Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Research Articles

Science about the Оcean in the next Decade

The article presents a digest of the "Revised roadmap for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development" prepared by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO. The history of the issue is described. There are presented: mechanism of the contribution of the Decade to societal outcomes, Decade overarching goals and Decade strategic objectives as well as priority research anddevelopment areas.Some organizational aspects of the Decade preparatory stage are considered. It is given a commentary on the necessity to form a long-term strategy for ocean science development in Ukraine.

PRACTICAL GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING CORAL CALCIFICATION VIA COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

Coral calcification as the product of extension rate and skeletal density, is projected to change under marine environmental changes of local (e.g., sedimentation, eutrophication) and global (e.g., warming, ocean acidification) scales. For the regional effort to monitor the ecological impacts of ocean acidification on coral reef ecosystems, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (IOC-WESTPAC) has incorporated an interdisciplinary approach that includes monitoring of seawater carbonate parameters, coral calcification, net calcification minus bioerosion, and reef community structure. Currently, there is a need to formulate a standard operating procedure (SOP) for assessing coral calcification over the recent years via coral cores. The SOP needs to yield accurate data in a cost-effective way that can be applied by researchers in the region. High variation of coral calcification parameters between coral colonies warrants a sufficiently large number of samples thus a rapid method for analyzing coral extension rate, skeletal density, and calcification. This paper outlines practical guidelines for assessing coral calcification from the field to laboratory using the three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) method.

Prospects of exchange of marine technology in the field of ecological and oceanological research

“Global Ocean Science Report: The Current Status of Ocean Science around the World” published in 2017 by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO was a first consolidated assessment of the ocean science and was intended to show the current status of the science in question. One of the important points of the report was a statement that sharing infrastructure and development of new technologies will reduce the cost of field expeditions and stimulate the scientific potential of the countries participating in international cooperation.
 The article studies the possibility of sharing marine technologies associated with marine research activities. It considers the possibility of application of some of the Criteria and Guidelines of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO) when sharing the marine technology in the field of ecological and oceanographic research based on the provisions of international conventions, resolutions, documents of the United Nations General Assembly and IOC-UNESCO. Special attention is drawn to UN General Assembly Resolution “Oceans and the law of the sea" which mentions the issue of marine technology transfer.
 The article studies the definition of the term “marine technology” in the context of the IOC's Criteria and Guidelines on the transfer of marine technology. It determines that the term “marine technology” covers a wide range of subjects including information and data, manuals, guidelines, criteria, standards, reference materials, observation facilities and equipment, computers and computer software, expertise, know-how and analytical methods related to marine scientific research and observation.
 The article also presents the results of the scientific and practical seminar "International Cooperation in the Field of Marine Scientific Research – an Important Factor in the Development of Black Sea Regional Projects of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and European Union" which took place in Kyiv on October 19, 2017.

Challenges for global ocean observation: the need for increased human capacity

ABSTRACTSustained global ocean observations are needed to recognise, understand, and manage changes in marine biodiversity, resources and habitats, and to implement wise conservation and sustainable development strategies. To meet this need, the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), a network of observing systems distributed around the world and coordinated by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) has proposed Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) that are relevant to both the scientific and the broader community, including resource managers. Building a network that is truly global requires expanding participation beyond scientists from well-resourced countries to a far broader representation of the global community. New approaches are required to provide appropriate training, and resources and technology should follow to enable the application of this training to engage meaningfully in global observing networks and in the use of the data. Investments in technical capacity fulfil international reporting obligations under the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14A. Important opportunities are emerging now for countries to develop research partnerships with the IOC and GOOS to address these obligations. Implementing these partnerships requires new funding models and initiatives that support a sustained research capacity and marine technology transfer.

