Mid-Term Strategy

The Science Plan and Implementation Stategy (SP&IS) was approved by sponsors in 2004, and forms the foundation of the SOLAS programme. However, during a decade-long research programme, emphases shift and implementation approaches may need to be adapted. 

The SOLAS Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) identified recently a set of research topics and issues relevant to SOLAS that are both topical and require international coordination to make progress. Some of these topics are now described in a set of whitepapers which have the goal to stimulate research and cooperation at the international level.

These topics were presented in draft form to US program managers from five funding agencies (NOAA, NASA, NSF, DOE and ONR) during the SSC meeting held in Washington DC in March 2009.

Now SOLAS eagerly welcomes your contributions towards these important developments in SOLAS science. SOLAS is broadcasting some White Papers and requests your comments and input. Please contact the author(s) of the relevant papers directly.

Six of these seven new initiatives were addressed during the afternoon discussion sessions (full reports downloadable below) at the SOLAS Open Science Conference in November 2009. 

The new initiatives being developed for international implementation are as follows:

Title
Contact
Download
Sea-ice biogeochemistry and interactions with the atmosphere

Ocean-derived aerosols: production, evolution and impacts

Atmospheric control of nutrient cycling and production in the surface ocean
Ship plumes: impacts on atmospheric chemistry, climate and nutrient supply to the oceans
Air-sea gas fluxes at Eastern boundary upwelling and Oxygen Minimum Zone (OMZ) systems
Link to information on forthcoming meeting
SOLAS Observatory and MOIN: the Minimalist OceanSITES Interdisciplinary Network
SOLAS large-scale field experiments - a compendium of proposals

OSC discussion session abstract
OSC discussion session report