NOAA’s Office of Climate Observation (OCO) Diane Stanitski, Michael Johnson, Sidney Thurston Office of Climate Observation Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.

NOAA’s Office of Climate NOAA’s Office of Climate Observation (OCO)Observation (OCO)

Diane Stanitski, Michael Johnson, Sidney Diane Stanitski, Michael Johnson, Sidney ThurstonThurston

Office of Climate Observation Office of Climate Observation

Silver Spring, Maryland, USASilver Spring, Maryland, USA

DBCP-20 Technical WorkshopDBCP-20 Technical Workshop

Chennai, IndiaChennai, India

18-19 October 200418-19 October 2004

OverviewOverview• The role of the Office of Climate The role of the Office of Climate

ObservationObservation

• Status of the global ocean observing Status of the global ocean observing systemsystem

• The Observing System Monitoring Center The Observing System Monitoring Center (OSMC)(OSMC)

• Adopt a Drifter Program with international Adopt a Drifter Program with international collaborationcollaboration

• Plans for enhancement of the global ocean Plans for enhancement of the global ocean array and additional observations in the array and additional observations in the Indian and Arctic OceansIndian and Arctic Oceans

The Office of Climate Observation The Office of Climate Observation a contribution to international ocean observations and a contribution to international ocean observations and

monitoringmonitoring

http://www.oco.noaa.gov/http://www.oco.noaa.gov/

OCO MissionOCO Mission

Build and sustain a global climate observing Build and sustain a global climate observing system that will respond to the long-term system that will respond to the long-term observational requirements of the observational requirements of the operational operational forecast centers, international research programs, forecast centers, international research programs, and major scientific assessments.and major scientific assessments.

A global observing system by definition crosses A global observing system by definition crosses international boundaries. The potential exists for international boundaries. The potential exists for both benefits and responsibilities to be shared by both benefits and responsibilities to be shared by many nations.many nations.

Partnerships are CentralPartnerships are Central

NOAA’s ocean contributions are managed in NOAA’s ocean contributions are managed in cooperation with the Joint WMO/IOC Technical cooperation with the Joint WMO/IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM).Meteorology (JCOMM).

Capabilities RequiredCapabilities Requiredfor the Ocean Componentfor the Ocean Component

• Global coverage by moored and Global coverage by moored and drifting buoy arrays, profiling floats, drifting buoy arrays, profiling floats, tide gauge stations, and repeated tide gauge stations, and repeated ship linesship lines

• Continuous satellite missions for Continuous satellite missions for sea surface temperature, sea sea surface temperature, sea surface height, surface vector wind, surface height, surface vector wind, sea ice, and ocean colorsea ice, and ocean color

• Data and assimilation subsystemsData and assimilation subsystems

• System management and product System management and product deliverydelivery

The Job of the The Job of the Ocean ComponentOcean Component

• Document long term trends in sea Document long term trends in sea level changelevel change

• Document ocean carbon sources Document ocean carbon sources and sinksand sinks

• Document the ocean’s storage and Document the ocean’s storage and global transport of heat and fresh global transport of heat and fresh waterwater

• Document the ocean-atmosphere Document the ocean-atmosphere exchange of heat and fresh waterexchange of heat and fresh water

Tide Gauge Network 58 % complete 3˚x3˚ Argo Profiling Float Array 35% complete 5˚x5˚ Surface Drifting Buoy Array 45 % complete Moored Buoy Existing Planned Ocean Reference Station Existing Planned High Resolution XBT and Flux Line Existing Planned Frequently Repeated XBT Line Existing Planned Carbon Inventory & Deep Ocean Line Global Survey @ 10 years

Sea Surface Temperature, Sea Surface Height, Surface Vector Wind, Sea Ice, and Ocean Color from Space

Global Ocean Observing System for ClimateGlobal Ocean Observing System for ClimateInitial Design. It will Evolve.Initial Design. It will Evolve.Now nearly 48% complete.Now nearly 48% complete.

• Subtask 1 -- Subtask 1 -- MonitorMonitor the the status of the globally status of the globally distributed networks; distributed networks; report system statistics report system statistics and metrics routinely and and metrics routinely and on demand.on demand.

• Subtask 2 -- Subtask 2 -- EvaluateEvaluate the the effectiveness of the effectiveness of the system; recommend system; recommend improvements.improvements.