Outcomes of the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange Ocean Biogeographic Information System OBIS-Event-Data Workshop on Animal Tagging and Tracking

The Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) began in 2000 as the repository for data from the Census of Marine Life. Since that time, OBIS has expanded its goals beyond simply hosting data to supporting more aspects of marine conservation (Pooter et al. 2017). In order to accomplish those goals, the OBIS secretariat in partnership with its European node (EurOBIS) hosted at the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ, Belgium), and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Committee on International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE, 23rd session, March 2015, Brugge) established a 2-year pilot project to address a particularly problematic issue that environmental data collected as part of marine biological research were being disassociated from the biological data. OBIS-Event-Data is the solution that was developed from that pilot project, which devised a method for keeping environmental data together with the biological data (Pooter et al. 2017). OBIS is seeking early adopters of the new data standard OBIS-Event-Data from among the marine biodiversity monitoring communities, to further validate the data standard, and develop data products and scientific applications to support the enhancement of Biological and Ecosystem Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) in the framework of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO BON MBON). After the successful 2-year IODE pilot project OBIS-ENV-DATA, the IOC established a new 2-year IODE pilot project OBIS-Event-Data for Scientific Applications (2017-2019). The OBIS-Event-Data data standard, building on Darwin Core, provides a technical solution for combined biological and environmental data, and incorporates details about sampling methods and effort, including event hierarchy. It also implements standardization of parameters involved in biological, environmental, and sampling details using an international standard controlled vocabulary (British Oceanographic Data Centre Natural Environment Research Council). A workshop organized by IODE/OBIS in April brought together major animal tagging and tracking networks such as the Ocean Tracking Network (OTN), the Animal Telemetry Network (ATN), the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS), the European Tracking Network (ETN) and the Acoustic Tracking Array Platform (ATAP) to test the OBIS-Event-Data standard through the development of some data products and science applications. Additionally, this workshop contributes to the further maturation of the GOOS EOV on fish as well as the EOV on birds, mammals and turtles. We will present the outcomes as well as any lessons learned from this workshop on problems, solutions, and applications of using Darwin Core/OBIS-Event-Data for bio-logging data.

Advancing Marine Biological Observations and Data Requirements of the Complementary Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) and Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) Frameworks

Measurements of the status and trends of key indicators for the ocean and marine life are required to inform policy and management in the context of growing human uses of marine resources, coastal development, and climate change. Two synergistic efforts identify specific priority variables for monitoring: Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) through the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), and Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) from the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) (see Data Sheet 1 in Supplementary Materials for a glossary of acronyms). Both systems support reporting against internationally agreed conventions and treaties. GOOS, established under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), plays a leading role in coordinating global monitoring of the ocean and in the definition of EOVs. GEO BON is a global biodiversity observation network that coordinates observations to enhance management of the world's biodiversity and promote both the awareness and accounting of ecosystem services. Convergence and agreement between these two efforts are required to streamline existing and new marine observation programs to advance scientific knowledge effectively and to support the sustainable use and management of ocean spaces and resources. In this context, the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON), a thematic component of GEO BON, is collaborating with GOOS, the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), and the Integrated Marine Biosphere Research (IMBeR) project to ensure that EBVs and EOVs are complementary, representing alternative uses of a common set of scientific measurements. This work is informed by the Joint Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM), an intergovernmental body of technical experts that helps international coordination on best practices for observing, data management and services, combined with capacity development expertise. Characterizing biodiversity and understanding its drivers will require incorporation of observations from traditional and molecular taxonomy, animal tagging and tracking efforts, ocean biogeochemistry, and ocean observatory initiatives including the deep ocean and seafloor. The partnership between large-scale ocean observing and product distribution initiatives (MBON, OBIS, JCOMM, and GOOS) is an expedited, effective way to support international policy-level assessments (e.g., the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services or IPBES), along with the implementation of international development goals (e.g., the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals).

Thermodynamic properties of seawater, ice and humid air: TEOS-10, before and beyond

Abstract. In the terrestrial climate system, water is a key player in the form of its different ambient phases of ice, liquid and vapour, admixed with sea salt in the ocean and with dry air in the atmosphere. For proper balances of climatic energy and entropy fluxes in models and observations, a highly accurate, consistent and comprehensive thermodynamic standard framework is requisite in geophysics and climate research. The new Thermodynamic Equation of Seawater – 2010 (TEOS-10) constitutes such a standard for properties of water in its various manifestations in the hydrological cycle. TEOS-10 was recommended internationally in 2009 by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) to replace the previous 1980 seawater standard, EOS-80, and in 2011 by the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) as the official description for the properties of seawater, of ice and of humid air. This paper briefly reviews the development of TEOS-10, its novel axiomatic properties, the new oceanographic tools it offers and the important tasks that still await solutions by ongoing research. Among the latter are new definitions and measurement standards for seawater salinity and pH in order to establish their metrological traceability to the International System of Units (SI) for the first time after a century of widespread use. Of similar climatological relevance is the development and recommendation of a uniform standard definition of atmospheric relative humidity that is unambiguous and rigorously based on physical principles.The leading thermodynamic properties of a fluid are determined by the relations which exist between volume, pressure, temperature, energy, and entropy … But all the relations existing between these five quantities for any substance …may be deduced from the single relation existing for that substance between volume, energy, and entropy. Josiah Willard Gibbs, 1873b

