Shipboard Automated Meteorological and Oceanographic System (SAMOS) Initiative: A Key Component of an Ocean Observing System Shawn R. Smith Center for.

Shipboard Automated Meteorological Shipboard Automated Meteorological and Oceanographic System (SAMOS) and Oceanographic System (SAMOS)

Initiative:Initiative: A Key Component of an Ocean Observing A Key Component of an Ocean Observing

SystemSystem

Shawn R. Smith

Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction StudiesFlorida State University

Tallahassee, FL USA

SAMOS InitiativeSAMOS Initiative Mission: To ensure routine access to calibrated, quality

assured, surface meteorological data collected by shipboard automated meteorological and oceanographic systems (SAMOS) on research vessels (R/V) and Volunteer Observing Ships (VOS) in a manner that:

– supports science objectives of national and international climate programs

– improves global data coverage, especially from important but data sparse regions (e.g., Southern Ocean)

– enhances observations for operational meteorology and oceanography

Courtesy NOAA OCO

What is a SAMOS?What is a SAMOS? Automated data logging system

– Sampling interval 1 minute or less

– Continuous recording

– Typically bow or mast mounted on R/V or VOS

Typical observations:

– Navigation: position, heading, course and speed over ground

– Meteorology: true wind vector, air temperature, moisture, pressure

– Oceanography: sea temperature, salinity, conductivity

Additional capability:

– Pitch, roll, heave, ship-relative winds, precipitation, multiple radiation components, visibility, ceiling height, swell and waves

– Some direct flux measurements

Courtesy WHOI

SAMOS Data ApplicationsSAMOS Data ApplicationsSeaWinds on Midori SAMOS observations provide

benchmark data for:

– Validation studies (e.g., global model fields, satellite observations)

– Air-sea flux fields (SAMOS are capable of providing observations with sampling rates and accuracy desired for estimating air-sea fluxes)

SAMOS data also support comparison studies between in-situ platforms (e.g., ship-to-ship, ship-to-buoy).

– Allows independent assessment of biases in marine observations assimilated into global models.

SAMOS vs. Bridge ObsSAMOS vs. Bridge Obs Air temperatures show cold bias in bridge reports for the

Knorr

– Lower number of matches may skew results for Knorr

Meteor comparison very good without adjusting for differing thermometer heights (bridge: 11 m, SAMOS 28 m)

Courtesy NOAA OCO

Issues for ApplicationsIssues for Applications Each R/V generally operates independently

– Data collection, calibration, quality assurance, distribution methods differ

– Long term archival lacking in some cases

– Little organized data management infrastructure exists

Improve data quality

– Necessary to achieve flux accuracy desired by international climate programs

– Need better calibration methods and uniform metadata

– Regular evaluation of both instrument systems and data collected

Improve data access for research and operations

– Include data streams that have not been readily available

– Collect all necessary parameters to estimate quality air-sea fluxes

– Decrease time from data collection to making the observations available to the user community

Plan for SAMOSPlan for SAMOS SAMOS initiative seeks to unify the current fragmented R/V

observations into a sustained network of mobile observation platforms.

Initial network will rely on U.S. research vessels – Dialog to include international vessels is underway

Activities of SAMOS initiative will focus on:– Data Stewardship

– Data Accuracy

– Training

SAMOS network will complement other components of ocean observing system (e.g., moorings, flux reference stations, floats, drifters)

SAMOS VesselsSAMOS Vessels

Vessel network will build upon existing technology

– SAMOS already deployed on many research vessels

– Most improvements will be in communications, data & metadata standards

– Some sensor enhancement possible

Vessels operated by a wide range of U. S. institutions and agencies are under consideration to participate in the SAMOS initiative

– 14-22 University operated R/Vs

– 18+ NOAA vessels

– 3 USCG and 2 NSF polar vessels

– ? VOS SAMOS (numbers unclear at present)

Expansion to include international research vessels will begin with vessels operating at high latitudes

Data StewardshipData Stewardship A centralized data assembly center (DAC) for U.S. SAMOS

data has been established at FSU through NOAA OCO funding.

The 2005 pilot project– Established daily electronic

transfer of 1-min. average data from R/Vs to the DAC

– Set standards for parameters collected, metadata, sampling and averaging, and data exchange

– Automated data tracking, quality control, distribution

– Preliminary data from WHOI R/Vs available 5 minutes after arrival of daily file at DAC

– http://samos.coaps.fsu.edu/

Data AccuracyData Accuracy The DAC is working with international partners to develop data

accuracy and precision targets for SAMOS observations. NOAA ESRL/PSD and WHOI have started development of a

portable standard for onboard comparison to the R/V’s SAMOS– Vision includes a state-of-the-art flux measurement system and a

set of individual sensors for side-by-side comparison to the R/V instruments

– Routine comparisons will occur during typical science cruises

SAMOS plans include routine airflow modeling of vessels to:– Correct data for biases due to

upstream structures– Determine optimal sensor

locations and effective measurement heights

Courtesy National Oceanography Centre, UK

TrainingTraining A reference manual of best procedures and practices for the

observation and documentation of meteorological parameters, including radiative and turbulent fluxes, in the marine environment has been drafted.– Emphasis is on measuring climate quality data suitable for

estimating radiative and turbulent fluxes

– Manual includes information on sensor exposure, flow and heat distortion, calibration, sensor comparisons, metadata, algorithms, etc.

– On-line reference will establish sources/contacts where expertise can be obtained by data collectors and users.

In future, SAMOS initiative seeks to host training workshops for marine technicians

SAMOS continues to encourage funding agencies to support human capital development through education and training.

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts The SAMOS initiative continues to seek input from our

potential user community (both operational and research)

Plan is for sustained collection, distribution of high-quality marine AWS data

– Will support international experiments (e.g., CLIVAR, GODAE), but will not limit focus to experiment oriented data

Additional SAMOS information (including reports from the first two workshops) are available at:– http://www.coaps.fsu.edu/RVSMDC/Workshops/

Thank you to the NOAA Office of Climate Observation for supporting both the workshop and SAMOS activities at several U. S. institutions.