We are happy to inform you that the Ocean Colour Essential Ocean Variable (EOV) Specification Sheet has been published and is available for viewing and download (for more information on the EOV process visit our site HERE.) To access all the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) EOV Specification Sheets, please follow this link: www.goosocean.org/eov.

The document has been prepared as a joint effort by the International Ocean Colour Coordination Group (IOCCG) and GOOS Panels. The challenge of describing the multidisciplinary requirements and applications of ocean colour measurements was met by a task team of dedicated experts from IOCCG Committee and GOOS Expert Panels: Emmanuel Boss (University of Maine, USA), Frank Muller-Karger (University of South Florida, USA), Rosalia Santoleri (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy), Simon Bélanger (Université du Québec à Rimouski, Canada) and Taka Hirata (Hokkaido University, Japan). Extensive feedback was obtained through two rounds of review provided by the IOCCG Committee, which consists of members drawn from national space agencies and the ocean colour community. We hope that the observing community will find this document useful in the process of implementing the vision for multi-disciplinary and multi-platform sustained ocean observing system.

Although IOCCP as GOOS Biogeochemistry Panel is formally responsible for curation of the document, the Ocean Colour EOV should be seen as equally owned by and applicable to the work of all three Expert Panels of GOOS: Physics & Climate, Biogeochemistry and Biology & Ecosystems. As in the case of other EOVs, GOOS in consultation with IOCCG will ensure that the document remains up to date in the future. If you have any questions or comments on the document, please direct them to IOCCP Office who will make sure that all are addressed in due time.