Morphotectonic characteristics, distribution and probable genesis of bathymetric highs off southwest coast of India

The western continental margin of India and the adjacent deep ocean basins were formed by break-up and separation among India, Seychelles and Madagascar since the Late Cretaceous. The initial India-Madagascar separation and the subsequent India-Seychelles separation are believed to have been caused by the Marion hotspot at ~90 Ma and the Réunion hotspot at ~68.5 Ma, respectively. These geodynamic events resulted in the formation of several bathymetric highs that probably represent imprints of these volcanic events. In the present study these bathymetric high features were mapped comprehensively to understand their morphotectonic characteristics, using a fresh set of multibeam bathymetry, sea-surface gravity and magnetic anomalies, complemented by the available multichannel seismic reflection sections. A high-resolution bathymetric map of the southwestern continental margin of India and the adjoining deep offshore regions has been generated to decipher detailed morphological configuration and distribution of prominent undersea bathymetric features. We also carried out detailed morphometric analysis of these features to deduce the morphological parameters. A total of 33 individual bathymetric high features were identified and classified as seamounts, hills, knolls, guyots and plateaus based on the standardization of undersea feature names published by Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) in 2013. Multichannel seismic reflection, sea-surface gravity and magnetic data were used to describe the sub-seafloor configuration and qualitative interpretation of the geophysical signatures associated with the bathymetric highs. Interpretation of the multichannel seismic reflection sections suggest that some of these identified features are extrusive in nature, while others are intrusive. These features are associated with characteristic gravity highs superimposed over regional negative anomalies and complex negative and positive magnetic anomalies. The study results suggest that the genesis of the bathymetric highs mapped in the study area could be attributed to the hotspot volcanism, caused by the Marion or Réunion hotspots. We infer that the features in the southwestern continental margin of India closer to the Alleppey-Trivandrum Terrace Complex might have been created by the Marion hotspot volcanism, while those in the Laccadive Basin and eastern sector of the Laccadive Plateau might have been formed by Réunion hotspot volcanism.

A Validation of Observed Meteotsunami in the West Coast of Sri Lanka with European Centre of Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Modelled Data

Metetsunamis are local regional events originating from perturbation of water levels by the impulse of particularly pressure drop in a disturbed atmospheric weather system and amplified to a destructive Tsunami wave with the combined effect of resonance. For the preliminary investigation a Meteotsunami event was analysed for one minute’s frequency data collected in situ sea level measuring station established in Colombo, Sri Lanka under the authority of National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) with the supervision of Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). The contribution of disturbed weather system was analysed using wind speed (ms-1), atmospheric pressure (hPa) 10 min frequent reading from the Meteorological Department of Sri Lanka and weather station established under the bilateral project of University of Notre dame and NARA. The observed Meteotsunami event was validated using gridded modelled data (12.5 km resolution) obtained from the European Centre of Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and analysed using 6 hourly frequent atmospheric pressure (hPa) data, U and V at wind data at 10 m height and significant wave height. For the identification of Meteotsunami events, observed tide gauge readings were analysed in few different steps. The tidal constituents were quantified using harmonic analysis to obtained astronomical effect removed sea level variation and filtered to isolate Meteotsunami events using math lab software.According to the in situ observation data the atmospheric pressure gradient was recorded as 1008-1001 milibar hours while the modelled value dropped from 1009 to 1002 milibar hours. The observed wind speed was increased from 14.21 to 31.90 mph within 4 hours of time period and ECMWF wind speed increased from 11.02 to 19.94 mph with positive deviation. The observed wave height of Metiotsunami event was >0.3 m while model derived wave height was 0.6 m during the low tide period of the day. According to the threshold criterion suggested by Monserrat for classifying Meteotsunami, resulted wave amplitude of observation data exceeded 4 x σ, where σ is standard deviation of astronomical effect removed residual sea level time series. Further studies are required for the investigation of propagation mechanism with amplifying through the bays with the resonance effects. Further high frequency data are insufficient for the investigation of correlation with synoptic scale meteorological event.The ECMWF model is highly recommended for the prediction of disturbed atmospheric system and related ocean based extreme event forecast for prevention of ocean, atmospheric hazards and mitigation of vulnerability with the effect of global change giving real value of lives in the earth. Keywords: Sea level, Meteotsunami, Tsunami, Atmospheric, Resonance

