3 
PREFACE 
To improve our knowledge of the world oceans and their influence on humankind, an 
operational, world-wide ocean observing system is needed which enables us to assess the state 
of the oceans at any point in time and to predict future changes. 
The planning and establishment of a Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) were initiated 
at the Second World Climate Conference (Geneva, 1990). The UN Conference on 
Environment and Development (UNCED, Rio de Janeiro, 1992) confirmed the need for the 
establishment of a long-term ocean monitoring programme. The 16 th General Assembly of the 
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO (Paris, March 1991) 
decided by Resolution XVI-8 that GOOS should be developed under its overall control. 
Germany considers the development of operational oceanography highly important and will 
contribute to GOOS within the scope of its possibilities. Some preparations for the German 
GOOS contribution were already made in Germany during the GOOS planning phase. 
By September 1995, the BSH had compiled its ’’Status Report on Current and Planned 
Programmes and Research Projects in German Oceanography and Maritime Meteorology 
suitable as German contributions to GOOS”, which was published as issue no. 7 in the series 
of BSH reports. The present report is based on the Status Report but, while the Status Report 
compiled programmes and projects that were potentially suitable for GOOS, this report 
focuses exclusively on activities that are actually carried out for GOOS on a long-term basis. 
In April 1996, a workshop was held in Rostock under the heading ’’Requirements for a 
scientific concept for the German contribution” which was to initiate a dialogue between 
oceanographic research institutes, specialized maritime agencies, and the marine industry with 
the goal of eventually developing a concept for Germany’s contribution to GOOS. The 
workshop report was published as no. 9 in the series of BSH reports. 
In the present report, a distinction is made between operational contributions and GOOS- 
accompanying research projects. Operational oceanographic activities are defined as activities 
routinely involving the generation of customer-oriented maritime products and services on a 
long-term basis. Accompanying research programmes are only mentioned if they relate directly 
to the GOOS objectives. 
At the 20 Ul IOC General Assembly (June/July 1999), a resolution was passed in which 
Member States adopted the GOOS general principles (GOOS report no. 41, UNESCO, 
January 1998) and agreed to provide voluntary programme contributions. Germany presented 
this report at the 20 IOC General Assembly as its contribution to the development of IOC’s 
Global Ocean Observing System.