Community White Papers

White paper titles and authors are now available online.

• Community White Papers
• Important IOOS Documents & Reports

The white papers will inform the development of U.S IOOS strategy and plan development to enhance U.S. IOOS capabilities over the next decade.  White papers are expected contribute content to some component(s) of the U.S. IOOS Summit document as described below. These papers were solicited as group or individual contributions with one identified corresponding author and a list of contributors.  The writers were asked to provide information that is forward-looking and presenting new opportunities for a particular element of the sustained observing system or stating the requirements for a user need. CWPs could also refresh existing plans in the light of new and evolving information and technology, or describe contributions to the sustained national Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) from new communities with a plan for a regionally, nationally, or globally-deployed network or infrastructure or service. To the extent practicable, the CWPs make reference to which U.S. IOOS subsystem(s) will benefit from white paper findings, provide conclusions or recommendations, and include a vision for the next 10 years. The CWPs map broadly to one of the five chapters of the IOOS Summit Proceedings:

1. Highlighting the Past Decade
2. User Requirement: Revisiting/Updating
3. Observing System Capabilities: Gap Assessment
4. Integration Challenges and Opportunities
5. Vision for Next 10 Years

Use of the Community White Papers (CWPs):

The CWPs will serve as raw material and appendices to IOOS Summit Proceedings (ISP).  Material will be extracted and edited to compile the five chapters of the ISP by members of the Program Committee. In addition, the CWPs were used to select a significant number of the Summit attendees.  All CWPs were reviewed and scored for Quality (1-10), Relevance (1-10), and Helpfulness/Format (1-10) by Chapter Leads and Summit Co-Chairs.  One representative from the 30 top-rated submissions was invited to the Summit. Finally, CWPs will be synthesized into content for  thematic sessions and breakout groups at the IOOS Summit.  It is anticipated that there will be interaction between many CWP writers and the Program Committee in preparing the Summit Program.

Format/Style Guide:

1. 5 typeset pages max, 5 figures and should include:
2. An introductory statement that clearly states the opportunity for a specific element of U.S. IOOS or the specific requirement(s) for a U.S. IOOS user need;
3. A description of any new technology and its potential contribution to U.S. IOOS; and
4. A final section on recommendations moving forward.
5. Any recommendations should be concise and action oriented. Best examples will begin with a verb and include the recommended action for U.S. IOOS implementation moving forward. Include relevant partners whose participation is required for the successful implementation of the recommendation.

Publication:

CWPs will be receiving a friendly peer review to assist all authors in finalizing their contributions to the IOOS Summit Proceedings due in early October. We’ve identified 30 reviewers who will go through and summit comments. The review is intended to be constructive with comments going back to the authors. The authors can then decide to incorporate them or not. Ultimately, the final papers will then go into the appendices of the final IOOS Summit Proceedings.