OCO Management Plan (6 Subtasks)OCO Management Plan (6 Subtasks)

Sept 2004

Drifting Buoys: 1025

Target: 1250

• Subtask 3 -- Advance Subtask 3 -- Advance the multi-year program the multi-year program plan; plan; evolveevolve the the in situin situ networks to achieve networks to achieve global coverage.global coverage.

• Subtask 4 -- Focus intra-Subtask 4 -- Focus intra-agency, interagency, agency, interagency, and international and international coordinationcoordination..

OCO Management Plan (6 Subtasks)OCO Management Plan (6 Subtasks)

All of NOAA’s ocean All of NOAA’s ocean contributions are managed contributions are managed in cooperation with JCOMM in cooperation with JCOMM -- -- presently 60 nationspresently 60 nations..

• Subtask 5 -- Organize Subtask 5 -- Organize external review and external review and user user feedbackfeedback..

• Subtask 6 -- Produce Subtask 6 -- Produce annual annual reportsreports on the on the state of the ocean and state of the ocean and the adequacy of the the adequacy of the observing system for observing system for climate.climate.

OCO Management Plan (6 Subtasks)OCO Management Plan (6 Subtasks)Annual System Review, 2004

–Chapter 1:Chapter 1:•The Role of the The Role of the Ocean in ClimateOcean in Climate

–Chapter 2:Chapter 2:•The State of the The State of the OceanOcean

–Chapter 3:Chapter 3:•The State of the The State of the Observing SystemObserving System

–Chapter 4:Chapter 4:•The State of the The State of the ScienceScience

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20002000 20012001 20022002 20032003 20042004 2006200620052005 20072007 20082008 20092009 20102010

Initial Ocean Observing System Milestones including international contributionsInitial Ocean Observing System Milestones including international contributions

Tide GaugesTide Gauges GPS/DORIS StationsGPS/DORIS StationsInitial GCOS SubsetInitial GCOS Subset

Surface Drifting BuoysSurface Drifting Buoys

Tropical Moored BuoysTropical Moored Buoys

Ships of OpportunityShips of Opportunity

Argo FloatsArgo Floats

Reference StationsReference Stations

Arctic SystemArctic System

System EvaluationSystem Evaluation

Ocean Carbon NetworkOcean Carbon Network

Dedicated Ship TimeDedicated Ship Time

High resolution and frequentlyHigh resolution and frequentlyrepeated lines occupiedrepeated lines occupied

Number of floatsNumber of floats

Number of mooringsNumber of moorings

Number of buoysNumber of buoys

Days at sea Days at sea (NOAA contribution)(NOAA contribution)

Product evaluation andProduct evaluation andfeedback loops implementedfeedback loops implemented(NOAA contribution)(NOAA contribution)

Repeat Sections Committed,Repeat Sections Committed,One inventory per 10 yearsOne inventory per 10 years

Number of observatories, flux,Number of observatories, flux,and ocean transport stationsand ocean transport stations

Ice buoys, drifting andIce buoys, drifting andMoored stationsMoored stations

807807 671671 779779 787787

200200 310310 544544

1515 2929 3535 3737 4141

11

00 11 11 22

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20002000 20012001 20022002 20032003 20042004 2006200620052005 20072007 20082008 20092009 20102010

System % CompleteSystem % Complete

33

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• OCO Subtask 3 -- Advance the Multi-Year Program Plan; evolve the in situ networks to achieve global coverage.

Oct-03 Nov-03 Dec-03 Jan-04 Feb-04 Mar-04 Apr-04 May-04 Jun-04 Jul-04 Aug-04 Sep-04Drifting Buoys 756 749 913 908 902 909 905 904 945 950 958 1025Argo Floats 923 951 1023 1043 1117 1121 1180 1263 1303 1294 1355 1452Moored Buoys 233 229 192 181 177 174 183 208 197 191 192 227Ship XBT Lines 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35Tide Gauges/GPS 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37

Total 1984 2001 2200 2204 2268 2276 2340 2447 2517 2507 2577 2776Change by month 17 199 4 64 8 64 107 70 -10 70 199ARGO change 28 72 20 74 4 59 83 40 -9 61 97

Increase, FY 2004 17 216 220 284 292 356 463 533 523 593 792ARGO increase, FY04 28 100 120 194 198 257 340 380 371 432 529GPRA Target FY04 = 275

