Support for International Ocean Science Activities Through SCOR

The Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) promotes international cooperation in all areas of ocean science and benefits the U.S. ocean science community by creating linkages with scientists from other countries. SCOR makes it possible for national ocean science communities to participate in international research projects and create ways to address important ocean science issues. This project provides a mechanism for U.S. scientists to collaborate with international scientists to generate new knowledge and contribute to global datasets. The knowledge and data generated through these activities will inform ocean management. This project supports SCOR coordination for research, technology, and methods for biological, chemical, and physical oceanography. SCOR activities will improve understanding of 1) the distributions of trace elements and isotopes in the ocean and the processes that control these distributions; 2) ocean-atmosphere exchange and what controls the transfer of gases and material across the air-sea interface; and 3) the effects of multiple stressors on marine life. SCOR will synthesize existing knowledge, identify priority future research activities, and provide tools (methods, databases, models) to improve research approaches. SCOR's impact will be evident in the standardization of measurement protocols, sharing of data, coordination of ship time, and the enlargement of field studies which would be impossible without international coordination. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.