International Arctic Buoy Programme (IABP)
Operating Principles
(Revised May
2007)
1.
Objective
The objective of the International
Arctic Buoy Programme (IABP) is to establish and maintain a network of data buoys
in the
2.
Programme Responsibilities
The IABP will:
2.1. Maintain an observational network
over the
2.2. Distribute meteorological, sea ice
and oceanographic data and buoy location from the network in real time over the
Global Telecommunication System (GTS) of the WMO and distribute relevant
additional real-time data approved for public dissemination;
2.3. Ensure data from the network are
archived;
2.4. Develop and distribute basic
analyzed products;
2.5. Cooperate with and provide results
of the Programme to the WCRP/SCAR International Programme for Antarctic Buoys
and other related programmes; and
2.6. Promote the use of Programme data
and products.
3.
Observation Programme
3.1. Operational Area
The operational area of the
Programme will include the central
3.2. The IABP measurements include the
following variables:
3.2.1. Sea level pressure
3.2.2. Surface air temperature
3.2.3. Sea ice motion
3.2.4. Snow depth
3.2.5. Sea ice thickness
3.2.6. Sea ice temperatures
3.2.7. Ocean temperatures and salinities
3.2.8. Ocean Circulation
3.1. Additional variables, such as
surface winds, atmospheric chemistry, longwave and shortwave radiation are also
desirable and buoy deployment, data collection, analysis and dissemination from
these instruments will be facilitated by the Programme.
3.2. Basic Network Density
The Programme will strive
to establish and maintain a well distributed network with observational points
no more than 250 kilometers apart. As far as practical, buoys will be deployed
to achieve and maintain this density over the operational area.
4.
Data Acquisition and Distribution
4.1. Transmitters
All buoys in the
network should be equipped with transmitters to enable transmission of data in
real-time (synoptic and asynoptic observation times) using satellite telemetry
such as Collecte Localisation
Satellites (CLS), and Iridium.
4.2. Global Telecommunication System
Participants are
responsible to code appropriate data and buoy location in approved WMO code(s)
and required to distribute data onto the GTS in real-time (See item 2.2).
5.
Data Archiving
5.1. Operational Archiving
All data transmitted
on the GTS will be archived by the Integrated Science Data Management (ISDM,
formerly Marine Environmental Data Services) as the Responsible National
Oceanographic Data Centre (RNODC) for
Drifting Buoys of the Joint Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine
Meteorology (JCOMM) of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of
UNESCO and the WMO.
5.2. Research Data Base
A uniform,
quality-controlled Programme data base has been established at the
6.
Management Structure
6.1. Participants
Programme Participants can be
operational agencies, meteorological and oceanographic institutes, research
agencies, data centres, government and non-governmental organizations, and
commercial services interested in the
On an annual basis, the Participants
will review the membership to identify potential new Participants and to
re-affirm the intent of existing Participants. Participants who chose not to
re-affirm their participation will be deemed to have withdrawn.
Participants may withdraw from the
Programme with a letter to the Chairman of the IABP.
A Participant who is unable to
attend may designate a Participant to act as Proxy at an annual meeting by
notifying the Chair in advance of the meeting.
6.2. Election of Programme Executives
The Programme is
coordinated by the Participants. The Participants will arrange for the
implementation of the Programme within the framework of the Programme
Objective.
On an annual basis,
the Participants will elect a Chair and Vice Chair and appoint a Programme
Coordinator. The Chair, Vice Chair, and two representatives elected from the
Participants will form the Executive Committee. Elections will be held at
annual meetings of the Participants and will be decided by a simple majority if
a quorum of Participants is present. A quorum will consist of a simple majority
of Participants. If a quorum is not present at the annual meeting of
Participants, elections will be by unanimous vote.
A Participant who
is unable to attend the annual meeting may register a proxy vote delivered by
an attending Participant if such authority is signified in writing to the
Chair.
6.3. Executive Committee
The Executive Committee will be
responsible for the day-to-day management of the Programme within the
guidelines set at the annual meeting of Participants. The Executive Committee
will provide guidance and direction to the Coordinator.
6.4. Coordinator
The Coordinator will act as the focal
point for the Programme and will carry out the directives of the Executive
Committee during intercessional periods. Specific responsibilities and duties
of the Coordinator are contained in Appendix 1.
The Programme will be self-sustaining,
supported by contributions of equipment, services (such as communications,
deployment, archiving, and scientific or technical advice), coordination, and
monetary contributions. As necessary, the Participants will establish a budget
to implement the Programme. Other funding arrangements made between the
Participants will be recognized as contributions to the IABP if they further
the Objective of the Programme.
6.6. Programme Review
The management structure and
operation of the Programme will be reviewed at the annual meeting of
Participants. The operating principles and procedures will be reviewed and
updated as necessary at the annual meeting.
7. Meetings
An annual meeting of the
Participants will be held at a location to be determined by the Participants.
The International Arctic Buoy Programme (IABP) Operating Principles
The Coordinator is appointed at the annual meeting of the
Participants and is directed by the Executive Committee. The Coordinator's
specific responsibilities are to:
1. Monitor
and receive appropriate data from the buoy network and to prepare a monthly
status report of buoys;
2. Stay
informed of the activities of non-IABP Participants and other field operations
and to make those data available, as possible;
3. Liaise
with Principal Investigators and managers of individual buoy programmes in the
4. Arrange
for the maintenance of a research quality data base of ice motion and surface
meteorological data, and to submit through the World Data Centre A (Glaciology) to World Data Centre B (Sea-Ice)
and the RNODC/DB;
5. Develop
a deployment strategy to maintain an optimum buoy network in the
6. Identify
and coordinate opportunities for buoy deployment;
7. Liaise
on technical aspects of buoy deployment;
8. Prepare
an annual summary of resources committed to the Programme;
9. Liaise,
as needed, with the Technical Coordinator of the Data Buoy Cooperation Panel to
ensure that; a) the proper quality control of arctic data is maintained; and b)
the data are distributed over GTS. Provide the Technical Coordinator with
deployment information;
10. Arrange
for the purchase of buoys and ancillary equipment, as authorized;
11. Arrange
for the payment of CLS data acquisition and CLS processing fees, as authorized;
12. Prepare
and distribute an annual data report;
13. Maintain
a distribution list for monthly status reports and annual data reports;
14. Respond
to requests from the international arctic science community for reports on
arctic climatology, global change, and advice on experiment design;
15. Maintain
a web page that promotes the IABP, provides access to the IABP datasets, and
provides news and information to the Participants and general community;
16. Organize
the annual meeting of Participants, present a report of the preceding year's
activities, and prepare a plan for the following year; and
17. Promote
the IABP so as to attract potential Participants.
NOTE: Additional contractual duties of the Coordinator that may be
required in the future will be approved through the Executive Committee.