Workshop on Sea Level Data Archaeology
Where and when
IOC/UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France
10-12 March 2020
(1st announcement, 14 October 2019)
Flyer: https://www.sonel.org/IMG/pdf/1st_announcement_sea_level_data_archaeology_workshop.pdf
Background
Historical tide measurements are among the oldest direct observations which provide relevant information regarding the long-term evolution of mean sea-level. In many countries, systematic sea level observations have been carried out since the early to mid-1800s. Despite this rich historical legacy, documents with these records are hidden in archive centers. Most of these analog documents are not adequately inventoried. There can be considerable benefit in rescuing these data before they may be lost. As quoted by Ed Hawkins, working on weather data rescue: “The fastest way to collect new weather observations is by looking back in time!”.
Recovery of historical sea level measurements can contribute to assessment of mean sea level trends on multi-decadal to secular timescales. In addition, they are also useful for many other scientific applications such as characterization of changes in storminess over time, estimation of river flow, study of the stability of tidal constituents, or evolution of tidal range in estuarine areas. Historical observations can be of use for coastal management via the identification and the reconstruction of past extreme events, allowing for improvement in estimation and prediction of extreme water levels.
Individual projects (single station efforts) and some concerted national campaigns have been carried out in recent years to rescue or inventory historical sea-level data. These efforts have responded to appeals by the Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS). At a joint meeting between the Tides, Water Level and Currents Working Group (TWCWG) of the IHO and the GLOSS Group of Experts from 11-13 April 2019, Busan (Republic of Korea), it was agreed to organize an international workshop on “Sea Level Data Archaeology”. The main objective is to bring together experts concerned with sea level data rescue activities to explore the potential for a more sustained programmatic approach to cooperation at the international level.
The workshop is convened under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and its Global Sea Level Observing System. The IHO TWCWG is a co- sponsor of the workshop.
Sessional topics will include:
- Historical sea level data inventories and data at risk
- Methodology for transfer of paper records to digital data
- Auxiliary historical archives relative to sea level
- Applications and knowledge products from recovered data
- Cooperation perspectives
Structure of the workshop and submission of abstracts
The structure of the Workshop will consist of plenary sessions, panel discussions and a poster session. Abstracts for presentations (oral or poster) should be sent to Yann Ferret yann.ferret@shom.fr with a copy to e.iasyreva@unesco.org and t.aarup@unesco.org) by no later than 1 February 2020.
Who should attend
Sea level scientists, engineers, hydrographers, experts in climate data rescue, historians, impacted users.
Registration
Advanced registration is needed to attend the Workshop. There is no registration or attendance fee. Please register at workshop website (see below under “Further Information”).
Scientific Committee
Yann Ferret, Service hydrographique et océanographique de la marine Laurent Testut, University of La Rochelle
Thorkild Aarup, IOC
Additional members of the scientific committee will be provided in the 2nd announcement.
Further Information
More information about the program of the Workshop, accommodation options, and visa requirements will be made available at:
http://www.ioc-unesco.org/workshop-sea-level-data-archaeology
and from Thorkild Aarup, Technical Secretary of GLOSS (t.aarup@unesco.org).