10/12/04

Observing System StatusPlatforms in Service

FY 2004

Increase -- Observing System Platforms

0

100

200

300

400

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600

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

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Observing System Monitoring Observing System Monitoring CenterCenter (OSMC)(OSMC)

shows the types, location and timing of in-situ observations shows the types, location and timing of in-situ observations throughout the global oceansthroughout the global oceans

• Observational DensityObservational Density– a daily reference for SST, SLP, air temp, wind speed and a daily reference for SST, SLP, air temp, wind speed and

direction, dew point temperature and cloud cover from direction, dew point temperature and cloud cover from ships, drifting and moored buoysships, drifting and moored buoys

• Observational Density AnimationsObservational Density Animations– 6 animations of valid weekly observations of SLP, SST, and 6 animations of valid weekly observations of SLP, SST, and

Winds observed in a 5x5 box with two different thresholdsWinds observed in a 5x5 box with two different thresholds• Sea Surface Temperature ObservationsSea Surface Temperature Observations

– data collected from ships [via ship intake, bucket and hull] data collected from ships [via ship intake, bucket and hull] as well as from buoys [fixed and drifting]as well as from buoys [fixed and drifting]

• Depth of Salinity and Temperature ObservationsDepth of Salinity and Temperature Observations– data collected during depth profiles and data showing the data collected during depth profiles and data showing the

depth of each profiledepth of each profile

ADOPT A DRIFTER ADOPT A DRIFTER

PROGRAMPROGRAM• Opportunity for K-16 teachers and their students Opportunity for K-16 teachers and their students

to adopt a drifting buoy and map its pathto adopt a drifting buoy and map its path• Drifter is deployed by teacher(s) while Drifter is deployed by teacher(s) while

participating in NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Programparticipating in NOAA’s Teacher at Sea Program• U.S. school partners with an international school U.S. school partners with an international school

to mutually adopt a drifter and then track and to mutually adopt a drifter and then track and map the drifter and monitor its outputmap the drifter and monitor its output

• Teachers work with students to develop and test Teachers work with students to develop and test lesson plans linked with ocean circulation, winds, lesson plans linked with ocean circulation, winds, etc.etc.

Teachers Deploy Drifters, Collect Data, and Analyze in Near Real TimeTeachers Deploy Drifters, Collect Data, and Analyze in Near Real Time

What are the What are the

Office of Climate Observation’s Office of Climate Observation’s

Priorities and Plans?Priorities and Plans?

Incremental advancements across all Incremental advancements across all networks with emphasis on these networks with emphasis on these priority areas:priority areas:

1.1. Sea Surface Temperature -- the single most Sea Surface Temperature -- the single most important variable in the heat, carbon, and important variable in the heat, carbon, and water cycles; used to drive all forecast water cycles; used to drive all forecast modelsmodels

2.2. Sea level change -- the most immediate Sea level change -- the most immediate impact of climate changeimpact of climate change

3.3. Ocean carbon inventory -- priority for climate Ocean carbon inventory -- priority for climate change science and technology policychange science and technology policy

FY 2003-04 PrioritiesFY 2003-04 Priorities

Incremental advancements across all networks with emphasis on Incremental advancements across all networks with emphasis on these priority areas:these priority areas:

• Sea Surface TemperatureSea Surface Temperature– Complete the global drifting buoy array -- 1250 driftersComplete the global drifting buoy array -- 1250 drifters– The first element of the Global Climate Observing System to be completedThe first element of the Global Climate Observing System to be completed

• Sea LevelSea Level– Transition the Absolute Altimeter Calibration Station from NASA to NOAA fundingTransition the Absolute Altimeter Calibration Station from NASA to NOAA funding– Continue upgrading the “GCOS subset” of the GLOSS tide gauge network: 43 of 170 Continue upgrading the “GCOS subset” of the GLOSS tide gauge network: 43 of 170

stationsstations

• Ocean CarbonOcean Carbon inventory surveys (NOAA-NSF, 1/3 - 2/3) inventory surveys (NOAA-NSF, 1/3 - 2/3)– Fully fund 10-year repeat survey cycle (vs 14 years)Fully fund 10-year repeat survey cycle (vs 14 years)

