SIBER SPIS sept 2011.pdf - IMBER

SIBER
Science Plan and Implementation Strategy
In t e g r a t i o n
Pl a n n i n g a n d i n t e g r a t i n g a c t i v i t i es
At the core of SIBER is the integration of ecosystem, biogeochemical and climate research
in order to address the program’s long-term goal of understanding the role of the IO in global
biogeochemical cycles and the interaction between these cycles and marine ecosystem
dynamics, both of which are subject to climate influences. The research will be structured
under the six scientific themes described in the previous section. Models will provide the basis
for integrating IO biogeochemical and ecosystem data and generating and testing relevant
hypotheses. Modeling will help to focus the research by identifying gaps in available data,
clarifying important areas of uncertainty and determining the most efficient and effective data
collection strategies.
Modeling efforts will also benefit from the compilation and synthesis of existing in situ datasets
and remotely sensed data, to produce both regional and basinwide physical, chemical and
biological distributions for model initialization, calibration and verification. Remotely sensed
data will be particularly important at the outset to produce basinwide maps of physical and
biogeochemical quantities (e.g. SST, SSH, SSS and chlorophyll).
During the development stages of SIBER it will be important to establish links between
scientists involved in modeling and observational/data mining activities and those involved
in planning field studies (including process studies and survey and monitoring programs).
Electronic communications, meetings and workshops will help to identify gaps and prioritize
field sampling and monitoring efforts. Working groups will be formed for each scientific
theme (see below). Workshops, organized by theme, will unite members of the IO science
communities to address specific aspects of the science as SIBER develops.
Later in the program, a Synthesis Working Group will be established and a focused integration
and synthesis phase will be started. This will draw together observations and results from
the six science themes to develop a basinwide synthesis. The SIBER SSC will take the lead
in guiding the integration process. This requires the early development of a framework to
facilitate effective interaction between the SSC and the thematic working groups. This should
focus on enabling the effective interaction between SIBER participants, working groups and
national and regional programs. Ensuring that IO biogeochemical and ecosystem research
under SIBER is developed in parallel with global efforts, as part of IMBER and GOOS, is
imperative.
Li n k a g e s
SIBER has been developed in conjunction with GOOS, IGBP and SCOR. Directed jointly
by IMBER and IOGOOS, with close links to CLIVAR’s Indian Ocean Panel (IOP) and
through national and international program activities, it is envisaged that SIBER will further
the understanding of how the biogeochemical and ecosystem dynamics of the IO respond
to physical forcing as part of the Earth system. SIBER will generate multidisciplinary links
between biological, chemical and physical oceanographers, biogeochemists, climatologists and
fisheries scientists from the international community, building upon the research experience of
past projects such as the JGOFS Arabian Sea Process Study, and the monitoring experience
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