News from SCOR - New Activities and Other Outcomes from the Annual Meeting

October 2026 SCOR Newsletter #61

SCOR News

2026 SCOR Annual Meeting

The SCOR annual meeting was successfully held from 8 to 10 September in Helsinki, Finland thanks to the gracious hosting by the Finnish SCOR committee. The meeting resulted in two new working groups (find out more below!), plans to support broader access and participation in SCOR, and ideas for outreach to early-career scientists. Reports throughout the meeting also highlighted the impacts of SCOR's scientific and capacity building activities on advancing ocean science through international collaborations. Thank you to all of the national committee members, working group and project representatives, partners, and observers who participated in person and online across time zones. Reports and presentations prepared for the meeting are available on the meeting webpage.

The international meeting attendees also engaged in collaborative exchanges at the symposium and early-career poster session on Baltic and Polar Research in Finland, which highlighted research interests and societal concerns that are shared across the globe. Participants also enjoyed a reception hosted by the City of Helsinki, a tour of the Polaris icebreaker, and many collegial networking breaks and meals.

Welcome also to the new SCOR Executive Committee members, who began their first terms at the conclusion of the general meeting: Jerry Wiggert (USA) as SCOR Secretary, Babette Tchonang (USA) as the Early-Career Member, and Hilkka Ndjaula (Namibia) taking on the position of the newest Vice President.

Save the Date! The 2027 SCOR annual meeting will be held in Valparaíso, Chile from 26 to 28 October 2027, with a premeeting event on 25 October 2027.

New Videos!

A video series was produced at the SCOR annual meeting, highlighting

what SCOR does,
what happens at the annual meeting,
the importance of international collaboration,
activities to support early-career scientists,
and more!

Browse the YouTube playlist here

View the meeting recap video on YouTube.

New SCOR Working Groups

We are excited to announce the two new working groups selected during the SCOR annual meeting! SCOR working groups address scientific issues that are impeding the advancement of contemporary ocean science such as conceptual and methodological issues important to the oceanographic community at large. Their compositions are diverse in geography and career stage, and are scoped to address narrowly focused topics to be completed in 3-5 years.

WG 176 AtoZTraits: Advancing Tools in Zooplankton Trait-based Research

AtoZTraits will brings together a global network of zooplankton experts to consolidate efforts in expanding, applying, and promoting the Global Zooplankton Trait Database (GZTD). Trait-based approaches offer a promising framework for simplifying the complexity of ecosystems through a common currency of traits, thereby mechanistically linking species to ecosystem functioning.

BioGeoSCAPES Science Plan

Ocean metabolism and nutrient cycles on a changing planet

The BioGeoSCAPES Community has reached an exciting milestone: the official program launch and endorsement by SCOR, and the publication of the Science Plan.

BioGeoSCAPES remains an open and welcoming community of interdisciplinary scientists, and encourages the community to share the Science Plan broadly with scientists and funding agencies that would like to engage in the program.

Learn more at the launch webinar on 10 November:

Read the Frequently Asked Questions about the project

BioGeoSCAPES is on LinkedIn and BlueSky

SOLAS 3.0 Science Plan Release and Call for Participation

We are delighted to announce the official launch of the SOLAS 3.0: 2026–2035 Science Plan and Organisation—a bold new framework charting the next decade of international research at the ocean–atmosphere interface. The plan is structured around three objectives: Discovery Science, Science Towards Solutions, and Scientific Community and Skill Development. Read more here

As part of the implementation of the SOLAS 3.0 Science Plan, SOLAS (Surface Ocean-Lower Atmosphere Study) invites proposals for Task Groups—a focused, time-limited mechanism to address specific scientific needs and deliver tangible outcomes. Task Groups may support focused activities such as scientific or community workshops, synthesis and roadmap development, best-practice activities, pilot activities, or other initiatives that address a clearly identified SOLAS 3.0 need. Read more here - apply by 13 November

Read the Executive Summary

Read SOLAS 3.0 Science Plan

Community Events

Save the Date! SOOS Symposium 2027

The 2027 Symposium of the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) will take place in Naples, Italy, from 6–10 September 2027. Join the Southern Ocean community for five days of discussion, collaboration and coordination around Southern Ocean science and observations. Associated meetings and events can take place from 4–11 September.

