OCEAN OBSERVING IN CALIFORNIA:
Celebrate the Past, Showcase the Present, Envision the Future

May 14-16, 2024 at the Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa

A Joint Meeting Hosted by SCCOOS, CeNCOOS, and CalCOFI

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: 

1. Celebrate, honor, and commemorate sustained ocean observing in California - CalCOFI's 75th anniversary and SCCOOS and CeNCOOS's 20th anniversary.
2. Share ideas on the state and dynamics of the California Current.  
3. Showcase success stories between scientists and data users. 
4. Build and maintain relationships across the ocean community. 
5. Stimulate meaningful coordination that fosters future ocean observing, sustainable blue economy initiatives, and cultivates an equitable ocean community.

MEETING OVERVIEW

As the impacts of climate change are experienced across California, ocean observations remain a critical mechanism to strengthen community resilience: providing near real-time and forecast information on changing ocean conditions. Sustained observing systems deliver information that helps build an understanding of our changing coasts and oceans to enable informed and responsible decision-making and collaborative climate solutions. 

The goal of the 2024 joint meeting, Ocean Observing in California: Celebrate the Past, Showcase the Present, and Envision the Future, is to draw on experiences and expertise from partners and end-users across all sectors to explore, honor, and commemorate the ocean observing community and the evolving role of ocean observations in support of sustainable resource and place-based management and the development of a sustainable Blue Economy in California.

We invite speakers to showcase success stories that highlight effective collaborations between scientists and information users; share the latest findings and insights on the California Current; present opportunities for collaboration across sectors and disciplines; explore innovative solutions, technologies, and approaches in areas such as ocean solutions, the Blue Economy, and equitable service delivery through observing systems; and discuss efforts to increase diversity within the ocean community and around the co-design and co-production of knowledge for sustainability. 

The evolution of California’s observing systems encompasses a wide spectrum of technology and information delivery advancements– from sampling platforms (including uncrewed systems, aerosol sampling, and participatory monitoring) to novel forms of data collection and analysis (such as environmental DNA, pollutant tracking, and biogeochemical tracers); biodiversity sensor technologies (e.g., Imaging FlowCytobot, CytoBuoy, Video Plankton Recorder, and passive/active acoustic sensors); and data management, visualization, utilization and serving of observing data. Submissions that explore the continual diversification and co-design of ocean observing systems (e.g., with local community members, Tribes, and industry partners) are encouraged. 

We seek presenters to provide a deeper understanding of the structure, functioning, and dynamics of the California Current Ecosystem or provide contrasts to other Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems, encompassing both biophysical and human dimensions and explore how to diversify the ocean observing community, and co-design solutions to deliver the information and knowledge to address climate challenges and equip the science and climate adaptation workforce of the future. 

We welcome oral, poster, and interactive exhibit abstract submissions to participate in our six science sessions (see agenda at a glance). The meeting will consist of keynotes, contributed talks, panels, posters, exhibit booths, and discussions to celebrate achievements, share knowledge, and envision the future of ocean observing. The meeting and commemoration is co-hosted by the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System (SCCOOS), Central and Northern California Ocean Observing System (CeNCOOS), and the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) with help from our sponsors below.