Formation of the IOCCG: Advancing Satellite Ocean Color Radiometry

1. IOCCG 1- Toulouse, France, 22-23 March, 1996 Trevor Platt Robert Frouin

2. Formation of the IOCCG With the help of Lisa Shaffer, NASA’s Director of International Affairs, Rober Frouin defined the initial structure and organization of the group and identified potential connections to several international organizations. He also drafted initial Terms of References which recognized that: IOCCG success required agency members that would contribute financially and be able to carry out the decisions endorsed by the group, and importance of having scientific members that rotate on a regular basis.

3. Formation of the IOCCG, cont. Dr. Trevor Platt, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Canada, was selected as Interim Chair for the first IOCCG meeting. In 1996, after a preliminary meeting in Sidney, Canada, the first official IOCCG meeting was convened in Toulouse, France. The draft terms of reference were endorsed (they were refined and finally adopted during the second IOCCG meeting in Tokyo the next year), and Dr. Platt formally accepted as the first Chair.

4. Early IOCCG History • Initially sponsored by the International Oceanographic Commission (IOC); then by the Scientific Committee for Oceanographic Research (SCOR). • One goal was to facilitate communication between the international space agencies and scientific experts on satellite ocean color radiometry – annual meeting. • As Chair, Trevor pushed the concept of working groups leading to monographs on important topics, hence the report series. • Trevor was also a strong proponent of training courses, particularly for capacity building, hence the training programs.

5. 17 Years of IOCCG Annual Meetings IOCCG-16 Devon, UK IOCCG-13 Paris IOCCG-1 IOCCG-8 IOCCG-2 IOCCG-11 Busan, ROK IOCCG-6 IOCCG-7 IOCCG-9 IOCCG-14 Hangzhou IOCCG-10 IOCCG-12 Namibia IOCCG-4 IOCCG-17 Bali IOCCG-15 RIO IOCCG-3 IOCCG-5

7. Visit to the Remote Sensing Lab of the Second Institute of Oceanography (SIO), State Oceanic Administration (SOA), China

9. Always Need People to Help Push the Organization Along… IOCCG Activities

10. Some of the Big Pushers

11. IOCCG forms specialized scientific working groups to investigate various aspects of ocean-color technology and its applications, usually leading to a publication in the IOCCG report series.

12. Workshops and Training Courses (1996-2006)

13. IOCCG Training Courses: Most Are for Capacity Building

14. Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) Strategic Implementation Team (SIT) WHOI 2008

15. The Ocean Color Radiometry Virtual Constellation (OCR-VC) GOAL: Provide long time series of calibrated ocean color radiance (OCR) at key wavelength bands from measurements obtained from multiple satellites. Activities will include calibration, validation, merging of satellite and in situ data, product generation, as well as development and demonstrations of new and improved applications. Examples and prototypes of programs the OCR-VC will require to meet its objectives include the SIMBIOS (NASA), GlobColour (ESA), ChloroGIN (POGO-GEO-GOOS) and SAFARI (CSA/GEO) projects.

16. Past Successes and Current Activities • Participation in IOCCG by all of the international satellite agencies, including attending annual meeting, • Engagement of international ocean color experts, • Influential monographs on many important topics, • Capacity building training sessions around the world, and • Recognition by CEOS and incl. formation of the OCR-VC. • Going Forward • Continue current activities, • Summer schools for advanced students (e.g. Villefranche, 2012), • More emphasis on OCR-VC activities, including ECV WG, • Generation of merged products by an international group (Group for High-Resolution Sea Surface Temperature as a model) ?