10 February 2016
REFMAR Days Advance International Cooperation on Sea-Level Observation
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With a view to supporting sea-level observation for prediction of tides, implementation of tsunami warning systems, coastal management, decision-making and other applications, nearly 150 scientists and researchers from Francophone countries gathered for the second edition of the REFMAR Days.

The event focused on: sea-level observation in support of research; storm surges and extreme sea-level events; and understanding long-term changes in sea-level, with a full day dedicated to each theme.

refmar4 February 2016: With a view to supporting sea-level observation for prediction of tides, implementation of tsunami warning systems, coastal management, decision making and other applications, nearly 150 scientists and researchers from Francophone countries gathered for the second edition of the REFMAR Days. The event focused on: sea-level observation in support of research; storm surges and extreme sea-level events; and understanding long-term changes in sea-level, with a full day dedicated to each theme.

In the context of rising sea-level due to climate change, the resulting vulnerability of coastal populations and the December 2015 adoption of the Paris Agreement on climate change, REFMAR Days 2016 sought to assess the current state of sea-level observation science, find pathways for better coping with sea-level rise and contribute to the improvement of early warning systems.

Held within the Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS) framework, the event was organized from 2-4 February 2016, in Paris, France, by the French Naval Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOM), the French Geological Survey (BRGM), the French Ministry of Ecology, and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Noting that the Paris Agreement makes reference to oceans in the preamble, the first such mention in a climate agreement, the organizers designed REFMAR Days 2016 to build on the momentum of the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UNFCCC, held from 29 November – 13 December 2015, which adopted the Paris Agreement. In particular, the event advanced the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) initiative, a capacity-building effort for Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems in more than 50 least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS).

REFMAR Days 2016 participants agreed to the importance of cross-disciplinary work, through, for example, the involvement of oceanographers, paleoclimatologists, satellite experts and social scientists. The event provided an opportunity for discussing and sharing of experiences among scientists, network operators and users. Noting the increased demand for the information provided by GLOSS, a network of institutions from 70 countries, UNESCO reported that the three-day event concluded with participants urging States to invest in and finance their own national observation networks, which are the foundation of international programmes and data exchanges.

The first edition of REFMAR Days took place in June 2013. [UNESCO Press Release, 22 January 2015] [UNESCO Press Release, 8 February 2016 (in French)] [UNESCO Event Announcement] [BRGM Event Announcement (in French)] [SHOM Event Announcement (in French)]


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