Science and Implementation Plan (2026-2030)

The 2026-2030 SOOS Science and Implementation Plan articulates the scientific priorities for SOOS through the identification of key gaps in the observational network and by identifying the priorities in addressing these gaps. This Plan covers the five year period 2026-2030, with emphasis on the capabilities required to support data collection and delivery, and the objectives and actions that SOOS will implement. The plan was developed by the SOOS community with extensive input from the broader Southern Ocean community. The plan is currently undergoing international review coordinated by SOOS's governing bodies, SCAR and SCOR. SOOS will operate under this plan during this review period.

SOOS 2026-2030 Implementation Plan focuses on the key actions of SOOS for the 2026 to 2030 period that will provide the greatest benefit and impact to enhancing the collection and delivery of Southern Ocean observations. The four key areas in which SOOS provides benefit and impact to the Southern Ocean science life cycle provide the background for the five key objectives presented to focus SOOS activities over the next five years.

Objective 1: Align, advocate, and support observational priorities, gaps and inefficiencies to provide a clear message to funders, national programs, and intergovernmental agencies

Objective 2: Enhance collaboration and observational coordination by facilitating inclusive and resilient networks 

Objective 3: Ensure the management and delivery of observational data by connecting data repositories, providing synthesis activities/products, integrating data, and encouraging the use of open science, FAIR data principles and enabling tools

Objective 4: Develop and deliver interactive maps of observational coverage and summary visualisations of Southern Ocean available data

Objective 5: Sharing knowledge with all stakeholder groups, including policymakers, to provide visibility and enhance the impact of Southern Ocean research and the knowledge created from it, through summary reports, communication strategies, workshops, publications, and community coordination efforts

Science and Implementation Plan (2021-2025)

To implement SOOS's scientific priorities the SOOS Science and Implementation Plan has identified five objectives for 2021-2025 that combined will deliver the SOOS mission:

Objective 1: Develop and coordinate inclusive and collaborative networks for shared knowledge, enhanced observational capability, and data collection, management and delivery.

Objective 2: Address gaps and inefficiencies in our ability to collect, deliver, and use sustained observations.

Objective 3: Identify the spatio-temporal, thematic requirements of observations needed to address the Science Themes; identify existing coverage and work to maintain it; address identified gaps.

Objective 4: Deliver high-quality scientific data, synthesis activities, products and knowledge that are needed to deliver our mission.

Objective 5: Maintain SOOS as the world-leading hub to support the collection and delivery of Southern Ocean observations.

Completed - Implementation Plan (2016-2020)