ANNUAL REPORT
NATIONAL GOOS ACTIVITIES
COUNTRY: SLOVENIA
PRINCIPAL NATIONAL CONTACTS FOR GOOS
Dr. Vlado Malacic, scientist in charge of the Instrumental Centre MBS, GOOS contact person
National Institute of Biology, Marine Biological Station,
Fornace 41, 6330 Piran
tel: 3865 6746 368, fax: 3865 6746 367
malacic@nib.si
Dr. Alenka Malej, National Committee for IOC, chairperson
National Institute of Biology, Marine Biological Station,
Fornace 41, 6330 Piran
tel: 3865 6746 368, fax: 3865 6746 367
malej@nib.si
MECHANISM FOR NATIONAL COORDINATION OF GOOS
Through National Committee of IOC. Members of Committee are representatives of:
Ministry of Education, Science and Sports
Ministry of Environment
Ministry of Transportation (incl. maritime transport)
Geological Survey
Hydrometeorological Survey
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Physics and Mathematics, Dept. of Meteorology
Marine Biological Station, National Institute of Biology
UNESCO National Commission
MEMBERSHIP OF AND CONTRIBUTION TO REGIONAL GOOS BODIES
MedGOOS, CAOS (Coordinated Adriatic Observing system, IOC Coastal component of GOOS; pilot project)
NATIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO GOOS IMPLEMENTATION
CONTRIBUTION TO ELEMENTS OF GOOS INITIAL OBSERVING SYSTEM.
In year 2000 Marine Biological Station (MBS) of the National Institute of Biology (NIB) launched in operation the Coastal Oceanographic Station Piran (COSP). COSP is composed of a coastal -oceanographic buoy and of a land station for the data receiving and assimilation. The near-real time data are available on URL: http://boja.msp.nib.si. The DBCP is well acquainted with these efforts. In the year 2001 we intend to complete our web page in English and to strengthen relations with DBCP - possibly by finding a way to send the data to DBCP via Internet facilities.
Slovenia is also involved in the Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS), having the tidal gage station in the port of Koper. The principal institution for this topic is the Hydrometeorological Institute in Ljubljana (http://www.rzs-hm.si/)
CONTRIBUTION TO GOOS PILOT PROJECTS.
Several projects of operational oceanography and marine ecology aiming at establishment of the observing system of the Adriatic Sea were carried out in 2000. MBS participated in formulating CAOS (Nutrient and Trophic Dynamics in the Adriatic Sea: Toward a Coordinated Adriatic Observing System, Workshop Report. 2000, 78 pp.). MBS contributed also towards preparation of the project proposal MAMA (Mediterranean network to Assess and upgrade Monitoring and forecasting Activities; project leader Silvana Valerga, Italy) submitted to EU within the 5th Framework Program. This project aims to build up capacities for setting observing platforms - trying to fulfill one of the primary goals of MedGOOS plan of action in promoting the operational oceanography. MBS is also involved in ADRICOSM project (ADRIatic sea integrated COastal areaS and river basin Management System pilot project; project leader Nadia Pinardi, Italy), which will be integrated in C-GOOS Adriatic pilot project program in 2001.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO GOOS RELATED RESEARCH
MBS began working on a project Anthropogenic impact of climatic change in the Northern Adriatic Sea, the goal of which is to include the tidal dynamics of the Adriatic Sea in the prognostic model that is based on the Princeton Ocean Model (POM).
Research activities also include studies of biodiversity and HABs (Harmful Algal Blooms).
OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GOOS
During 2000 the National Oceanographic Data Centre at MBS focused on presenting the meta-data of the ecological and oceanographic data base on a web page (in Slovene language). In year 2001 this meta-base is to be enlarged and translated in English.
Under Ocean Services program the application of digital charting of the Bay of Koper for the use in ecology/coastal oceanography was completed by the Institute of Geodesy and Geophysics in Ljubljana, and as mentioned above the MBS of NIB launched in operation the COSP.
CAPACITY BUILDING IN SUPPORT OF GOOS OR GOOS-RELATED RESEARCH
Reconstruction works on renewing the MBS have started in 2000. In future MBS will be enlarged and will present the core of a new Marine Research Centre. The investment is provided by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of Slovenia. There will be new laboratories for marine biology, chemistry and physics; plans include also the new lecture hall (120 people), and possibly also the aquarium.
In year 2000 MBS received a new research vessel of 12.5 m in length, which already started with the fieldwork. It is expected that in 2001 the superstructure that renders possible to make the best of the vessel will be completed. This includes the installations of the winch system, software and hardware for interconnection of data of navigation and environmental monitoring and supporting structure for the ADCP.
SUGGESTIONS FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE GOOS
We recommend that IOC would commence to expand the funds for the organization of summer schools and training seminars for the personnel of those marine organizations that are joining the (regional) group of institutions within GOOS. The topics should cover most of technical and operational problems, like the problems of data-exchange protocols and facilities, recommendations and utilitization of the software tools, data analysis procedures (time series analysis), equipment maintenance on platforms at sea and suggestions for data logger electronic systems that are open and upgradeable.
INDICATIONS OF FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO GOOS
INVESTMENT IN NATIONAL ACTIVITIES
In year 2000 the National Committee of IOC in Slovenia invested about 26,000 EURO in national activities that span from Marine Pollution research, Monitoring of Harmful Algal Blooms, Coastal Oceanographic Station, Education and Public Awareness program. The plan for the year 2001 was accepted with a lower total sum of expenses (about 2500 EURO).
INVESTMENT IN NATIONAL COORDINATION
Only about 1000 EURO was planned and spent for the national coordination
INVESTMENT (REAL OR POTENTIAL) IN INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION