Policy Update and Transition Strategy

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Ocean Policy Activities and Ocean
Observatories
Dr. Robert Gagosian President and
CEO MACOORA November 17, 2009
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National Ocean Policy

• We will restore science to its rightful place
  President Barack Obama, January 20, 2009
• On June 12, 2009, President Obama issued a
  memorandum to establish an Interagency Ocean
  Policy Task Force with the charge to establish a
  National Ocean Policy and recommend a framework
  for effective coastal and marine spatial
  planning.
• A national policy established, guided and
  continuously validated by science that ensures
  protection, maintenance, and restoration of
  oceans, our coasts and the Great Lakes.

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June 12th Memorandum

• 90 Days
• National Ocean Policy
• Governance Framework
• Priority Areas
• 180 Day
• Marine Spatial Planning Framework

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Policy Emphasis on Stewardship1.
Healthy and Resilient Ocean, Coasts, and Great
Lakes2. Safe and Productive Ocean, Coasts, and
Great Lakes3. Understood and Treasured Ocean,
Coasts, and Great Lakes

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Principles

• Ecosystem-Based Management
• Protect, Maintain and Restore
• Minimize adverse environmental impacts
• Best Available Science
• Precautionary Approach

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Report Focus How We Do Business

• Ecosystem-Based Management
• Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning
• Inform Decisions and Improve Understanding
• Coordinate and Support

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Report Focus Areas of Special Emphasis

• Resiliency and Adaptation to Climate Change and
  Ocean Acidification
• Regional Ecosystem Protection and Restoration
• Water Quality and Sustainable Practices on Land
• Changing Conditions in the Arctic
• Ocean, Coastal, and Great Lakes Observations and
  Infrastructure

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Ocean Leaderships Participation

• Invited to present 2 formal lectures to the OPTF
• Role of Science in Ocean Policy
• Science Requirements for Marine Spatial Planning
• Participant in 4 Stakeholder Discussions
  including Ocean and Human Health roundtable
• Developed 2 policy documents
• Deciphering the Ocean Climate System
• Science Requirements for Marine Spatial Planning
• Submitted comments and recommendations to the
  OPTF on the above topics

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Science Priorities for a National Ocean Policy

• Changes in Ocean Productivity
• Opening of the Arctic System
• Forecasting and Adapting to
• Sea Level Rise
• Observing System Requirements
• Research Priorities
• Remote Sensing Priorities
• In Situ Sensing Priorities

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Major Science Issues for MSP

• Marine environment much more dynamic than
  terrestrial systems (three dimensional,
  biology-driven, fluid environment).
• Impacted by climate change, so future conditions
  increasingly difficult to predict just using
  historical data.
• Significant gaps of information exist in basic
  science which need to be addressed in order to
  evaluate outcomes.
• Multiple Agencies with varying missions,
  regulations and monitoring exist without a
  comprehensive plan for managing, integrating, and
  delivering products and services for MSP.

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Ocean Leadership MSP Science Requirements

• Implementation and prioritization of MSP science
  requirements will be regional and goal-specific.
  
• Conduct Regional Ecosystem Assessments
• Support Continuity of Funding for Observations
• Data Integration and Cyber Infrastructure

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MSP Science Requirements (continued)

• Implementation and prioritization of MSP science
  requirements will be regional and goal-specific.
  
• However, there are some basic observation
  requirements
• Physical temperature, salinity, bathymetry,
  currents
• Geochemical pH, oxygen, nutrients, water
  quality, dissolved carbon
• Biological chlorophyll, pathogens, population
  and diversity information

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MSP Science Requirements (continued)

• There are other use-specific high priority
  informational needs (e.g. avian migration, wind
  fields for siting wind farms)
• Observations must be coupled with process studies
  for ecosystem assessments to be accurate.
• Data from various observing systems must be
  integrated into models, forecasts and other
  products for planners and resource managers.

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Examples of Existing Federal Observing
Modeling Programs

• Integrated Ocean Observing System Multiple
  Agencies
• Ocean Observatories Initiative - NSF
• National Data Buoy Center - NOAA
• Ocean Biological Information System USGS
• PORTS NOAA
• NMFS Surveys - NOAA
• Oil Platform Data MMS
• Stream Flow USGS
• Stormwater - EPA
• Remote Sensing Data NOAA/NASA

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Examples of Existing Federal Observing
Modeling Programs

• Issues which need to be addressed
• The compatibility and sustainability of these
  systems
• Data integration and dissemination
• Management and integration of their budgets

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• An interactive ocean laboratory integrated by a
  leading-edge, multi-scalar cyberinfrastructure.
• Open data policy
• Near real time
• Interactive
• Scalable
• Data provenance

