JCOMM JCOMM Observing Programme Observing Programme

Support Centre Support Centre

International Coordination and GlidersInternational Coordination and GlidersEGO #4, Cyprus

Yves DesaubiesMathieu Belbeoch

Hester Viola

Aims of this talkAims of this talk

• Background

• JCOMMOPS Infrastructure

• JCOMMOPS Products and Services

• Argo/DBCP/oceanSITES structure and development

• JCOMMOPS & Gliders

BackgroundBackground

• Ocean observation programmes are implemented nationally and cooperate internationally through dedicated panels and steering teams.

• International coordination can improve the efficiency of these national programmes by providing links between funding agencies, program managers or principal investigators, platform operators, data users, satellite data telecommunication providers, instrument manufacturers, data centres, etc.

• This international coordination is required by the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) and the Joint WMO-IOC Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM).

• JCOMMOPS was developed in such context and formally endorsed at JCOMM 1st session (2001).

BackgroundBackground

The JCOMM (In-situ) Observing Programme Support Centre

is a component of the international coordination mechanism, which aims on

behalf of JCOMM to:

•assist in the planning, implementation and operations of the observing systems

•monitor and evaluate the performance of the networks

•encourage cooperation between communities and member states

•encourage data sharing

•assist in data distribution on the Internet and GTS

•relay user feedback on data quality to platform operators

•provide technical assistance and user support worldwide

•act as a clearing house and focal point on all programme aspects

•develop synergies between observing systems

BackgroundBackground

BackgroundBackground

• JCOMMOPS is involved with the implementation of the main global in-situ observing systems, including:

– DBCP: Drifting and moored buoys in the high seas and tropical moorings

– SOT: XBTs, TSGs, atmospheric soundings from ships, meteorological observations from ships

– Argo: Profiling floats

– OceanSITES: Deep ocean time-series reference stations

JCOMMOPS is now “firmly established as a major support facility for operational ocean observing system.”

JCOMM co-presidents, 2009

DBCP:DBCP: ~1500 surface drifters & ~500 moorings ~1500 surface drifters & ~500 moorings

Argo:Argo: ~3000 profiling floats ~3000 profiling floats

SOT:SOT: ~2500 ships ~2500 ships

OceanSITES: OceanSITES: ~80 reference sites & ~20 transport sites~80 reference sites & ~20 transport sites

CTDs, Tide Gauges, Polar platforms, marine CTDs, Tide Gauges, Polar platforms, marine mammals, gliders, coastal, multidisciplinary mammals, gliders, coastal, multidisciplinary

platforms …platforms …

These GOOS/JCOMM components would need a proper focal point within (or cooperating with) JCOMMOPS.

so that sustained support can be provided ...

JCOMMOPS …JCOMMOPS …

Benefits of a shared infrastructureBenefits of a shared infrastructure

• Resources available for Coordination or Project office support are limited.

• Sharing a common infrastructure (technical and logistical) is especially necessary.

• The transfer of skills and expertise between TCs ensures a good continuity in the services to the community and allows long term support to the programmes.

• While each Coordinator focuses on their programme, the “integrated centre” concept facilitates cooperation between observing systems components, via the day-to-day cooperation between the Coordinators.

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New programmes incorporated into JCOMMOPS today would immediately benefit from the existing infrastructure and

experience gained.

Infrastructure: Infrastructure: office, staff and Information Systemoffice, staff and Information System

• JCOMMOPS is hosted by France (CLS/IFREMER), in Toulouse

• JCOMMOPS comprises two Technical Coordinators and a senior scientist:

– Mathieu BelbeochThe Argo Profiling Float programme (70%)The Ship Observations Team (30%)

– Hester ViolaThe Data Buoy Cooperation Panel (70%)The OceanSITES Program (30%)

– Yves Desaubies (1/4 time)Scientific Coordination

• Plus a ½ time I.T. resource that is being made full time

• Students on work experience

• Work priorities are set by panel chairs or steering committee for each programme, in close cooperation with IOC/WMO.

Infrastructure:Infrastructure: Office, Staff and Information System Office, Staff and Information System

• 250 k€ / year of global funding (staff salary / mission / hosting contract)• Truly international support (and growing support from Asia)

• Host contribution (logistic contract, I.T. resource, ~50% covered).• Administrative support by IOC and WMO (Employment and travel support )

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Summary of National Voluntary Contributions (annual or ad hoc)

DBCP Australia, Canada, Europe (E-SURFMAR), France, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, India, United Kingdom, USA.

Maintained

Argo Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Korea, United Kingdom, USA.

Maintained

OceanSITES Australia, USA and DBCP being increased

SOT Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, USA to be increased

The JCOMMOPS budget is just sufficient for the existing needs but does not allow any flexibility for growth.

Infrastructure: Infrastructure: Office, Staff and Information SystemOffice, Staff and Information System

• The requirements for an integrated I.S. was recognized in 2001 and built gradually by JCOMMOPS staff (99%):

– International programmes need centralized and efficient information and communication tools.

– Information on the programs, platforms, people, data, etc, is constantly changing and needs to be well structured.

– Database, GIS technologies are required to manage information and web based technologies are required to share and communicate this information.

• The development and maintenance of such system has to be properly supported

• The new I.T. resource will certainly allow JCOMMOPS to maintain and modernize its system.A new system is being designed to be used into the next decade, with a new generation of integrated web products and services

(2010-2012)

Infrastructure: Infrastructure: Office, Staff and Information SystemOffice, Staff and Information System

• The JCOMMOPS I.S. routinely takes in information from different sources:

– GTS of WMO, Global Data Centres , platform tracking data from telecom. Providers (Argos/Iridium), various metadata centres, etc.

