Third IOC/WESTPAC Training Course on NEAR-GOOS Data Management (Japan Oceanographic Data Centre, Tokyo, Japan, 24 January - 4 February 2000)

ITEM: 80
SOURCE/AUTHOR:  Rimi Nakano
DATE:   August 9, 1999

IOC Circular Letter No. 1617, 23 July 1999 (Available in English only)

To: Member States of the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC)

Cc: Permanent Delegates to UNESCO of Member States of IOC/WESTPAC

Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of IOC

Chairman and Vice-Chairpersons of IOC/WESTPAC

Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of I-GOOS

Members of NEAR-GOOS Co-ordinating Committee

Director, UNESCO Regional Office for Science and Technology for South-East Asia (ROSTSEA)

Director, UNESCO Principal Regional Office in Asia and the Pacific (PROAP)

IOC Regional Secretariat for WESTPAC

UNESCO Representative for Science and Technology, China

Director, Hydrographic Department, Maritime Safety Agency of Japan

Subject: Third IOC/WESTPAC Training Course on NEAR-GOOS (North-East Asian Regional - Global Ocean Observing System) Data Management, Japan Oceanographic Data Centre, Tokyo, Japan, 24 January - 4 February 2000

On behalf of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO I have pleasure in inviting you, in your capacity as representative of your country, to assist in the identification of the most suitable participants for the above training course.

The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) is a comprehensive system called for in Agenda 21 of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992 to enable effective and sustainable management and development of seas and oceans, and prediction of future change. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) is playing the leading role in planning and implementing GOOS, which is co-sponsored by the IOC, the United Nations

Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the International Council for Science (ICSU). Education, training and technical assistance are essential parts of GOOS in terms of capacity building in order to ensure the widest participation of Member States.

NEAR-GOOS is the first regional pilot project of GOOS implemented by China, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Russian Federation. It is intended to provide a regional framework for gathering, co-ordinating and distributing data in the North-East Asian region, to enable participating countries to make better use of their investments in ocean observations and research and to lead to a regional contribution to GOOS. NEAR-GOOS started its operation of data exchange system in October 1996 to provide oceanographic data and relevant products to users free of charge through electronic communications.

Training for the WESTPAC countries is one important aspect for the NEAR-GOOS operation, considering new technology introduced for the NEAR-GOOS data flow and expansion of the NEAR-GOOS operational system to the entire WESTPAC area. The NEAR-GOOS Co-ordinating Committee, at its first session (Bangkok, September 1996), endorsed the training activities in support of NEAR-GOOS and invited Japan Oceanographic Data Center (JODC) to organize a training course concerning on-line data exchange to strengthen the implementation of NEAR-GOOS. JODC has experience in having carried out "WESTPAC Data Management Training" as an activity of the RNODC-WESTPAC for more than ten years.

The course has been organized since 1997 by JODC with the financial support of the Japanese Government, as well as assistance from Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the Ocean Research Institute (ORI) of University of Tokyo, and other relevant organizations in Japan. This will be the third in the series of the training courses. The detailed information of the course is attached herewith together with the qualifications of the participants and other necessary information.

The financial support for the training course will be made by the Japanese Government through UNESCO-Japan funds-in-trust. Up to five participants will be confirmed to be funded. Each selected participant will receive a study grant which includes an economy class return air ticket and daily subsistence allowance for the period of the participation in the course. A few additional places will be available for self paying participants. The participants will be assumed to undertake full responsibility for the purchase of necessary overseas insurance. The final selection will be made in consultation between JODC and the IOC Secretariat on the basis of the application forms from the candidates.

You are kindly invited to send your recommendation of suitable candidates, accompanied by completed application forms (enclosed) to the following address:

Ms. Rimi NAKANO
GOOS Project Office
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission,
UNESCO 1, rue Miollis, 75732, Paris Cedex 15, FRANCE
Tel: (33.1) 45.68.39.74, Fax: (33.1) 45.68.58.12, E-mail: r.nakano@unesco.org

a copy to:

Japan Oceanographic Data Centre (JODC)
Hydrographic Department, Maritime Safety Agency
5-3-1 Tsukiji Chuo-ku Tokyo 104-0045 JAPAN
Tel: (81.3) 3541. 4295, Fax: (81.3) 3545. 2885, E-mail: mail@jodc.jhd.go.jp

Deadline for submission of application: 30 September 1999

I look forward to collaborating with you toward the success of the course.

Yours sincerely,

Japan Oceanographic Data Centre (JODC)Hydrographic Department, Maritime Safety Agency
5-3-1 Tsukiji Chuo-ku Tokyo 104-0045 JAPAN
Tel +81-3-3541-4295 Fax +81-3-3545-2885
E-mail mail@jodc.jhd.go.jp

Up to five places will be available for applicants from WESTPAC Member States funded by IOC, and a few additional places will be available for self paying applicants. Those who wish to participate at their own expense are requested to state so clearly on the application form.

Applicants should possess adequate background knowledge in the field of oceanographic data management, preferably with responsibility in collection, archiving and exchange of oceanographic data and management at the national organizations which are interested in NEAR-GOOS.

The course will be held in English.

(i) return air ticket, economy class, between the participant’s home country and Tokyo;
(ii) subsistence allowance for the approved period of the participation in the training course.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 30 September 1999

10:00-12:00 Opening Ceremony and Course Orientation
13:30-16:00 Lecture on Outline about WESTPAC (Containing NEAR-GOOS)

10:00-12:00 Lecture on Research for Ocean and Utilization and management of Oceanographic Data
13:30-16:00 Country Report

10:00-12:00 Lecture on Real Time Data Base
13:30-16:00 Study Visit Japan Meteorological Agency

10:00-12:00 Lecture on Serial Station Data Management
13:30-16:00 Lecture on Tidal Data Management

10:00-12:00 Lecture on Tidal Current Data Management
13:30-1600 Study Visit Hydrographic Department , Maritime Safety Agency Marine Information Research Center

Monday, 31, January, 1999

10:00-12:00 Lecture on IODE (containing CSR and GODAR)
13:30-16:00 Lecture on Ocean Current Data Management

10:00-12:00 Lecture on Geographic Data Management J-BIRD , MGD-77 and Software GEODAS
13:30-16:00 Training and Explain of J-DOSS

All Day Lecture on Practice Data Management by using PC

All Day Study Visit Japan Marine Science and Technology Center (JAMSTEC)

10:00-12:00 Course Evaluations and Closing Ceremony
13:30-16:00 Customized Special Study