News

The April 2026 issue of the SOOS newsletter is available here.

We are pleased to announce an upcoming 4D-BGC webinar on Tuesday, May 12th, at 14:00 UTC / 16:00 CEST. Raphaëlle Sauzède from the Institut de la Mer de Villefranche will present Chlorophyll-a update in BGC-Argo: What’s Changing in June 2026, How It Works, and Why It Matters?. More information below:

Tuesday, 12 May 2026, 16:00 CEST / 14:00 UTC

Zoom Link: https://washington.zoom.us/meeting/register/4eJz9UPNS3qXMls_PBJOBw

Meeting ID: 924 8142 7328  ●  Passcode: 475380

Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kdy6pLJAeC

SCOR Working Group 168 Webinar #9

Title:

Chlorophyll-a update in BGC-Argo: 

What’s Changing in June 2026, How It Works, and Why It Matters?

Presenter:

Raphaëlle Sauzède

CNRS – Institut de la Mer de Villefranche

Chlorophyll-a concentration (Chla), a key indicator of phytoplankton biomass, is essential for understanding ocean ecosystems. While BGC-Argo floats have revolutionized global Chla monitoring, accurately converting fluorescence data into Chla estimates remains a significant challenge. In June 2026, a new real-time adjustment methodology will be implemented for Chla into the Argo data stream. This presentation will detail the methodology based on 4D-BGC products, the timeline for operationalization, and the broader implications of this update for ocean science and operational applications.

You can view and subscribe to the 4D-BGC webinar calendar here:

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/2?cid=c2Nvci53Zy4xNjhAZ21haWwuY29t

4D-BGC webinars are recorded, and previous presentations can be found at https://www.youtube.com/@4D-BGC

The IMBeR March 2026 newsletter is available here.

The April 2026 GEOTRACES newsletter is available here.

Dear all,

We are very pleased to announce the launch of the GEOTRACES Online Seminar Series, a new initiative led by the Early Career Scientist (ECS) committee.

This monthly seminar series aims to foster scientific exchange across the GEOTRACES community and beyond by bringing together senior scientists and early-career researchers around shared themes in trace element and isotope biogeochemistry.

Seminar format:

Each seminar will focus on one coherent topic and feature two connected talks:
– A senior scientist providing synthesis, context, and big-picture framing
– An early-career scientist presenting new data, methods, or emerging perspectives

Schedule:

The series will run from April to November 2026 (with a break in July), with seminars planned for the last Tuesday of each month. Plus, a special end-of-year Christmas seminar around mid-December.

Seminars will be held at either 09:00 CET or 15:00 CET, depending on the speakers’ locations, to facilitate participation across different regions. Each seminar will last about one hour.

Upcoming seminars:

We are delighted to announce the first three seminars:

April 28, 2026 @ 15:00 CET
Topic: Data synthesis, modelling & integration (see detailed information below)
Speakers: Gregory De Souza (ETH Zurich) & Arianna Olivelli (Flanders Marine Institute)

May 26, 2026 @ 15:00 CET
Topic: Trace metal input in polar environments
Speakers: Jon Hawkings (University of Pennsylvania) & Laramie Jensen (Columbia University)

June 30, 2026 @ 15:00 CET
Topic: Atmospheric aerosol deposition to the global ocean
Speakers:Clifton Buck (University of Georgia) & Prema Piyusha Panda (Stellenbosch University)

Further seminars will be announced in due course.

Platform: Zoom
A single recurring link will be used for all seminars:
https://geomar-de.zoom-x.de/j/63657733493?pwd=6Uman0pQaKQ56P9SkXoUfz55XqqO7a.1
Meeting ID: 636 5773 3493
Passcode: 651026

For more information and updates, check the seminar web page.
You can also download the flyer here.

We hope this series will provide a platform for exchange across career stages and regions, and we warmly invite you to join us. No prior registration is needed.

Please feel free to share this announcement within your networks!

