WESTPAC Technical Workshop on SEAGOOS Ocean Forecasting System Development (SEAGOOS/OFS-VII), 18 November 2018, Beihai, China.
1. Background
Ocean forecasting system could generate crucial forecast information, such as ocean current, ocean temperature and salinity, surface wave height and period, sea level, etc. to serve the needs of a variety of human activities related to marine hazards mitigation, search and rescue, fisheries, navigation, management and recreational activities.
To meet the demands of its Member States in the Southeast Asia, the UNESCO/IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) has been endeavoring, since 2012, to develop an SEAGOOS Ocean Forecasting System (OFS) in partnership with several ocean institutions/universities.
Until now major accomplishments include, inter alia, the following:
i. The establishment of regional expert network on ocean numerical modeling and OFS through the regular WESTPAC/SEAGOOS-OFS technical workshops;
ii. Improved regional capacity building on ocean numerical modeling through annual training by the Regional Training and Research Center-Ocean Dynamic and Climate (RTRC-ODC, http://www.fio.org.cn/english/training_center/index.htm );
iii. The operation of the web-portal based 12.5km resolution WESTPAC/SEAGOOS Ocean
Forecasting System (OFS) for the Southeast Asian Seas with 3 days forecast products and downloadable archived data provided on surface wave height (Hs), ocean current, sea temperature and salinity, and sea level. (http://221.0.186.5/IOC-WESTPAC_OFDS/index.jsp );
It is worth mentioning that the SEAGOOS/OFS development teams in China and Thailand responded rapidly to a ferry accident of 5 July 2018, Thailand, providing a series of ocean forecasts for the wreck site and adjacent areas, which proved valuable in supporting the ensuing search and rescue operations.
2. Workshop objectives and expected outputs
Building on the major accomplishments made over the past years, the seventh WESTPAC/SEAGOOS-OFS workshop aims to review the recent progress, identify potential users and enhance OFS applications to serve their requirements, address challenges and gaps, and further explore cooperative opportunities among researchers, institutions and countries.
Meanwhile, this technical workshop will come up with a detailed action plan for the period of 2019-2020. This workshop will be hosted by the First Institute of Oceanography (FIO), State Oceanic Administration of China on 18 November 2018 in Beihai, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region, China.
3. Who will be invited
SEAGOOS/OFS development team, scientists, governmental officials and other related parties who are interested in the OFS in the region are welcome to the technical workshop.
4. Financial support and registration
There is a very limited resource in support of the international travel of some participants, particularly those from the developing states. A joint committee will be established by WESTPAC to select the most suitable participants that would be provided with financial support. The selection will be made mainly based on the filled registration form, his/her descriptions about work experience in the Form, and his/her engagement in WESTPAC or other relevant international programmes.
Please submit, at your earliest convenience, the Registration Form duly completed to Nachapa
Saransuth (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and Changshui Xia (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ), with a copy to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , preferably not later than 2 October 2018.
5. Venue and Local Transportation
The workshop will be organized at:
Furama Hotel, Beihai, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China.
Address: No. 31 Chating Road, Beihai, Guangxi, China
Website: http://www.furama-beihai.com/en-us/
Beihai Fucheng Airport is not big with limited international flights. It is suggested that international travelers fly to the Nanning Wuxu International Airport in Nanning city, 240 km far from the venue hotel.
Free shuttle buses provided by the local organizers will be available on 17 November 2018 between the Nanning Wuxu International Airport, Beihai Fucheng Airport and the venue hotel. Volunteers will stand by and assist you at the airport.
(Source IOC/WESTPAC)
