BACKGROUND The rapid development of operational oceanography in recent years has led to improved access to realtime data and products generated from in-situ and satellite observations as well as ocean modelling. Examples of such observations in the African oceans and coasts include the Argo programme, which collects temperature and salinity data from more than 3,500 buoys deployed in many parts of the world oceans, and the network of sea level stations established by IOC and other organizations under the framework of the Joint IOC-WMO Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM) and the IOC-led Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). A number of large open data sets and metadata from observations (in situ and remote sensing) and from model outputs exist which have application to a number of challenges and problems in coastal environments. The International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) programme has assisted several institutions in Africa to access these data sets through the Ocean Data and Information Network for Africa (ODINAFRICA). However these resources have not been utilised optimally in Africa due to limited capacities, and lack of information on their availability and applicability. The goal of the African Summer School on Application of Ocean and Coastal Data and Modelling Products is to build African capacity to access and utilize ocean and coastal data (and relevant meteorological data) from insitu and satellite observations, as well as those generated from ocean models to produce useful services for local use, for a wide variety of human and economic benefit purposes. On the basis of case studies, the participants will learn how to optimise the use of widely available data and analysis tools. The specific objectives will be to: (i) Identify and define data products necessary to address the priority issues (e.g. coastal hazard preparedness, sound ecosystem management, efficient navigation and maritime safety, weather forecasts, management of fisheries, and tourism) and identify and document relevant sources of real-time (and near-real time) ocean data sets required to generate them (ii) Train participants from Africa on how to access appropriate ocean data, and utilize specific tools and analyses to generate products for management of the ocean and coastal environment and resources applications. (iii) Prepare and disseminate manuals and course materials providing information on tools for discovery, analysis and visualization of relevant data and products to marine and coastal related training and research institutions in Africa (iv) Disseminate the data products generated using the data sets and tools identified to a wide range of users. The initiative will enable the utilization of data sets from global/regional ocean programmes for management of coastal environment and resources. This will in turn result in the identification of data gaps that need to be addressed. The demonstration of practical usage of the data sets will encourage member states to increase their investments in ocean observations. The emphasis will be on using freely available data, products and tools. However selected commercial software will be demonstrated during the training. The network of experts and institutions created will provide a forum for exchange of ideas and experiences.

FORMAT The summer school is organized in five parts which must be covered by all participants: (i) April – June 2014: Preparatory work: The participants will be provided with reading assignments and given tasks to implement in preparation for the training workshops. (ii) 9 – 13 June 2014: Training workshop will be held at the University of Ghana, Accra. The topics will include: Introduction to concepts of ocean models; overview of oceanic and coastal processes that models can resolve; lessons on when to use models and when not to; overview of freely available models; demonstration of some relevant commercial software; and hands on application of model output to case studies. (iii) June – August 2014: Implementation of case study assignments by participants at their home institutions. (iv) 18 – 22 August 2014: Training workshop at the Institute for Meteorological Training and Research, Kenya Meteorological Services, Nairobi, Kenya. The results from the project assignments undertaken by the students will be presented and reviewed (v) August – September 2014: Finalization and dissemination of case study reports.