On this day in history,...

...in 1983, the Scientific Steering Group (SSG) of the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) convened for its first meeting at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Massachusetts. This meeting marked the formal beginning of the planning phase for one of the most ambitious international research programs in physical oceanography, designed to advance the understanding of how the global ocean circulation influences Earth's climate.

WOCE was initiated under the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) with the goal of obtaining a comprehensive dataset on ocean currents, temperature, salinity, and other key parameters. The program aimed to improve the accuracy of ocean models and climate predictions through a coordinated global effort.

Key Objectives and Achievements:

• Global Ocean Observations: extensive measurements were conducted between 1990 and 1998, with a network of research vessels, moored instruments, and autonomous floats covering the world's oceans.
• Altimetry and Satellite Data: WOCE incorporated satellite-based measurements of sea surface height, notably from the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite launched in 1992.
• Legacy: the project produced one of the most comprehensive oceanographic datasets in history, forming the basis for modern climate and ocean circulation models. Its success paved the way for long-term monitoring programs such as Argo and ongoing satellite missions.

Sources

• Revelle Papers, Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library: libraries.ucsd.edu/speccoll/findingaids/Revelle91-20.pdf
• National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI): ncei.noaa.gov/products/world-ocean-circulation-experiment
• Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Ocean_Circulation_Experiment