Introduction to the Integrated Ocean Observing Systems IOOS, Ocean Observing Initiatives OOI, Ocean

1
Introduction to the Integrated Ocean Observing
Systems (IOOS), Ocean Observing Initiatives
(OOI), Ocean Commission Report and whats
happening in Washington, DC

• Toby Garfield
• Marcia McNutt

2
Overview

• History leading up to where we are now
• What is an Integrated Ocean Observing System?
• U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System
• NSFs Ocean Observing Initiative
• The Ocean Commission report

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A brief history of IOOS

• NOPP established by law in 1997
• NORLC oversight of NOPP
• NORLC recommends an IOOS in 1998-9
• NOPP establishes Ocean.US in 2000 to
  implement IOOS

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NOPP Organizational Structure
National Ocean Research Leadership
Council (NORLC)
Ocean.US EXCOM
Federal Oceanographic Facilities Committee (FOFC)
Ocean Research Advisory Panel (ORAP)
Inter-Agency Working Group (IWG)
Program Office (NOPPO)
Ocean.US Office
In May 2000 the NORLC directed the establishment
of Ocean.US in order to oversee US Integrated
Ocean Observing
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U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)

• Coordinated by Ocean.US (www.ocean.us)
• 7 Goals
• Detecting and forecasting oceanic components of
  climate variability
• Facilitating safe and efficient marine
  operations
• Ensuring national security
• Managing resources for sustainable use
• Preserving and restoring healthy marine
  ecosystems
• Mitigating natural hazards
• Ensuring public health

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From chaos to organization using the NOPP/NORLC
Process

• We now have a system based on
• Markups
• Local Initiatives
• NOPP Opportunities
• Agency Programs

Ocean.US

• We will have an IOOS based on
• National/Regional coordination and funding
• Rolling implementation plan responsive to needs,
  new technology, and new knowledge

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What is an IOOS?

• 3 Science Subsystems
• Observational
• Data Management and Communications
• Analysis, Modeling and Applications
• Governance Aspect
• End user Aspect

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What is an IOOS?Observational Subsystem
MBARI, MUSE 2000
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What is an IOOS?Data and Communications Subsystem

• 4 Functions of the DMAC
• Data Discovery
• Data Transport (OPeNDAP)
• On-line Browse (LAS)
• Data Archive
• Metadata has a role in all 4

DMAC Overview, p. 16
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What is an IOOS?Analysis, Modeling,
Applications Subsystem

This is a one day forecast of sea surface
temperature in Monterey Bay provided by the
Harvard Ocean Prediction Model as part of the
AOSN experiment in the summer/fall 2003
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What is an IOOS?End User and Governance Aspects

• End User Aspect
• Who are the end users?
• What are their data and information product
  needs?
• Include them in many roles
• Governance Aspect
• How the IOOS will be organized
• How decisions will be made
• How finances will be handled

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U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)

• Two components
• global/basin scale (feeds the Global OOS)
• coastal
• Coastal component includes
• National backbone satellites, reference and
  sentinel stations on core variables, long-range
  HF radar (proposed), data standards and exchange
  protocols
• Regional Associations focused on land-based
  inputs, state and regional priorities, greater
  spatial and temporal resolution, more variables

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IOOS Global System

• Full implementation of Argo and the global ocean
  time series observatories.
• Successful completion of the Global Ocean Data
  Assimilation Experiment (GODAE).
• Optimizing the global network of observations,
  and
• Enhancing the ocean time series observatories
  with key biological and chemical sensors.

Why not so something comparable for the coastal
ocean?
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IOOS/Ocean.US
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Creating an IOOS

• Within the structure of the National
  Oceanographic Partnership Program
• Using the influence of the National Ocean
  Research Leadership Council (NORLC)
• While anticipating the recommendations of the
  Commission on Ocean Policy, and
• Expecting action by the Legislative and Executive
  branches.

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Regional AssociationsPossible Certification
Criteria

• Formal governance structure
• Acceptable business plan
• Expected economic impacts
• Capable of routine, sustained, 24-hour-a-day/7
  day-a-week operations, according to an
  implementation plan
• Data and information management
• Free and open access to the data collected
• Adherence to standards and protocols

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Status of Regional Associations

• Regional Summit held in 2003 RA workshop held
  in March, 2004
• BAAs for regional associations
• First round funded
• Second round announced
• National Federation of Regional Associations
  (NFRA) being organized
• Challenges
• Reaching adequate funding levels
• Changing our culture accepting an operational
  component to our profession.

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Some Very Important Sites

• http//www.ocean.us
• http//www.csc.noaa.gov/cots/
• http//www.pewoceans.org/
• http//www.coreocean.org/
• http//oceancommission.gov/
• http//www7.nationalacademies.org/osb/
• www.usnfra.org
• Marine Technology Society Journal, Fall 2003,
  Vol. 37(3)
• Oceanography, November 2003, Vol. 16(4)

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NSFs Ocean Observatory Initiative Components

• Global array of buoys with power and
  communications to seafloor instruments
• Regional fiber-optic cabled observatory offshore
  Washington/Oregon/British Columbia
• Coastal observatories

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Status of OOI

• Approved by National Science Board for funding
  through the Major Research Equipment (MRE) budget
• Funding may start as soon as 2006
• Funding will be 260M
• Exact split between the various components still
  TBD
• All sectors coordinated by ORION office

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Relationship of OOI to IOOS and CeNCOOS

• IOOS is requiring regional observing systems to
  have a research component
• As non-federal non-profits, RAs will likely be
  able to compete for research funds through OOI
• Unlikely that all research within an RA will be
  coordinated by the RA
• Will CeNCOOS be able to count OOI funds as
  meeting research obligation even if they flow
  through a single partner?

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The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy
Recommendations for Ocean Observing

• Bi-partisan panel
• Mandate covers management, governance, resources,
  research, education, facilities, commerce,
  defense, etc.

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Presidential response

• Following the response from the Governors and
  report revisions, the President has 120 days to
  submit to Congress a statement of proposals to
  implement or respond to the Commissions
  recommendations.

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National strategies for research, exploration,
and marine operations

• Coordinate and prioritize basic and applied
  research support by federal government
• Increase partnerships with academic and private
  sector
• Build a national ocean exploration program
• Coordinating and consolidating federal marine
  operations
• Double the ocean research budget
• Invest in technology, data management, education

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Achieving a Sustained, Integrated Ocean Observing
System

• Coordinate through National Ocean Council
• Plan at Ocean.US with NOAA lead
• Fix NOPP legislation to allow for Ocean.US,
  which should
• Get community input consensus
• Define a set of core variables
• Prioritize space observations
• Transfer tech from research obs to operational
• Transfer NASA Earth obs satellites to NOAA
• Fund IOOS through NOAA and distribute to NOC
  partners
• Coordinate IOOS with other national and
  international systems

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Ocean Observing Systems
U.S. Coastal Observing SystemsNE Atlantic Coast
NOAA CSS
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Prerequisites for Implementation

• Leadership at high levels of government
• Collaboration among governmental and private
  stakeholders
• Investment by the federal government

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RAs versus ROIPs

• U.S. Commission on Ocean Policys (COP)
  Governors-draft report recommends Regional Ocean
  Information Programs (ROIPs)
• Similarities to RAs
• Geographic boundaries are similar
• Both manage Regional COOSs through grants
  process
• Use Sea Grant programs for outreach and education
  as well as the Ocean.US education process
• Broad regional user inputs to design RCOOSs
• Provide practical information needed by users
• Differences with RAs
• RAs established by bottom up process ROIPs
  are to be established top-down by Congress
• RAs do not consider broad-based regional research
  priorities (just those for the RCOOSs)
• RAs do NOT have the mandate to carry out regional
  ecosystem assessments