• Complete the global Complete the global TAO networkTAO network -- advance to the Indian Ocean: -- advance to the Indian Ocean:– FY 05 -- 3 moorings in the waterFY 05 -- 3 moorings in the water– FY 06 -- 5 moorings in the waterFY 06 -- 5 moorings in the water– FY 07 -- 7 moorings in the waterFY 07 -- 7 moorings in the water

• Advance Advance data, assimilation, and product deliverydata, assimilation, and product delivery– Initiate an Ocean Analysis program (routine products)Initiate an Ocean Analysis program (routine products)– Expert Team to continually evaluate the effectiveness of the systemExpert Team to continually evaluate the effectiveness of the system

FY 2005 PrioritiesFY 2005 Priorities

– Enhance the tropical moored buoy networkEnhance the tropical moored buoy network– Additional Indian Ocean buoysAdditional Indian Ocean buoys– Tropical Atlantic North East ExtensionTropical Atlantic North East Extension– Salinity SensorsSalinity Sensors– Upgrade seven sites to Ocean Reference StationsUpgrade seven sites to Ocean Reference Stations– Technology development - Next GenerationTechnology development - Next Generation

– TAO transitionTAO transition

– OCO as central office for data managementOCO as central office for data management

FY 2006 PlanningFY 2006 Planning

Indian Ocean PlanningIndian Ocean Planning• International planning as part of the GOOS, GCOS, and International planning as part of the GOOS, GCOS, and

CLIVARCLIVAR• Moored buoys, Argo floats, surface drifters, SOOP Moored buoys, Argo floats, surface drifters, SOOP

measurements, time series reference stations, tide measurements, time series reference stations, tide gauges, and satellite remote sensinggauges, and satellite remote sensing

• NOAA fully supports IO expansion and recognizes this NOAA fully supports IO expansion and recognizes this as one of the biggest gaps in the global ocean as one of the biggest gaps in the global ocean observing networkobserving network

• Contributions from many parties is critical: nations, Contributions from many parties is critical: nations, agencies, international bodiesagencies, international bodies

• Timely, open Timely, open accessaccess to data (encourage all data on to data (encourage all data on GTS)GTS)

– Incremental advancements across all Incremental advancements across all networks with emphasis on these priority networks with emphasis on these priority areas:areas:• Polar regionsPolar regions, especially the Arctic, for , especially the Arctic, for

impacts of impacts of climate changeclimate change• Ocean circulation changesOcean circulation changes to monitor for to monitor for

possible indications of possible indications of abrupt climate abrupt climate changechange

• Ocean-atmosphere exchangeOcean-atmosphere exchange of heat and of heat and water particularly in support of water particularly in support of droughtdrought early warning and diagnosticsearly warning and diagnostics

FY 2007 NOAA PlanningFY 2007 NOAA Planning

ConclusionsConclusions• An international plan is in place to complete the An international plan is in place to complete the

initial global ocean observing system by 2010initial global ocean observing system by 2010• The OSMC is a decision support facility reporting The OSMC is a decision support facility reporting

current/historical status of globally distributed current/historical status of globally distributed networks networks

• The Adopt A Drifter Program is a new effort The Adopt A Drifter Program is a new effort supported by the OSMC to enhance international supported by the OSMC to enhance international partnerships and infuse real-time ocean data into partnerships and infuse real-time ocean data into curriculacurricula

• OCO priorities include enhancement of all ocean OCO priorities include enhancement of all ocean networks and expansion into the Indian and Arctic networks and expansion into the Indian and Arctic OceansOceans

Thank You!!!Thank You!!!

NOAA Office of Climate ObservationNOAA Office of Climate Observation1100 Wayne Avenue1100 Wayne AvenueSilver Spring MD 20910 USASilver Spring MD 20910 [email protected]@noaa.gov

Office of Climate ObservationOffice of Climate Observation- the one-stop shop for international ocean data access- the one-stop shop for international ocean data access

• The OCO would like to be the central clearinghouse The OCO would like to be the central clearinghouse for ocean datafor ocean data

• Links to all sources of ocean data for field projects Links to all sources of ocean data for field projects to global networks will be provided at the OCO web to global networks will be provided at the OCO web site, site, www.www.ocooco..noaanoaa..govgov

• urls will link to all sources of complete ocean urls will link to all sources of complete ocean datasetsdatasets

We need your help! Please send the urls for global We need your help! Please send the urls for global and regional ocean datasets that you know exist. and regional ocean datasets that you know exist. They will be included on our website.They will be included on our website.

