Dr. Sid Thurston to Help Coordinate WMO Ocean Observations

GOMO Program Manager, Dr. Sid Thurston was selected as Vice-Chair for Oceans of the newly established World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Infrastructure Commission (INFCOM) Standing Committee on Earth Observing Systems and Monitoring Networks (SC-ON). This WMO Standing Committee will focus on the normative work and technical systems required to achieve Objective 2.1 of the WMO Strategic Plan: “{to} Optimize the acquisition of Earth system observation data through the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS)”, in particular as concerns network design through tiered approach and performance monitoring.

To achieve this task, Dr. Thurston brings twenty years of experience in managing NOAA’s global in-situ ocean observations. GOMO began under the auspices of OAR’s Office of Global Programs (OGP) and now contributes over 50% of the world’s in-situ ocean observations including Argo, GO-SHIP, Global Drifter Program and the Global Tropical Moored Buoy Array.  

During this time, Dr. Thurston has also been contributing to the WMO/IOC Joint Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM) Data Buoy Cooperation Panel (DBCP). Here he has been a staunch advocate of applying ocean observing data for social and economic benefits and to empower developing Nations to help mitigate severe environmental impacts. To achieve this, he established a DBCP Task Team for Capacity Building in 2007 and has organized over thirty workshops across the Indo-Pacific Region to deliver expert training for over 1,000 participants. This year he contributed to the UN Ocean Decade Stakeholder Workshops on Chennai India and Nairobi Kenya by co-convening Working Group 3 for “A Predicted Ocean.”  

Dr. Thurston is eager to bring his NOAA and international experience and skill set to the objectives of the new WMO INFCOM Standing Committee on Earth Observing Systems and Monitoring Networks (SC-ON).