Oceanography Society

The Oceanography Society (TOS) is a non-profit society founded in 1988, based in Rockville, Maryland, U.S. and incorporated in the District of Columbia.^[1] It is an oceanographical organization that aims to promote communication among oceanographers, spread knowledge through research and education, and to provide a constituency for building consensus amongst the sub-disciplines of the field. The society publishes the scientific journal Oceanography, which publishes articles on all oceanic disciplines.^[2]

History

The idea for forming a oceanographic society was hatched by a group of scientists, who approached both the American Geophysical Union and the American Meteorological Society with the idea. The two groups both responded positively, leading to several oceanographical events at the time. However, the need developed for the creation of an independent community, resulting in the formation of the Oceanography Society in March 1988. These early developments by the society were paralleled by developments in the Challenger Society for Marine Science.^[1]

Awards

The Oceanography Society gives out three awards—the Jerlov Award, the Walter Munk Award, and the Oceanography Society Fellows Program.^[3]

Jerlov Award

The Jerlov Award is awarded "in Recognition of Contribution Made to the Advancement of Our Knowledge of the Nature and Consequences of Light in the Ocean".^[4] It is named after Nils Gunnar Jerlov, an early leader in the area of ocean optics research. Jerlov's work on ocean optical and other similar processes helped to create modern ocean optical research. His book Marine Optics, published in 1976, is still widely referenced by other sources and is read by students of ocean optics and ocean color sensing.^{[citation needed]} The society uses the Jerlov Award to "recognize outstanding achievements in ocean optics and ocean color remote sensing research".^[4]

Walter Munk Award

The Walter Munk Award is "awarded in Recognition of Distinguished Research in Oceanography Related to Sound and the Sea".^[5] It is named after Walter Munk, the first recipient in 1993. The award is given by the society jointly with the Office of Naval Research and the Office of the Oceanographer of the Navy.^[5]

Oceanography Society Fellows Program

The Fellows Program "recognizes individuals who have attained eminence in oceanography through their outstanding contributions to the field of oceanography or its applications during a substantial period of years".^[6] Individuals in the Society can be elected as a TOS Fellow with outstanding contributions to the field of oceanography as well as devotion to the field. An individual is usually considered for nomination after he or she has been a member of the society for at least three years.^[6]

Journal

Main article: Oceanography (journal)

Oceanography is published quarterly—every March, June, September, and December.^[2] It contains peer-reviewed articles on many aspects of ocean science. The journal was first published in 1988; all of its issues are available both in print and online as PDF files.^[7]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Baker, D. James (1988). "How the Oceanography Society Came to Be: Its Past and its Future". Oceanography (Oceanography Society) 1 (1). http://www.tos.org/oceanography/issues/issue_archive/issue_pdfs/1_1/1.1_baker.pdf. Retrieved 26 July 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Oceanography Society". Oceanography Society. http://www.tos.org/. Retrieved 26 July 2010. 
3. ^ "Awards and Honors". Oceanography Society. http://www.tos.org/awards_honors.html. Retrieved 5 August 2010. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "The Jerlov Award". Oceanography Society. http://www.tos.org/awards_honors/jerlov_award.html. Retrieved 26 July 2010. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "The Walter Munk Award". Oceanography Society. http://www.tos.org/awards_honors/munk_award.html. Retrieved 26 July 2010. 
6. ^ ^{a b} "The Oceanography Society Fellows Program". Oceanography Society. http://www.tos.org/awards_honors/fellows_program.html. Retrieved 26 July 2010. 
7. ^ "Oceanography: Home". Oceanography Society. http://www.tos.org/oceanography/index.html. Retrieved 5 August 2010. 

External links

• Oceanography Society home
• Oceanography Online Archive – all back issues of the journal are fully online
• Facebook feed