Ocean.US and Coastal Ocean Applications and Science Team (COAST) Larry Atkinson September 2004 Corvallis.

Ocean.US and Ocean.US and Coastal Ocean Applications Coastal Ocean Applications and Science Team (COAST)and Science Team (COAST)

Larry AtkinsonLarry Atkinson

September 2004September 2004

CorvallisCorvallis

Using the National Using the National Oceanographic Partnership Oceanographic Partnership

ProgramProgram

National Ocean Research Leadership Council

Heads of NOPP Agencies

Ocean.USIOOS Creation

Ocean Research Advisory

PanelOfficial advisory group for NORLC

Interagency Working Group

Represents NORLC, NOPP

functions

Federal Oceanographic Facilities Committee

Ships, planes, etc.

Created by Congress to help the 14+ agencies Created by Congress to help the 14+ agencies involved in the ocean more effectively address involved in the ocean more effectively address common issues. common issues.

IOOS Global System IOOS Global System

•Full implementation of Full implementation of Argo and the global Argo and the global ocean time series ocean time series observatories. observatories.

•Successful completion Successful completion of the Global Ocean Data of the Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment Assimilation Experiment (GODAE).(GODAE).

•Optimizing the global Optimizing the global network of observations, network of observations, andand

•Enhancing the ocean Enhancing the ocean time series observatories time series observatories with key biological and with key biological and chemical sensors. chemical sensors.

Coastal Coastal ComponentComponent • Operated by Federal

Agencies

• EEZ & Great Lakes • Core variables

required by regions• Networks

sentinel stations reference stations

• Standards/Protocols QAQC, DMAC Products

• Regional Associations Design Operate

• Involve private sectors, NGOs, State Agencies

Design, Operate Use Evaluate

• Incorporate Subregional systems Elements thereof

• Enhance the Backbone based on User Needs

Regional COOS’s

National Backbone

GOES-R would be part of the IOOS Coastal Backbone

•Primary interface with user groups outside federal agencies.

•Focal point for data analysis and product development that will have local, regional and national applications.

•Terrestrial influence measurements

•Many national backbone R&D projects will be first done in regional observing systems.

•Development of regional systems is a very high priority

Alaska Region

Caribbean

Status of Regional Status of Regional AssociationsAssociations• Most are funded at low level to get organized.Most are funded at low level to get organized.

– Level 0 getting organizedLevel 0 getting organized– Finding leadersFinding leaders– Connecting with non-academic participants (providers and Connecting with non-academic participants (providers and

users)users)• Slated for increased funding in coming yearsSlated for increased funding in coming years

– Hopefully ~$500k/yr soon. Hopefully ~$500k/yr soon. – Final funding at $20-30M/yr levelsFinal funding at $20-30M/yr levels

• An efficient way for you connect to users at county, state An efficient way for you connect to users at county, state and regional leveland regional level– Coastal sediment managers in OregonCoastal sediment managers in Oregon– County beach closure agenciesCounty beach closure agencies– Oil spill risk managersOil spill risk managers– ……..

Example - Coupled Model Example - Coupled Model (physical and ecosystem) is (physical and ecosystem) is High RA PriorityHigh RA Priority• Require assimilation of surface data Require assimilation of surface data

from satellite (it provides the high from satellite (it provides the high spatial resolution and, with GOES, spatial resolution and, with GOES, high temporal resolution)high temporal resolution)

• Intra-regional groups on West Coast Intra-regional groups on West Coast now forming to initiate modeling now forming to initiate modeling effortsefforts

Ocean.US Planning DocumentsOcean.US Planning Documentsinclude statements regarding include statements regarding coastal remote sensing coastal remote sensing • Enhancing remote sensing capabilities for coastal Enhancing remote sensing capabilities for coastal

observationsobservations in general and ecosystem-based in general and ecosystem-based management in particular remains a challenge. management in particular remains a challenge.

• Maintaining continuity and enhancing satellite Maintaining continuity and enhancing satellite remote sensing of the oceans are critical remote sensing of the oceans are critical components of the IOOS. Integral to every remote components of the IOOS. Integral to every remote sensing system is the requirement to maintain a sensing system is the requirement to maintain a sensor validation and continuous calibration sensor validation and continuous calibration program that ensures delivery of functional data to program that ensures delivery of functional data to users. users.

• Improved and more accessible satellite and aircraft Improved and more accessible satellite and aircraft based remote observations of physical and based remote observations of physical and biological parameters in coastal waters, and biological parameters in coastal waters, and adequate adequate in situ in situ calibration; calibration;

Ocean.US – an effective Ocean.US – an effective way…way…

• … … to get consensus statements to to get consensus statements to the NORLC agenciesthe NORLC agencies

• … … to work with the 11 regional to work with the 11 regional associations who are determining associations who are determining observing needs in US coastal observing needs in US coastal waters. waters. – Establish prioritiesEstablish priorities– Receive broad support Receive broad support

Coastal Coastal PhenomenaPhenomena ofof InterestInterest

• Marine Operations & Public Marine Operations & Public SafetySafety

Sea state, Currents, Sea iceSea state, Currents, Sea ice Sea level, SST Sea level, SST Coastal flooding & erosionCoastal flooding & erosion

• Public HealthPublic Health

Seafood contaminationSeafood contamination Ambient levels of pathogensAmbient levels of pathogens

• Ecosystem Health & LMRsEcosystem Health & LMRs

Declines in living resourcesDeclines in living resources AquacultureAquaculture Loss of habitat & biodiversityLoss of habitat & biodiversity HABs, Invasive speciesHABs, Invasive species Mass mortalitiesMass mortalities Chemical contaminationChemical contamination

Drivers of Change Ecosystem Dynamics

An An example example of the of the priority priority builiding builiding processprocess

High Impact – High High Impact – High FeasibilityFeasibility• ‘‘Hyperspectral’ imaging was viewed as Hyperspectral’ imaging was viewed as

high impact but low feasibility as the high impact but low feasibility as the technology viewed as being in the R&D technology viewed as being in the R&D stage. (benthic habitat and bottom stage. (benthic habitat and bottom characterization)characterization)

• The GOES-R possibilities will move many The GOES-R possibilities will move many of the ‘high impact’ technologies into the of the ‘high impact’ technologies into the ‘high feasibility’ status making them high ‘high feasibility’ status making them high priority for Ocean.US priority building. priority for Ocean.US priority building.

ConclusionConclusion

• Work with Ocean.US and the Regional Associations Work with Ocean.US and the Regional Associations • The GOES-R initiative The GOES-R initiative mustmust be in the Ocean.US be in the Ocean.US

annual development plan presented to the annual development plan presented to the agencies. agencies. – It must be viewed as producing highly required It must be viewed as producing highly required

product(s) – examples essential. product(s) – examples essential. – Case building should start early 2005Case building should start early 2005

• POCPOC– www.ocean.uswww.ocean.us for Ocean.US for Ocean.US– www.usnfra.orgwww.usnfra.org for the regional associations (caution – for the regional associations (caution –

RAs are understaffed right now so go easy on providing RAs are understaffed right now so go easy on providing them information)them information)