Pilot Project plan. The meeting proposed to explore establishment of one or more marine and oceanographic instrument centre(s) and proposed a methodology for conducting instrument intercomparisons to ensure homogeneity, and compatibility of the observations.

The meeting reviewed its project plan and proposed some changes. It particularly identified partners willing to investigate the level of their participation in the Pilot Project by providing data sets to the ODP and WIS (e.g. World Ocean Atlas, world Ocean Database, Surface currents from HF radars, sea level data, marine climatology summaries). Other potential partners to provide additional data-sets (e.g. Argo, GHRSST, ocean model fields, SeaDataNET), metadata (e.g. META-T), technology (e.g. End To End), or training facilities or materials for Capacity Building purposes (e.g. ODINs network) were listed and the Pilot Project will approach them to seek their participation.

Because of the strong potential synergies between the ODP and the JCOMM Pilot Project for WIGOS, the meeting proposed to establish a joint Steering Group with balanced representation from the IOC and WMO communities. Terms of Reference and Membership for the Steering Group will be finalized soon. The first meeting of the Steering Group is planned to be held in September 2008. The meeting will work at defining a more detailed implementation plan based on the project plan.