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• Design Elements
• 4 Global scale sites
• 3 Regional cabled sites in the NE Pacific
• Coastal scale arrays Mid-Atlantic Pioneer
  Array, PNW Endurance Array
• Each scale incorporates mobile assets
• Cyberinfrastructure enable adaptive sampling,
  custom observatory view, collaborative analysis
• Interfaces for education users

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Regional Scale Nodes Power and Bandwidth
from seafloor cable Instrumented nodes on Juan
de Fuca plate
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Global Arrays

• Fixed and mobile assets
• Extended duration
• Surface to near bottom water column coverage
• Mesoscale footprint
• Irminger Sea
• Argentine Basin
• Southern Ocean
• Station PAPA

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OOI Project Team

• Coordination/Integration Ocean Leadership
• Cyberinfrastructure UC San Diego
• Coastal and Global-Scale WHOI with OSU and SIO
• Regional Scale University of Washington
• Education and Public Engagement TBD

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OOI Science Themes

• Ocean-Atmosphere Exchange
• Climate Variability, Ocean Circulation, and
  Ecosystems
• Turbulent Mixing and Biophysical Interactions
• Coastal Ocean Dynamics and Ecosystems
• Fluid-Rock Interactions and the Sub-seafloor
  Biosphere
• Plate-scale, Ocean Geodynamics
• Additional Science Foci
• Ocean ecosystem health
• Climate change
• Carbon cycling
• Ocean acidification

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Getting Involved...

• Open data access
• Proposal process
• NSF standard merit review
• Changes and/or additions to OOI Network will
  require additional technical guidance and
  information (feasibility assessments, facility
  usage, budgeting/scheduling, technical
  cyberinfrastucture requirements, education,
  environmental, and security requirements).
• NSF, OOI, UNOLS, U.S. Navy all involved in
  scheduling experiments and cruises

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Community Participation in OOI

• OOI Advisory Committees
• Program Advisory Committee
• TBD subcommittees and/or working groups
• NSF Scientific Oversight Committee
• Annual Project reviews
• Community Science Workshops (Nov. 11-12, 2009 and
  spring 2010)
• Future competitions for
• Pioneer Array location (3-5 year intervals)
• Infrastructure Operations

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Ocean Research Priorities Plan Refresh

• Initial ORPP release Jan 2007
• Refresh initiated Spring 2009
• Public comment period closed mid-July
• ORPP helped inform the content of priorities
  identified in the Task Force Interim Report
• Draft Refresh ORPP to be discussed at Town Halls
• MTS/IEEE (October)
• AGU (December)
• Ocean Sciences Meeting (February 2010)

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National Ocean CouncilDual Level Council

• Principals
• Periodically Update and Set Priorities
• Provide Annual Direction on Implementation
• Dispute Resolution
• Deputy Level (NORLC)
• Oversight of Execution of Implementation
• Transmit Administration Priorities to
  Subcommittees
• Coordinate with other EOP Offices
• Guide and Receive Info from Advisory Bodies
• Dispute Resolution

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NOC Steering Committee(4 Members)

• Chair CEQ
• Director OSTP
• One chair each
• Chair of Ocean Resource Management IPC
• Chair of Ocean Science and Technology IPC
• Functions
• Key Forum for Integration and Coordination on
  Priorities Areas within the NOC
• Ensure ORM OST IPC Activities Fully Aligned
• Extended Continental Shelf Task Force reports to
  Steering Committee

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Ocean Science and TechnologyInteragency Policy
Committee

• Structure
• NSTC-JSOST serves as the OST-IPC
• Reports to NSTC/CENR
• Chairs appointed thru NSTC, in consultation with
  NOC
• DAS-Level Participation
• Function
• Ensure Interagency Implementation of National
  Policy
• Develop (update) ORPPIS
• Develop Charter, Strategic Plan Approval by NSTC
• May Establish Sub-IPCs

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Governance Advisory Committee(13 Members)

• (6) One From Each Region
• Chosen by NOC in consultation with regional
  councils
• (2) At-Large From Inland States
• chosen by NOC in consultation with NGA
• (3) Alaska, Pacific Islands, Caribbean
• chosen by NOC in consultation with regional
  groups
• (2) At-Large Tribal Representatives
• Chosen by NOC in consultation with Indian
  organization

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Ocean Research and Resources Advisory Panel

• Existing Body (ORRAP)
• FACA Advisory Body to NORLC (Dep-Level NOC)
• Membership To Be Reviewed
• Provide Independent Advice Guidance to NOC
• Receive Guidance and Direction from NOC

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Current Status

• Successful Preliminary Design Review, Dec 2007
• Successful Final Design Review, Nov 2008
• Design modification review, March 2009
• National Science Board approval in May 2009
• Funding identified FY09, ARRA in FY10 request
• Construction phase started in Sept 2009