TSUNAMI RISK ASSESSMENT MODELLING IN CHABAHAR PORT, IRAN

Abstract. The well-known historical tsunami in the Makran Subduction Zone (MSZ) region was generated by the earthquake of November 28, 1945 in Makran Coast in the North of Oman Sea. This destructive tsunami killed over 4,000 people in Southern Pakistan and India, caused great loss of life and devastation along the coasts of Western India, Iran and Oman. According to the report of "Remembering the 1945 Makran Tsunami", compiled by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO/IOC), the maximum inundation of Chabahar port was 367 m toward the dry land, which had a height of 3.6 meters from the sea level. In addition, the maximum amount of inundation at Pasni (Pakistan) reached to 3 km from the coastline. For the two beaches of Gujarat (India) and Oman the maximum run-up height was 3 m from the sea level. In this paper, we first use Makran 1945 seismic parameters to simulate the tsunami in generation, propagation and inundation phases. The effect of tsunami on Chabahar port is simulated using the ComMIT model which is based on the Method of Splitting Tsunami (MOST). In this process the results are compared with the documented eyewitnesses and some reports from researchers for calibration and validation of the result. Next we have used the model to perform risk assessment for Chabahar port in the south of Iran with the worst case scenario of the tsunami. The simulated results showed that the tsunami waves will reach Chabahar coastline 11 minutes after generation and 9 minutes later, over 9.4 Km2 of the dry land will be flooded with maximum wave amplitude reaching up to 30 meters.

2. Coastal Zone Management

The thirteenth Conference of the Parties to the CBD met in Cancun, Mexico, on 4–17 December 2016. Several decisions from this meeting have importance for coastal management efforts (<https://www.cbd.int/decisions/cop/?m=cop-13>). Decision XIII/4 on Biodiversity and Climate Change recognized the importance of marine protected areas, coastal resource management, and marine spatial planning in protecting marine and coastal ecosystems, communities, and infrastructure and enhancing their resilience against climate change impacts. Decision XIII/5 on Ecosystem Restoration encouraged governments and relevant organizations to consider ecosystem restoration in marine and coastal ecosystem to ensure environmental sustainability. Decision XIII/9 on Marine Spatial Planning encouraged governments and relevant organizations to apply marine spatial planning to marine and coastal areas within their jurisdiction with the full participation of local communities. This decision noted the close linkages between marine spatial planning and marine and coastal area management, marine protected areas, pollution management, fisheries management, and environmental impact assessments. Through this decision, the contracting parties invited international organizations, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the International Maritime Organization, and the regional seas programs to support national efforts to adopt marine spatial planning. Decision XIII/10 on Addressing Impacts of Marine Debris and Underwater Anthropogenic Noise on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity stressed that the contracting parties, international organizations, governments, industries, all stakeholders, and local communities must take appropriate measures to prevent and mitigate adverse impacts of marine debris on marine and coastal biodiversity and habitats. This decision suggests that consideration be given to extending responsibility for responding to damages to marine and coastal biodiversity and habitats to the producers of marine debris. Decision XIII/12 on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity: Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas encouraged the CBD Secretariat to continue supporting and funding regional efforts to designate ecologically or biologically significant areas.

Marine science and technology transfer: Can the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission advance governance of biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction?

