U.S. GLOBEC Technology TOR --

## U.S. GLOBEC Technology Terms of Reference

U.S. GLOBEC has from its inception recognized the central role of technology development in pursuing its overall scientific objectives. U.S. GLOBEC needs to make use of the most efficient available methods of sampling biology and physics on appropriately comparable time and space scales. Because sampling technogy is rapidly evolving a standing committee has been established. It is charged with keeping abreast of technical developments and facilitating their exploitation by U.S. GLOBEC investigators.

#### Tasks

1. Keep abreast of new sensor developments (esp. with regard to acoustical and optical instruments).

2. Track advances in molecular biology and genetics that may be of use in addressing questions of interest to U.S. GLOBEC, e.g., the identification of species and assessment of physiological condition.

3. Provide liaison with JGOFS to facilitate sharing developments in sampling or analytical technology.

4. Investigate the need for and potential utilization of a national acoustic and/or optic instrument facility.

5. Consider whether U.S. GLOBEC ought to sponsor training workshops on the use of optical or acoustic instrumentation (similar to RDI's ADCP workshops or ongoing workshops on SPEM model usage) and if so whether this activity ought be an integral part of a national sampling technology facility.

6. Examine cross-scale issues. Within U.S. GLOBEC, issues of concern in the coupling of physics and biology range from the very small-scale (e.g., feeding interaction of a predator with the prey in its immediate environment) to the very-large scale (e.g., climate and seasonal atmospheric dynamic effects on ocean circulation and its effects on species ranges, population dynamics and recruitment). It is important that research results along the entire spectrum of spatial and temporal scales be integrated--i.e., coupling of localized high temporal resolution observations (such as from moorings) to broader data sets (such as satellite observations) is essential. Developments not only in theory but also in technology may be required to accomplish this.

7. Determine how U.S. GLOBEC can facilitate ongoing efforts to calibrate and standardize protocols for measuring zooplankton populations, community structure and secondary production rates.

8. Facilitate the eventual evolution of U.S. GLOBEC from a set of fixed-duration site-specific process studies to long-term monitoring operation (possibly in conjunction with GOOS).