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Feature article

The Pacific Islands - Global Ocean Observing System (PI-GOOS)

Understanding the ocean for sustainable development in the South Pacific

Dr Sarah Grimes, SOPAC

Coral bleaching near Nuku’alofa, Tonga 2004. Photo courtesy of Dr Ed Lovell, USP.

Coastal erosion, Kiribati 2004. Photo courtesy of Mineral Unit, Kiribati

Walker Circulation during El Niño (Courtesy of Australian Bureau of Meteorology)

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission’s (IOC) Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) was established in response to the 1992 Earth Summit, which specifically called for ongoing observations, modelling, and analysis of marine and ocean variables to support ocean and climate services worldwide. This enables effective sustainable management, development, and prediction of future change of the ocean environment, its resources, and related climate issues.

The Pacific Ocean is the largest in the world. Its open waters and coastal environments are of strategic, economic, environmental, and social importance to the Pacific Island countries (PICs). The PICs are the most vulnerable and at risk to the effects of accelerated climate change and associated sea level rise, salt water intrusion in coastal environments (especially fresh groundwater supplies), loss of biodiversity (both animal and plant), and the spin-off weakened social and economic structure. Furthermore, coral bleaching and coastal erosion (especially associated with increased coastal development) are becoming common in the Pacific. Significantly, ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) is a Pacific-wide phenomenon that also affects the ecology, economy, and social structure of PICs.

Increased vulnerability and needs of PICs to acquire an integrated and holistic approach to ensure sustainable management and development of its ocean environment, resources, and related climate issues led to the establishment of a Pacific Islands (PI)-GOOS in 1998. The PI-GOOS is dedicated to developing capacity in oceanography in the South Pacific region through a framework within which the systematic acquisition of oceanographic, marine, and related climate data, storage, analysis, monitoring, and forecasting are encouraged. The PI-GOOS works in collaboration with the Pacific Islands Global Climate Observing System (PI-GCOS) to achieve this.

Ultimately, long-term sustained ocean observation will enhance the scientific information and advice available to the region for improving:

  • Marine and coastal water quality;
  • Mariculture development (including pearl and seaweed industries);
  • Coral reef health;
  • Research interests in the region;
  • Baseline information to climate observations; and
  • Capacity building efforts.

This leads towards ecologically sustainable development and good governance for the region via the:

  • Protection and restoration of ecosystem health;
  • Sustainable development and management of natural resources;
  • Promotion of economic development;
  • Planning for efficient and safe marine operations; and
  • Forecasting and mitigation of natural hazards and disasters.

The information acquired is being developed into useful products for dissemination to Pacific Island governments, regional and international scientific research, and the public to address marine and climate related issues in the South Pacific.

Further information is available on the new PI-GOOS website, the first ocean information portal developed for the region in mid 2005, accessible via the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) home page (www.sopac.org). For other queries, or to discuss ocean/climate monitoring issues and potential projects in the South Pacific, please contact the PI-GOOS Co-ordinator, Dr Sarah Grimes, based at the PI-GOOS Secretariat in SOPAC, Fiji ([email protected]) or PI-GCOS Co-ordinator, Mr Dean Solofa, based at the PI-GCOS Secretariat in SPREP, Samoa ([email protected]).