Marine scientific research is crucial to forge solutions in the development of a new international legally binding instrument for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea . The transfer of marine technology, capacity development and marine genetic resources are key issues. This paper examines how the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), as a competent international organisation for marine scientific research and technology transfer, can inform the development of the instrument. Synergies between marine technology transfer and non-monetary benefit sharing of genetic resources are illustrated. Four key lessons from the IOC are examined: 1. Coordinating international cooperation in marine scientific research; 2. Enabling open access to data and knowledge; 3. Facilitating capacity development through scientific training and education; and 4. Governance of marine scientific research. Realising the potential of the IOC to advance governance solutions for ABNJ will depend on increased political will from Member States and strengthened partnerships to reduce resource constraints and enhance the IOC's capacity at global and regional scales.

The evolving and increasing need for climate change research on the oceans

Abstract The 3rd International Symposium on the Effects of Climate Change on the World's Oceans was held in Santos, Brazil, in March 2015, convened by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES), and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC), and organized locally by the Oceanographic Institute, University of Sao Paulo (IO-USP). The symposium was designed to do two things. First, to get updates on new scientific developments that would address recognized uncertainties that remained from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report and to contribute to building bridges between research in the natural and social sciences in respect to the human dimensions of climate change, with a focus on coastal communities, management objectives, governance and adaptation measures. The choice of the venue in Santos, Brazil, was aimed to stimulate and widen this thematic discussion in Latin America and southern Atlantic regions, where there still are important knowledge gaps and scientific, politic and societal challenges to be overcome. The meeting was attended by 280 participants from 38 countries, contributing 336 oral and poster presentations. This paper summarizes the main outcomes of the symposium and introduces a number of papers submitted to this special issue.

Real-time earthquake monitoring at the Indian Tsunami Early Warning System for tsunami advisories in the Indian Ocean

The Indian Tsunami Early Warning System situated at Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services, Hyderabad, India, monitors real-time earthquake activity throughout the Indian Ocean to evaluate potential tsunamigenic earthquakes. The functions of the Indian Tsunami Early Warning System earthquake monitoring system include detection, location and determination of the magnitude of potentially tsunamigenic earthquakes occurring in the Indian Ocean. The real-time seismic monitoring network comprises 17 broadband Indian seismic stations transmitting real-time earthquake data through VSAT communication to the central receiving stations located at the Indian Meteorological Department, New Delhi, and the Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services, Hyderabad, simultaneously for processing and interpretation. In addition to this, earthquake data from around 300 global seismic stations are also received at the Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services in near-real-time. Most of these data are provided by IRIS Global Seismographic Network and GEOFON Extended Virtual Network through Internet. The Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services uses SeisComP3 software for auto-location of earthquake parameters (location, magnitude, focal depth and origin time). All earthquakes of Mw &gt;5.0 are auto-located within 5–10 minutes of the occurrence of the earthquake. Since its inception in October 2007 to date, the warning centre has monitored and reported 55 tsunamigenic earthquakes (under-sea and near coast earthquakes of magnitude ⩾6.5) in the Indian Ocean region. Comparison of the earthquake parameters (elapsed time, magnitude, focal depth and location) estimated by the Indian Tsunami Early Warning System with the US Geological Survey suggests that the Indian Tsunami Early Warning System is performing well and has achieved the target set up by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.

Short-term forecast of tsunami occurred on April 1, 2014 on the Kuril Islands coast

The results of forecasting the Chilean tsunami in the Pacific Ocean on April 1,2014are presented. For the first time in Russia the forecast was prepared in the near real-time mode 9.5-10.5 hours before the tsunami attacked the Russian coast. A good agreement was obtained with the tsunami forms registered by DART stations along the US West Coast and the Aleutian and Kuril Islands. The information about the expected tsunami meets the requirements to the short-term tsunami forecast formulated by UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.

Ecosystem monitoring for ecosystem‐based management: using a polycentric approach to balance information trade‐offs

Ecosystem monitoring for ecosystem‐based management: using a polycentric approach to balance information trade‐offs

Reanalysis of marine-coastal indicators assessed by national and multinational organizations for the integrated coastal zone management