We look forward to your participation!
Distributed by the GEOTRACES IPO on behalf of the GEOTRACES ECS Committee

——

April seminar detailed information:

Time: April 28 @ 15:00 CET
Moderator: Dr. Anh Pham (University of California, Los Angeles)

Senior Scientist: Dr. Gregory De Souza (ETH Zurich, Switzerland)
Title: Bringing it all together: using models to build process understanding
Abstract: Two decades of GEOTRACES observations provide us with a wealth of TEI data at a range of spatial scales. Inferring controlling processes from these data requires an understanding of how sources and sinks — whether in the open ocean or at its margins — interact with ocean circulation to produce observed distributions of dissolved species. In this talk, I will give an overview of the diversity of approaches that have used conceptual and/or numerical models to synthesize observational data into an understanding of TEI cycling in the sea and at its interfaces.

Early Career Scientist: Dr. Arianna Olivelli (Flanders Marine Institute, Belgium)
Title: Mapping ocean trace metal distributions: A global data-driven view of lead and its isotopes
Abstract: Despite the rapid growth of GEOTRACES observations, resolving large-scale distributions of trace metals remains challenging due to their sparse and heterogeneous coverage. In recent years, machine learning (ML) techniques have offered new opportunities to advance data-driven oceanographic research at global and regional scales. In this talk, I will present my work to develop the first global maps of lead (Pb) concentrations and isotope compositions from surface to depth using the tree-ensemble algorithm XGBoost and explainable ML tools. These maps provide an observation-based view of Pb distributions and variability that is difficult to achieve from measurements alone. I will discuss key methodological choices, lessons learned, and potential future applications of these maps. Additionally, I will explore the use of different ML approaches for the synthesis and integration of in situ observations within the wider GEOTRACES context.

The April 2026 SOLAS newsletter is available here.

The latest issue of The Indian Ocean Bubble-2 is accessible at https://iioe-2.incois.gov.in/IIOE-2/pdfviewer_pub.jsp?docname=IIOE-2-DOC_OM_322.pdf

Special Thanks to All Authors for their enthusiastic contributions !

Informal articles are welcome for our next issue. Contributions may include Indian Ocean studies, cruises, conferences, workshops, tributes to other oceanographers etc.. Articles may be up to 1500 words in length (MS-Word) accompanied by suitable figures, photos (separate.jpg files).

Deadline: 15^th May, 2026.

Your Contributions may be sent as usual to iioe-2@incois.gov.in

The Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO) and Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) are pleased to announce that the POGO-SCOR Fellowship programme for 2026 is now open for applications.

The primary goal of the POGO-SCOR Fellowship Programme is to strengthen sustained ocean observations and their applications, with a focus on training and capacity development to support a global ocean observation framework. Since its launch in 2001, the programme has been highly successful, awarding over 200 fellowships to date.

While there are no specific areas of interest, priority will be given to applications that address any one or more of the following topics:

• Emerging and low-cost technologies for ocean observations
• Physical, biological and biogeochemical sensors on floats and gliders
• Floating litter observations and modelling
• Open and coastal ocean observation, modelling and management
• Data management & time series analysis
• Underwater sound, acoustic observations and modelling
• Optical measurements of living and non-living particles
• Fixed-point time-series observations (e.g. contributing to OceanSITES, OBIS, IODE Ocean Data Portal, WOD and/or other shared data systems)
• Large-scale, operational biological observations including biomolecular and biodiversity (e.g. biological EOVs, CPR, OBON and other programmes)

This fellowship programme is open to early-career scientists, technicians, postgraduate (preferably PhD) students and post-doctoral fellows involved in oceanographic work at centres in developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Applicants must be citizens of developing countries or economies in transition, as defined by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the OECD (see the list of eligible countries). Note that priority will be given to applicants with limited international experience.

The fellowship offers the opportunity to visit leading oceanographic institutions abroad for a short period (1 to 3 months) to gain hands-on experience in oceanographic data collection, analysis, and interpretation. It provides financial support to cover the return airfare from the fellow’s home country to the host institution, and a contribution towards accommodation and subsistence for the period of the visit.

All applications should be made via the application form (link available on the website) by 1st May 2026 (23:59 UTC).

Please check the Frequently Asked Questions and other supporting documents on the training page before initiating your application documents. If you still have any queries, e-mail info@pogo-ocean.org. Feel free to circulate this announcement to anyone you think might be interested.

The March 2026 issue of the IIOE-2 newsletter is available here.