Long-term observations enhance knowledge impact as SAEON extends historic measurements

New knowledge gained through integrated research on the Cathedral Peak research catchments will continue to provide influential policy-relevant information, while also having societal impact through informing local actions.

Science and technology in action

SAEON Open Data Platform receives CoreTrustSeal certification

Following years of work by the uLwazi Node to ensure that the open data platform is set up and run according to international standards, the platform has been certified as a Trustworthy Data Repository by the CoreTrustSeal Standards and Certification Board.

Landslides and damaged roads in Jonkershoek

Putting the Western Cape September rainfall event into perspective

In September this year, the South African Weather Service issued a storm warning for the Western Cape. SAEON staff decided to analyse the event and compare it with previous September records, to place this high-intensity event in a historical context.

Phumlile Cotiyane-Pondo (SAEON Elwandle Node and SMCRI early career scientist) filtering water from the Gamtoos Estuary

New estuarine datasets available

A total of 34 continuous monitoring and 511 multiparameter datasets are now served through the Observations Database of the Shallow Marine and Coastal Research Infrastructure programme. Charts of all these datasets are available in the South African Estuary Information System.

Elwandle Node researchers are measuring the three most radiatively potent greenhouse gases emitted from blue carbon ecosystems to develop a net carbon budget for these ecosystems.

Turning blue to remedy GHG emissions and understand fluxes from coastal ecosystems

For the first time in South Africa, Elwandle Node researchers are measuring the three most radiatively potent greenhouse gases emitted from blue carbon ecosystems – to develop a net carbon budget for these ecosystems.

Raging fires leave a path of destruction in the arid lands

Runaway veld fires have caused havoc across parts of the Northern Cape, severely damaging SAEON’s weather monitoring instruments, weather station and flux tower, and destroying the soil moisture logger.

Gaining new perspectives at the annual conference of the international flux community

The FLUXNET conference provided an opportunity to update the global flux communities about the developments within SAEON-EFTEON, meet with colleagues and establish future collaborations.

South Africans attending the SOOS Symposium, including South African delegates representing international institutions.

Advancing our scientific understanding of the Southern Ocean

NRF-SAEON, SAPRI and SMCRI were represented at the first Southern Ocean Observing System Symposium, which investigated the challenges faced in providing long-term observations that address policy and societal issues.

BRICS ‘PARADIGM’ partners at the first face-to-face meeting in Qingdao, China

New Centre launched to generate knowledge for the ocean-climate nexus

Scientists from the Egagasini Node participated in the launch of the UN Decade Collaborative Centre for Ocean-Climate Nexus and Coordination in China. The Centre strives to coordinate global scientific and technological innovation cooperation in the field of oceans and climate.

The workshop in Paris brought together the co-leads of the six exemplar projects to discuss progress, collaboration across the projects and way forward in terms of co-designing fit-for-purpose ocean observing systems in the global oceans.

Co-designing the future of ocean observations

Two workshops in Paris highlighted the importance of understanding the boundary currents around South Africa. These currents impact our weather, climate, rainfall, fisheries, marine protected areas, blue economy industries and more.

Participants in the 28th IORAG Meeting held in Cape Town

Enhancing IORAG as a vehicle for youth empowerment in the Indian Ocean Region

The Department of Science and Innovation and NRF-SAEON co-hosted the 28^th Indian Ocean Rim Association Academic Group Meeting in Cape Town – the first time early-career professionals were invited to attend an IORAG meeting.

Message from the MD

Lessons learned, challenges overcome and memories of those who shaped our journey in 2023

SAEON managing director Dr Mary-Jane Bopape highlights the diverse and impactful nature of SAEON’s work, rooted in a commitment to scientific excellence, capacity development and societal engagement.

Building vital capacity

Ramontsheng presenting his research background during ODC

Earth systems model complexity vs. computational resources: Enhancing model efficiency

Two South African researchers participated in a training course in China that provided valuable insights that will contribute to ongoing efforts to strengthen numerical modelling in SA, and within the BRICS project.

Attendees of the 14th Annual Flux Course

Off to the USA for the 14th Annual Flux Course

EFTEON’s Amukelani Maluleke attended this prestigious early-career workshop which focuses on the foundations of land–atmosphere flux measurement, modelling and synthesis.

The northeastern experience – my journey as a SAEON intern

Rudzani Maboyi, a Master of Earth Science candidate at the University of Venda, looks back on her rewarding learning experiences as an intern at the Ndlovu Node.

Science engagement

Communicating discovery science – call for abstracts

The Journal of Science Communication invites researchers, practitioners, policymakers and funders to submit contributions to science communication research, practice and training specifically relevant to discovery science.

EFTEON instrument technician Jeremy Moonsamy discussing long-term rainfall records collected by Dr Michele Toucher at SAEON’s Grasslands Node

SAEON showcases freely available weather data to farmers at Bergville Agricultural Expo

EFTEON hosted a stand with a variety of instrumentation used to record weather and atmospheric data. Staff demonstrated to local and commercial farmers, stakeholders and students how they could benefit from the data.

NRF-SAEON in the media

SAEON’s people and projects received coverage in national print, broadcast, online and social media.

A scientist in his laboratory is not a mere technician: he is also a child confronting natural phenomena that impress him as though they were fairy tales.

~ Marie Curie

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