The progressive occupation of coastal zones led to consolidation of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) as a shared management process that aims to improve population life quality, to conserve biological diversity and coastal produc- tivity. This ICZM view follows the premises of sustainable development, established in 1992 by the United Nations Confer- ence on Environment and Development - environmental conservation, economic growth and social equality. In this Confer- ence, countries were invited to produce indicator systems, as a follow-up towards sustainable development. At world level, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) prepared in 2006 a handbook of indicators to support the ICZM, titled A Handbook for Measuring the Progress and Outcomes of Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management (ICAM Handbook), in- corporating socioeconomic, ecological and political dimensions as the base to analyzis. The present work reanalyzes marine- coastal areas indicators related to the ICZM, included by ten selected organizations in its official publications and websites about sustainability (or sustainable development). Seven sources are national: SayDS (Argentina), INE (Spain), INEGI (Mexico), DEFRA (United Kingdom), IBGE (Brazil), APA (Portugal) and Statistics Canada (Canada); and three, multinational - The GEO Project, REDESA and ILAC. The analysis has the list of ecological indicators suggested by the ICAM Handbook as a reference. The results showed that a few number of indicators are related to marine-coastal areas (less than 15%), giving the total number of indicators for each analyzed source. Most of the ecological indicators suggested by the ICAM Handbook are not considered by the selected organizations in its systems of sustainability indicators. The research aims to contribute to the improvement of the sustainability indicators systems, especially those maintained by the IBGE in Brazil, and to alert re- searchers and policy-makers to the importance of the natural environment as essential to the support of life, and to the conser- vation of biological diversity and productivity in marine-coastal areas.

Polar science strategies for institute managers

ABSTRACTManaging polar research is a tremendous challenge. It covers work at sea on rough and intimidating oceans, and on land over crevassed terrain or rotten sea ice with the prospect of death or frostbite. These environments are extremely hostile and difficult to work in. Results are costly to obtain, and yet the work is of vital importance, as the polar regions are the world's freezers, critical components of the climate system, and repositories of amazing biodiversity. These regions are grossly undersampled, and relatively poorly monitored. National efforts are best carried out in an international framework, in which cooperation is essential for major breakthroughs, and the exchange and sharing of data and information and facilities is essential for ongoing monitoring of change. Under the circumstances the managers of polar research institutes must proceed with well-developed strategies. Given the growing interest of different countries in the polar regions, it would seem useful to bring together advice won through hard effort over the years in how best to develop strategies for polar scientific institute management. This discussion paper offers advice on how such strategies may best be developed.The author has compiled this based on many years of management experience in both the ocean and polar sciences with the following institutions: the UK Natural Environment Research Council's Institute of Oceanographic Sciences Deacon Laboratory, the UK's National Oceanography Centre, UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, and the International Council for Science's Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission – UNESCO's support for management of Large Marine Ecosystems

Over the past two decades the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has been a key actor in the global effort to promote sustainable use and management of Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs). Among the Commission's LME initiatives are a global comparative assessment of LMEs under the Transboundary Waters Assessment Programme and the LME: Learning Exchange and Resources Network project, both supported by the Global Environment Facility, and annual meetings of the LME Consultative Committee. A brief description of each of these initiatives is given in this commentary.

Integrated coastal management in Brazil: analysis of the National Coastal Management Plan and selected tools based on international standards

The Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in Brazil is a political-institutional process, manifested in the establishment of the National Coastal Management Plan (NCMP) and in the formulation and implementation of specific tools for territorial planning in the coastal zone, as well as other activities related to ICZM in Brazil. This work analyses some official documents related to the Brazilian NCMP and to the frequently used tools for performing ICZM in Brazil: Macrodiagnostic of Coastal Zone, Orla Project and Coastal Ecological and Economic Zoning. The analysis is based on legislative, ecological and socio- economic indicators, found in the Handbook for Measuring the Progress and Outcomes of Integrated Coastal and Ocean Man- agement, published in 2006 by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. The results indicate adequacy of NCMP and tools on the definition and delimitation of the coastal zone, as the institutional processes of coordination and cooperation within the ICZM and about the diagnostics and the territorial planning of the coastal zone. However, the Brazilian NCMP as the cited tools still need to fully meet the major global goal of the ICZM, as internationally defined by the Joint Group of Ex- perts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP), with respect to the improvement of the life quality of coastal populations who depends on the sea resources and with respect to the environmental conservation of the Bra- zilian coastal zone. With the wide dissemination of results, is expected to contribute to the improvement of NCMPs and ICZM tools maintained worldwide, since we emphasize the importance of including the international general objectives of the ICZM, as well as inclusion the dimensions of sustainability in the ICZM processes, so try to ensure economic growth, coupled with respect to coastal populations and environmental conservation in coastal areas.