More information

Join this mailing list for updates

Save the Date! SOLAS Open Science Conference 2027

The main conference will be held 22-26 November 2027 with side events 20-21 November 2027 in Ōtautahi/Christchurch, New Zealand. The conference is hosted by Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha/University of Canterbury. Information will be circulated via the SOLAS mailing list,

website, and social media channels.

See the announcement

GEOTRACES Online Seminar #6

The sixth GEOTRACES Online Seminar, organised by the Early-Career Scientist Committee, will be held on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, from 15:00 to 16:00 CET.

Topic: Hydrothermal Impact on Ocean Biogeochemistry

Speakers: Prof. Christopher R German (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHOI, USA) and Dr. Laura Moore (University of Victoria, Canada)

Moderator: Dr. Lise Artigue

https://geomar-de.zoom-x.de/j/63657733493?pwd=6Uman0pQaKQ56P9SkXoUfz55XqqO7a.1

Meeting ID: 636 5773 3493

Passcode: 651026

Recordings of previous seminars are available on the GEOTRACES YouTube channel or via the following OneDrive link: 2026OnlineSeminars.

WG 168 4D-BGC Webinar #12 - Catherine Schmechtig & Annie Wong

Catherine Schmechtig (CNRS) and Annie Wong (SIO) will present The intricacies of BGC-Argo data and how to bypass them with the EasyOneArgo data product on Wednesday, 21 October at 15:00 UTC.

Registration link

4D-BGC webinars are recorded, and previous presentations can be found here.

Other News

UN Ocean Decade Endorsement for WG 174 SPASS

SCOR WG 174 SPASS (Small Plastics in the Ocean's Interior: coherent Analysis and Synthesis for better Scrutiny) has been endorsed as a UN Ocean Decade Project under the JETZON Programme. SPASS aims to address critical knowledge gaps in understanding small plastics in the ocean interior by harmonizing methods for sampling, measurement, and data reporting of small plastics across the water column.

GEOTRACES IDP2028 - First Deadline: 15 May 2027

The first deadline for the GEOTRACES Intermediate Data Product (IDP) 2028 is 15 May 2027. Because of the very large number of datasets being submitted for the IDP, you are encouraged to submit your datasets as soon as possible to improve the chances that they are included in the IDP.

Even more news from the projects can be found at:

SCOR Research projects:

Marine biogeochemical cycles of trace elements and their isotopes (GEOTRACES )
Integrated Marine Biosphere Research (IMBeR)
Surface Ocean Lower Atmosphere Studies (SOLAS)
International Indian Ocean Expedition II (IIOE-2)
International Quiet Ocean Experiment (IQOE)
Ocean metabolism and nutrient cycles on a changing planet (BioGeoSCAPES)

SCOR Infrastructural projects:

International Ocean Carbon Coordination Project (IOCCP)
Global Harmful Algal Blooms (GlobalHAB)
Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS)
Changing Ocean Biological Systems (COBS)

Publication Highlights

WG 169 GLUBS: Di Iorio, L., Looby, A., Juanes, F., Lin, T.-H., Song, Z., Stanley, J., & Parsons, M. J. G. (2026). Editorial: Detection and characterization of unidentified underwater biological sounds, their spatiotemporal patterns, and possible sources. Frontiers in Remote Sensing, Volume 7-2026. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsen.2026.1801687

WG 172 SALTWATER: Díez-Minguito, M., & Burchard, H. (2026). Along-channel variability of Total Exchange Flow in a narrow, well-mixed estuary: Influence of the M4 tide. Ocean Science, 22(3), 1861–1874. https://doi.org/10.5194/os-22-1861-2026

WG 167 RUSTED: Dubois, N., Foret, G., Siour, G., Uzu, G., Amato, F., André, J.-M., Alastuey, A., Alleman, L. Y., Aujay-Plouzeau, R., Conil, S., Couvidat, F., Ito, A., Moukhtar, S., Pallares, C., Querol, X., Sirina-Leboine, N., Salque-Moreton, G., Stratigou, E., Vida, M., … Beekmann, M. (2026). Modelling of atmospheric copper, iron, and manganese over Europe. Atmospheric Environment, 372, 121884. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2026.121884

WG 173 ORCAS: Eayrs, C., Labe, Z., Massonnet, F., Tian, T., & Müller, M. (2026). Reliable AI Sea Ice Forecasts Depend on Sustained Observations. Eos, 107. https://doi.org/10.1029/2026EO260317

