A global team of researchers, including Dr. Brad deYoung from Memorial University, is hoping to bring the world together in a co-ordinated effort to observe the Atlantic Ocean.
Dr. de Young is a professor with the Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography, Faculty of Science. He’s helped develop the vision for AtlantOS, the All-Atlantic Ocean Observing System, which aims to establish a sustainable, multidisciplinary, multi-thematic system supported by countries around the Atlantic, building on the observing platforms, networks and systems already in place.
“AtlantOS is meant to fill a clear gap in ocean observing, and that is around co-ordination and integration,” he said. “We spend a lot of money and time observing the Atlantic, but we don’t work well together to ensure that we get the greatest value from those observations.
“Much of what we presently do is through scientific programs that are funded for a short period of time and typically in a specific area, and the data is primarily meant to serve scientists,” Dr. deYoung continued.
“AtlantOS wants to ensure that data is collected and prepared in a way that is useful to society, and scientists too, and make it available as widely as possible.”
Dr. deYoung has been part of a similar initiative in Canada, which led to the Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System (CIOOS) led by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
