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IMOS issue six August 2009 IMOS News > For more news from all the IMOS Facilities check the IMOS website imos.org.au/news.html IMOS launched by the Hon Duncan Kerr SC MP On June 29th IMOS launched the public access to all of its data-holdings through the IMOS Ocean Portal, an innovative system that provides ocean data freely via the internet. Over 100 guests attended the launch at CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (CMAR) in Hobart. Proceedings were started by the outgoing Director, Gary Meyers, followed by speeches from Dr Steve Rintoul (Acting Chief of CMAR), Dr Trevor Powell (Chair of the IMOS Advisory Board), Professor Jo Laybourn-Parry (Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research), University of Tasmania) and the Hon Duncan Kerr SC MP, who Professor Gary Meyers, the Hon Duncan Kerr SC MP then launched the IMOS Ocean Portal. and Tim Moltmann at the recent IMOS launch. Professor Gary Meyers said, “Researchers, the public and business- marine environment. We know the major sectors will be able to “see” the oceans boundary currents are changing, but around Australia better than ever we don’t know what the impact on living before. It is a basic tenet of IMOS to marine resources will be.” The IMOS provide free, open and timely access records are currently focused on the to all of our data streams. This is a major boundary and ocean currents new way to support research, and it and the offshore environments along is consistent with the Principles of the the 30,000 km Australian coast. Australian Government’s programs to The launch of the IMOS Ocean Portal is develop research infrastructure.” an enormous step forward for researchers “This is a great scientific advance for and policy-makers accessing knowledge Australia,” Professor Meyers said. of the oceans around Australia. IMOS will “We’re beginning to have the long term continue to bring together the Australian time series we need to understand marine research community on a national climate change and its impacts on the scale, to work towards common goals. Guests trying out the IMOS Ocean Portal. Australian Government announces $52 million extension to IMOS in the May Budget The Super Science Marine and $8M (during 2009/10), and to develop invest in the enhancement and extension Climate Initiative was announced in the a final plan covering the full $52M plus of IMOS to further their own interests Federal Budget in May 2009. IMOS co-investment by 28 February 2010. within a national strategic approach, was awarded an additional $52M for and discussions with these partners will The new funding is through the the period July 2009 to June 2013 to be informed by any implications of the Education Investment Fund (EIF), and enhance and extend the observing change of funding source (from NCRIS the University of Tasmania has been system, with an emphasis on the to EIF). The additional funding does contracted to enhance and extend IMOS Southern Ocean and northern Australian not alter the core business of IMOS through the creation and development waters. The funding was provided with which is to create and develop research of additional infrastructure. The new a requirement to develop an interim infrastructure in the form of systematic, EIF funding provides an opportunity for plan by 30 June 2009 to invest the first repeated data collection over many existing and prospective partners to co- marinematters 1 years, delivered openly and in a timely Data User Workshops manner to national and international examples of data discovery posed by eMII. marine research communities. eMII has hosted two data user workshops recently, in Hobart (30 June) and in Both sessions prompted lively discussion, To keep informed of the developments Adelaide (10 July). Participants at the mixed with a bit of fun. Feedback for the IMOS EIF process please workshops included post-graduate indicates that the workshops have visit the following page on the IMOS students, established researchers, been a successful learning experience, website imos.org.au/eif.html data managers and state department for both the group and for eMII! officials. The day was split into two The Draft IMOS Five Year Strategy Many suggestions for additions and parts: a morning session of introductory 2009-13, IMOS EIF Facility Project Plan improvements to the Ocean Portal talks about the science behind IMOS, and Node Science & Implementation capability were made during the hands- the data management approach and a Plan templates for 2010-13 are on sessions, ideas which will be seriously ‘walk-though’ of the IMOS Ocean Portal, available from this webpage now. considered by the portal development exploring all aspects of its ability to group. Feedback from users is seen as an discover, access, download and visualise IMOS presence at the important input to the portal development. data; and an afternoon ‘hands-on’ session recent AMSA conference where the group were taken through a For upcoming workshops please check IMOS held a full day symposium at basic ‘How do I?’ tutorial, followed by some the eMII Facility Feature article on page 5. Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA) Annual Conference at Adelaide in early July. The audience of up to 80 heard talks from the new IMOS Director, Tim Moltmann, all of the five Science Nodes, four of the IMOS Facilities, an international program with links to IMOS – the Sustained Indian Ocean Biogeochemical and Ecosystem Research (SIBER) – and six science talks either using IMOS data or related data. Particular highlights included Roger Proctor’s eMII talk describing the IMOS Ocean Portal, the discussion about the new EIF funding Participants at the Hobart workshop. for IMOS, and the use of IMOS data in student projects (see the student profile The Facility for Automated Intelligent During May the Australian about Julie Wood on page 7, for an Monitoring of Marine Systems has Coastal Ocean Radar Network example). We look forward to many more successfully deployed the world’s installed both types of high science talks at next year’s conference! first large-scale coral reef sensor frequency radars in Western network which has been measuring Australia- the phased array IMOS Factsheets available a range of parameters for beam-forming technology (WERA); on the IMOS website the last eight months. and the direction-finding technology (SeaSonde). These radars should be Our Development Officer, Katy Hill, fully operational by the end of the year. has produced a wonderful set of The National Reference Station IMOS Facility Factsheets. Each Mooring off Maria Island has Factsheet outlines for each facility: been delivering real time data The Australian National Facility for Instrumentation, Data, Applications since April, using a newly Ocean Gliders has successfully of the data, Focus and Priorities. designed and developed completed repeat deployments off New telemetry surface buoy To download the factsheets see South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia deployed within close proximity imos.org.au/factsheets.html and Western Australia. The data to the existing in-situ sensors. obtained from these glider missions are The Australian Continuous Plankton providing a unique view of the oceanic Recorder survey (AusCPR) has The Australian Acoustic Tagging and variability around Australia. successfully deployed a plankton Monitoring System and Fisheries recorder behind the commercial Western Australia recently deployed Argo Australia surpassed its goal of vessel ANL Windarra from Brisbane to the first International Ocean Tracking deploying over 50 floats during the Melbourne 27-29 June, collecting the Network (OTN) array in the world. This year with 69 deployments. There first monthly samples for phytoplankton line runs from Fremantle to Rottnest are now 225 active Australian Argo and zooplankton species identification Island and extends floats exceeding their target of an along the East seaward to 200 ARGO 180 float array by June 2009. Australia Current. metre isobath. 2 marinematters of my career, I found it very exciting (see feature article below). There were to be part of an era in which ocean encouraging signs in some of the observing came back into vogue, driven talks given at the recent AMSA annual largely by technological innovation conference in Adelaide, but much, much and global collaboration. And a bit more will rapidly become possible as the of perspiration... Roll forward to 2009 data flows in. All of us at IMOS/eMII are and Australia now has an Integrated keen to do whatever we can to facilitate Marine Observing System, which is widespread use of IMOS data streams about to get bigger and better! within the Australian marine and climate Tim Moltmann Tim research community. Let us know if you The additional $52M for IMOS are striking any impediments. And don’t announced in the Federal Budget forget to tell us about your successes. on 12th May is wonderful news (see At the outset, I’d like to say how page 1). My top priority in the coming In closing, I would like to publicly delighted I am to be the new IMOS months will be to work with you all to express my gratitude to Gary Meyers Director. I’ve been involved in research ensure that we make the most of this for a fantastic job as the inaugural opportunity. I will be looking to build on IMOS Director. Gary is a founding management in Australia for more the strengths created in getting IMOS father of ocean observing in Australia, than 10 years, and during that time to this point, and to be very targeted and the IMOS role provided a fitting have participated in many debates about enhancing and extending into crescendo to an outstanding career. about the need for observations new areas, to address significant gaps His wisdom, patience and persistence and the value of modelling.