DBO Town Hall

The marine system in the Pacific Arctic sector is experiencing unprecedented seasonal sea ice retreat and seawater warming resulting in biological changes and the potential for ecosystem reorganization. This side meeting will discuss and solicit input on the developing concept of a marine "Distributed Biological Observatory" (DBO) in the Pacific Arctic sector, a recommendation resulting from a NOAA-sponsored multidisciplinary and international workshop in May 2009. The DBO is envisioned as biological and supportive environmental sampling at explicit regional sites using a collaborative international network of logistical support to track the ongoing shifts in ecosystem structure concomitant with climate change. The target audience consists of biological and environmental scientists interested in developing a biological observing network in the Pacific marine sector. This forum will also be of interest to both US and international science managers working to develop an network of observing systems in polar regions, such as the SEARCH program (Study of Environmental Arctic Change).