WG 161 ReMO: García, J. L., Montero, M. F., Álvarez-Salgado, X. A., & Arístegui, J. (2026). Microbial Respiration Across Subtropical Eddies: Submesoscale Variability and Biogeochemical Drivers. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 131(10), e2026JC024036. https://doi.org/10.1029/2026JC024036

WG 161 ReMO: Gómez-Letona, M., & Álvarez-Salgado, X. A. (2026). Respiration Rates in the Global Mesopelagic Ocean. Geophysical Research Letters, 53(7), e2025GL118584. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL118584

SOLAS: Hayward, A., Wright, S. W., Carroll, D., Law, C. S., Wongpan, P., Gutiérrez-Rodriguez, A., & Pinkerton, M. H. (2025). Antarctic phytoplankton communities restructure under shifting sea-ice regimes. Nature Climate Change, 15(8), 889–896. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-025-02379-x

WG 163 CIce2Clouds: Lapere, R., Haddon, A., Price, R., Marelle, L., Monahan, A. H., Steiner, N., Raut, J.-C., Bastien, L., Willis, M. D., & Thomas, J. L. (2026). Marine Secondary Aerosols Are Required for Modeling Clouds in the Arctic. Geophysical Research Letters, 53(13), e2026GL121724. https://doi.org/10.1029/2026GL121724

WG 165 MixONET: Larsson, M. E., Leles, S. G., Mitra, A., Faure, E., Vaulot, D., & Santoferrera, L. (2026). Environmental structuring of mixoplankton functional types within marine protist communities: A global analysis. Ocean Microbiology, 2(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s44375-026-00007-3

SOLAS: Law, C. S., & Miller, L. A. (2025). The air-sea interface in a changing climate: Research advances and future directions. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene, 13(1), 00022. https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.2025.00022

WG 167 RUSTED: Nagashima, K., Goto-Azuma, K., Ito, A., Hirabayashi, M., Shiraiwa, T., Matoba, S., Segawa, T., Kanamori, S., & Nagatsuka, N. (2026). Trans-Pacific Saharan dust recorded in Mount Logan ice core. Progress in Earth and Planetary Science, 13(1), 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40645-026-00796-w

IOCCP: Sutton, A. J., Bakker, D. C. E., Barbero, L., Bittig, H. C., Carter, B., Claustre, H., Feely, R. A., Ishii, M., Johnson, K. S., McDonagh, E., Nakaoka, S., O’Brien, K., Pasqueron de Fomervault, O., Sabine, C., Sanders, R., Steinhoff, T., Tanhua, T., Telszewski, M., Tilbrook, B., & Wanninkhof, R. (2026). Cross-Network Synergies Fundamental to Sustained Global Ocean Carbon Observing. Earth’s Future, 14(10), e2026EF008722. https://doi.org/10.1029/2026EF008722

WG 165 MixONET: Velasco-Senovilla, E., Reguera, B., Sourisseau, M., Mouriño-Carballido, B., & Nogueira, E. (2026). Upwelling-driven vertical segregation of co-occurring phytoplankton, including HAB species, revealed by niche analyses. Harmful Algae, 153, 103064. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2026.103064

WG 165 MixONET: Velasco-Senovilla, E., Reguera, B., Ramilo, I., Casas, G., Mouriño-Carballido, B., & Nogueira, E. (2026). Upwelling events, depth varying succession of phytoplankton assemblages and vertical connectivity: A conceptual model. Progress in Oceanography, 244, 103704. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2026.103704

WG 167 RUSTED: Wang, G., Cui, X., Xu, B., Wu, C., Zhi, M., Li, K., Xu, L., Yuan, Q., Wang, Y., Sun, Y., Shi, Z., Ito, A., Zhai, S., & Li, W. (2026). Divergent iron dissolution pathways controlled by sulfuric and nitric acids from the ground-level to the upper mixing layer. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 26(2), 1483–1496. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-1483-2026

WG 174 SPASS: Zhao, S., Galgani, L., & Kvale, K. (2026). Measuring Microplastics in Every Ocean Layer. Eos. https://doi.org/10.1029/2026EO260202

Emily Twigg

SCOR Executive Director

For updates on SCOR activities, see our Latest News section