SIBER SPIS sept 2011.pdf - IMBER

SIBER
Science Plan and Implementation Strategy
of ongoing projects such as the CLIVAR/IOGOOS Indian Ocean Observing System (IndOOS).
Indeed, substantial progress has already been made toward this goal through the process of
developing the SIBER program.
In the earlier stages, SIBER will lead and coordinate its research with the IOP. Collaboration
between the members of the SIBER SSC and the IOP offers a unique opportunity to mobilize
the multidisciplinary, international effort that is required to develop a new level of understanding
of the physical, biogeochemical and ecosystem dynamics of the IO in the context of the global
ocean and the Earth system. As detailed in the implementation plan, SIBER will leverage
several regional LME and GOOS programs and will form linkages with other national programs
and organizations (Fig. 25).
Collaboration with other relevant programs is vital to SIBER’s success and so it must be cognizant
of the activities of other IO research programs and integrate with them where appropriate.
As indicated in the implementation strategy, SIBER will collaborate with international and
national monitoring programs such as IndOOS and IMOS to leverage, augment and integrate
with their efforts. Limitations to our understanding of atmospheric transport, nutrient and
trace metal cycling, and deposition processes will be improved by developing linkages with
SOLAS and GEOTRACES. The primary task of the Indian Ocean Census of Marine Life (IO-
CoML) is to strengthen the IO coastal and marine biodiversity database. SIBER collaboration
with IO-CoML participants will promote capacity building and create opportunities for multiinstitutional
research on coastal and marine biodiversity. Establishing linkages with CLIOTOP
and ESSAS will enable SIBER to leverage comparative studies aimed at developing an endto-end
understanding of marine ecosystems in the IO and elsewhere. SIBER will also seek
to establish strong linkages with SANCOR, the ASCLME, the BOBLME and WIOMSA in an
effort to help promote the educational, scientific and technological development of all aspects
of marine sciences throughout the IO.
Understanding the connections between the changes that are being observed in the IO and
other ocean basins is essential to determine the global ocean’s response to climate change
and potential feedback effects. Some of the strongest low latitude regional expressions of
global climate change have occurred in the IO and these are predicted to continue or even
increase. Developing links with Atlantic, Pacific and Southern Ocean physical, biogeochemical
and ecosystem scientists and programs is important from SIBER’s perspective, particularly
in developing comparative analyses and models. SIBER has begun this process by working
to coordinate efforts with the IOP, CLIOTOP, ESSAS and ICED. Linking with scientists and
groups from other regions is also important in areas such as model development where
certain concepts and methods will be applicable or adaptable regardless of geographic focus.
This will be achieved in the first instance by inviting non-IO scientists from relevant fields
to participate in the SIBER thematic working groups, meetings and workshops. There are
many other examples of linkages and collaborations detailed and mentioned throughout this
document. An important role for SIBER scientists will be to ensure that the biogeochemical
and ecological dynamics of the IO are adequately and correctly represented in Earth system
models.
St r u c t u r e o f SIBER
The SIBER Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) will have overall responsibility for the direction
and management of SIBER activities on behalf of IMBER and IOGOOS. An interim SSC has
been in operation since the first workshop, convened in Goa in 2007. The first official SSC
was formally appointed by IMBER and IOGOOS in 2010. It comprises active scientists who
have specific and broad expertise in the major disciplines covered by the SIBER Science
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