The IOC U.S. National Commission for UNESCO Natural Science

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The IOCU.S. National Commission for UNESCO
Natural Science Engineering Panel

• Brigadier General John J. Kelly, Jr., United
  States Air Force (Ret.)
• Deputy Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere
• 06.06.2005

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Background

• Founded in 1960 as a fully autonomous body within
  UNESCO
• 130 member states
• Only governmental body to coordinate ocean
  research and operational oceanography on a
  multi-lateral basis
• U.S. contributes 1M to IOCs 8M biennium
  budget, plus 1.5-2M for staff and specific
  projects

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U.S. Areas of Interest

• Integrated Global Ocean Observing System
• Full open ocean data policy through
  International Oceanographic Data and Information
  Exchange Program
• Data to be shared regionally, internationally
• Encourage continued cooperation between IOC and
  WMO
• JCOMM - Joint WMO-IOC Technical Commission for
  Oceanography and Marine Meteorology

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Current Activities of the IOC

• Global Earth Observation System of Systems
  (GEOSS)
• GOOS as Oceans Component
• Argo buoys
• All-Hazards Warning System
• Tsunami Warning System to integrate other sensors
• Ocean Services
• International Oceanographic Data and Information
  Exchange
• Ocean Mapping
• Tsunami Warning Center
• Capacity Building

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IOC U.S. National Commission for UNESCO

• Strengthen the IOC as a priority science program
  within the framework of the National Commission
  agenda.