SOCAT governance, SOCAT links with SOCONET and a possible joint structure for SOCONET, SOCAT and SOCOM

Description

The Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas (SOCAT, www.socat.info) provides quality-controlled synthesis products of in situ global surface ocean CO2 measurements since 2011. It is the second step in the surface ocean carbon value chain in which collection of surface ocean CO2 measurements (in SOCONET - Surface Ocean CO2 Observing Network), their synthesis (in SOCAT), mapping and analysis (in SOCOM - Surface Ocean pCO2 Mapping Intercomparison) enables quantification of ocean CO2 uptake in the Global Carbon Budget, which informs policy makers via UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). SOCAT and other elements of this value chain are key for implementation of WMO’s (World Meteorological Organization) Global Greenhouse Gas Watch (G3W) program.

Recent developments include 1) the call for a governance structure for SOCAT as deemed essential for SOCAT being able to receive long term funding, 2) the need to discuss the links between SOCONET and SOCAT upon the establishment of SOCONET as an emerging GOOS (Global Ocean Observing System) network, and, 3) the suggestion that a single structure for SOCONET, SOCAT and SOCOM would provide greater visibility for the ocean carbon value chain.

These three topics have been explored in a series of online meetings in March 2026. In the 2-day meeting at VLIZ SOCAT regional group leads (as representatives of SOCAT data providers and quality controllers) and SOCAT global group members will discuss these three topics and agree on ways forward for each of them. Representatives of SOCONET and SOCOM will be invited to attend on 9 June for discussion of the second and third points.

Period	8 Jun 2026 → 9 Jun 2026
Event type	Workshop
Location	Oostende, BelgiumShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International