<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
<br>
Earlier this summer, the MGG division of NSF released a survey
through UNOLS for determining how widespread marine seismic data
collection and usage is in the geophysical community. The survey
was answered by an impressive 258 responders and the results are
available at the following <a
href="https://www.unols.org/sites/default/files/Marine_Seismic_Survey_All_Responses_160705.pdf">link</a>.
The information gathered will be used to inform decisions related to
instrumentation, methodology, and management within MGG.<br>
<br>
<br>
<hr size="2" width="100%"><br>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="#666666">Date: June 13, 2016<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<font color="#666666"> </font>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="#666666">Dear Colleague, <br>
</font> <font color="#666666"><br>
Since the Sea Change Report was issued in January 2015 with the
recommendation to redirect funding from infrastructure support
to research programs; the MGG division of NSF has been assessing
its relative contributions to infrastructure and research
funding within the geophysical community. As part of this
effort, UNOLS is undertaking a survey that has been designed to
determine how widespread marine seismic data collection and
usage is within the geophysical community and its affiliated
fields.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The results will
be used to help to identify the instrumentation and methodology
that are critical to answer the current questions in the field
and also those that are necessary to meet the requirements of
future science directions. <o:p></o:p></font></p>
<font color="#666666"> </font>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="#666666">One outcome of the survey
data results will be to assist in the determination on whether
the UNOLS Marcus Langseth Science Oversight Committee, (MLSOC)
could have its mandate broadened to become the Marine Seismic
Oversight Committee (MSOC). This concept was presented by NSF at
the UNOLS Council meeting held in May 2016. The proposed terms
of reference for this new committee are to: <o:p></o:p></font></p>
<font color="#666666"> </font>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1
lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in"><font color="#666666"><span
style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:Arial"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">•<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Develop
an ongoing mechanism for regional planning to inform NSF on
research priorities based on U.S. community input<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<font color="#666666"> </font>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1
lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in"><font color="#666666"><span
style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:Arial"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">•<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Act
to engage and coordinate international participation and to
identify international resources that might be available to U.S.
researchers<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<font color="#666666"> </font>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1
lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in"><font color="#666666"><span
style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:Arial"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">•<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Provide
outreach tools and a feedback mechanism to the community<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<font color="#666666"> </font>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1
lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in"><font color="#666666"><span
style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:Arial"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">•<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Assist
in identify emerging directions in marine seismic studies<o:p></o:p></font></p>
<font color="#666666"> </font>
<p class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1
lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in"><font color="#666666"><span
style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
mso-fareast-font-family:Arial"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">•<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Engage
and train the next generation of marine seismic researchers <o:p></o:p></font></p>
<font color="#666666"> </font>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="#666666"><br>
The survey is available at: <o:p></o:p></font></p>
<font color="#666666"> </font>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="#666666"><a
class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MarineSeismicSurvey"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MarineSeismicSurvey">https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MarineSeismicSurvey</a></a><o:p></o:p></font></p>
<font color="#666666"> </font>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="#666666">The survey takes about 15
minutes to complete. <o:p></o:p></font></p>
<font color="#666666"> </font>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font color="#666666">Through your feedback
important and well informed decisions can be made and your input
is both greatly needed and appreciated. <b>Responses are
requested by: 1 July 2016 <br>
<br>
Please share this survey with your colleagues. </b>We hope to
gather data from oceanographic researchers who are experienced
sea-going scientists as well as early-career investigators. <br>
<br>
Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you.<br>
******************************************************</font><o:p></o:p></p>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">
</pre>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Kasey Aderhold
Project Associate | IRIS OBSIP Management Office
202-682-2220 x163 | <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:kasey@iris.edu">kasey@iris.edu</a></pre>
</body>
</html>