……an ongoing project!!an ongoing project!!

Expert Team Framework:Expert Team Framework:Focus on State VariablesFocus on State Variables

• A suite of products documenting:A suite of products documenting:• Sea levelSea level to identify changes resulting from climate variability. to identify changes resulting from climate variability.• Ocean carbonOcean carbon content every ten years and the air-sea exchange content every ten years and the air-sea exchange

seasonally.seasonally.• Sea surface temperatureSea surface temperature and and surface currentssurface currents to identify to identify significant patterns of climate variability.significant patterns of climate variability.• Sea surface pressureSea surface pressure and and air-sea exchanges of heat, air-sea exchanges of heat,

momentum, and fresh watermomentum, and fresh water to identify changes in forcing to identify changes in forcing functions driving ocean conditions and atmospheric functions driving ocean conditions and atmospheric

conditions.conditions.• Ocean heat and fresh waterOcean heat and fresh water content and transportscontent and transports to identify to identify

where anomalies enter the ocean, how they move and are where anomalies enter the ocean, how they move and are transformed, and where they re-emerge to interact with the transformed, and where they re-emerge to interact with the

atmosphere. Identify the essential aspects of thermohaline atmosphere. Identify the essential aspects of thermohaline circulation and the subsurface expressions of the patterns of circulation and the subsurface expressions of the patterns of climate variability.climate variability.

• Sea iceSea ice thickness and concentrations. thickness and concentrations.

Evaluation: continually test the observing system against Evaluation: continually test the observing system against the products; recommend improvements.the products; recommend improvements.

XBT’s, Drifters, Tide Gauge Stations

in the Indian Ocean• XBT Network

– 5 high resolution XBT ship lines to be completed in 2005 following a “line sampling” strategy

– Some regularly sampled lines not reporting on GTS or delayed mode

– XBT workshop to be held in Goa, India during spring 2005

• Drifters - 100 new drifting buoys purchased • Both need doubled resources for full implementation• Upgrades will be made to 4 tide gauge stations in the

IO

Automated Drifting Stations Ice Mass Balance buoys

•ArcticArctic–Ice buoy data processing funded Ice buoy data processing funded by OCO = additional buoysby OCO = additional buoys

Courtesy of John Calder

Ocean Observations

The Arctic Ocean and high latitude seas are expected to experience large change if global warming projections are accurate. These changes can result in feedback to the climate system, and/or impact marine cosystems. The rate of ecosystem change is projected to be fast and can alert us to the types of changes that may occur elsewhere.

• Flux of heat and freshwater to and from the Arctic Ocean

• Climate-ecosystem interactions in the Northern Bering and Chukchi Seas

Courtesy of John Calder

Teachers Deploy Drifters, Collect Teachers Deploy Drifters, Collect Data and Analyze in Near Real Data and Analyze in Near Real TimeTime• Helping to Predict Helping to Predict

HurricanesHurricanes

• Revealing Ocean Revealing Ocean Temperature PatternsTemperature Patterns

• Monitoring Ocean Monitoring Ocean Currents, WindsCurrents, Winds

• Groundtruthing Groundtruthing Satellite DataSatellite Data

• Predicting the Path of Predicting the Path of Ocean PollutantsOcean Pollutants http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/phod/dac/gdc.html

Indian Ocean FocusIndian Ocean Focus

• Indian Ocean influences dynamics of Indian Indian Ocean influences dynamics of Indian and Asian monsoonsand Asian monsoons

• The IO affects climate over North America The IO affects climate over North America via monsoon-ENSO interactions and via monsoon-ENSO interactions and atmospheric intraseasonal oscillations atmospheric intraseasonal oscillations spawned over the IOspawned over the IO

• IO array is designed to improve description, IO array is designed to improve description, understanding, and prediction of large understanding, and prediction of large ocean-atmosphere interactions and their ocean-atmosphere interactions and their influence on regional and global climateinfluence on regional and global climate

Tropical Indian Ocean Moored Buoy Array

The evolving design of a sustained observing system for the Indian Ocean. The system includes a 3°x3° Argo profiling float array, 5°x5° surface drifting buoy array and a real-time tide gauge network.

An XBT training workshop will be held in Goa, India, during spring 2005.