– Platform operators feed the system regularly (e.g. deployment planning) and data users (including operational centres) feedback on data quality to data producers via JCOMMOPS.

– Coordinators feed the system regularly and control crucial metadata

• Information is then made available through different products and web tools, permitting:

– tracking the status, development, and efficiency of the networks

– Mapping the programme structure to facilitate communication

– provides a common interface and visibility for the programmes.

JCOMMOPS is not a data centre… but a support centre managing metadata

Web Site Audience: Web Site Audience: broad, regular, intended and truly internationalbroad, regular, intended and truly international

Source: Google Analytics

25000 visits per year, from 135 countries (e.g. for Argo)

Products & Services: focal pointsProducts & Services: focal points

• The JCOMMOPS Coordinators monitor and provide oversight for the global arrays, and understand all the elements of the system:

– platforms, people, data systems

– unique international/national/regional/institutional considerations (including Law of the Sea issues: JCOMMOPS/AIC role acknowledged in IOC Res XX-6 and XLI-4 – notification procedure regarding float drift in EEZ).

• JCOMMOPS provides a team of focal points,– fully dedicated to the development of a specific programme,

– with a truly international focus and a neutral representation,

– To mediate and help communicate

– in constant liaison with people implementing the arrays.

• They support the programme on a wide range of issues:

Assistance, Monitoring, Cooperation19

Products & Services: AssistanceProducts & Services: Assistance

• Assistance to national programs and individual platform operators– on any issue required to participate in an international program

– on data distribution, following appropriate standards

– on logistics (deployment planning, deployment methods, instrument retrieval)

– Programme reporting information

• Assistance through – a web portal to find information relating to ocean observing systems, including a

centralized source of documentation, contact details, programme information and platforms, etc, and

– common system for managing communications (e.g. news items, mailing lists, picture galleries, etc)

• Assistance to individual scientists and data users (growing and rationalized)

• Assistance to the community or media (photos, maps, articles, presentations, etc)

In addition to its web sites, JCOMMOPS provides a responsive and proactive focal point.

Products & Services: MonitoringProducts & Services: Monitoring

Monitoring goals:

• An authoritative source of metadata for platforms and official status of the arrays

• Common and integrated monitoring tools across the networks

• Common and specific performance evaluation tools for the networks

• Integration of quality control feedback mechanisms across programmes and platforms

• Centralised deployment planning tools and capacity for shared deployment opportunities

• Detection of problems with data formats, data archives

Monitoring Tools:

• Real-time web applications to browse the platform database

• Real-time GIS/Chart based monitoring and tracking tools

• Daily Metadata export files (Textual, XML, Google Earth outputs).

• A portal for access to community (national/regional) web based monitoring tools

• Various monthly and yearly products and reports

Products & Services: CooperationProducts & Services: Cooperation

JCOMMOPS is

• Encouraging cooperation between research and operational communities within the domains of oceanography and marine meteorology.

• Encouraging, providing recognition and visibility to every single contribution to the programmes

• Encouraging standardization (or harmonization) of Data Formats

• Encouraging and coordinating international cooperation through bilateral/multilateral and cross-programme initiatives:

– training sessions on instrument and data related practices

– proactive development of international cooperation through Platform Donor Programs

Products & Services: ExamplesProducts & Services: Examples

Real-time ...Very early on, JCOMMOPS provided online, interactive GIS–based, real-time tracking tools for ocean platforms and is now working on a partnership with Google to include JCOMM/GOOS observing system status and products within Google Ocean

Interoperability targeted: Web Map Services, XML metadata exports, etc.

Monthly ...

JCOMMOPS Status maps are widely recognized as authoritative and giving an up-to-date, verified status of the arrays, encouraging community to share the data and showing how the programmes assess and meet their requirements

Products & Services: ExamplesProducts & Services: Examples

JCOMMOPS provides RT tools to facilitate and organize deployment planning (e.g. Argo)

Products & Services: ExamplesProducts & Services: Examples

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Products (on-line or on-demand) measuring the growth and efficiency of the arrays.

If there is a need for new information products on platforms, statistics about

national/regional contributions, or a map, etc ... just ask JCOMMOPS,

support@jcommops.org

JCOMMOPS Future directions: JCOMMOPS Future directions: Integrated products / servicesIntegrated products / services

• Design a new generation of integrated web tools: • Integration of the technical elements of the information System• Design a new structure for the JCOMMOPS database and websites, flexible enough to handle

new programmes and new metadata for multidisciplinary obs. systems.• Using more interactivity in navigation and products (via latest web technologies)• Develop a profile based service: “My JCOMMOPS”, answering the needs of a very broad

audience

• Developing further cooperation across the obs. systems (ship time, deployment opportunities)

– JCOMMOPS is working with partners to create a new “Cruise Coordinator” position– Identify future research cruises, and CTD data essential to Argo data quality control, in cooperation

with the GO-SHIP, CCHDO and POGO initiatives.

• Developing further international cooperation by cross-programme training workshops and platform donation

• Make cross-programme “variable oriented” monitoring products

Argo Argo http://argo.jcommops.orghttp://argo.jcommops.org

• Argo Steering Team (1999)

– Argo = sum of national contribution coordinated by the AST

• Argo Technical Coordinator(Argo Information Centre / JCOMMOPS): 2001

– IOC Res. XX-6 implementation

– International technical coordination

• Argo Data Management Team

– National Data Centres (DACs) feed two mirrored GDACs (netCDF files, RT/DM)

– DACs feed also GTS of WMO (via other standards formats)

– Long term archival centre established at US NODC

– DMQC working group

• Argo Regional Centres

– Implementation, regional QC

• Argo was completed in Nov. 2007

DBCPDBCPhttp://www.jcommops.org/dbcp

• The DBCP is an international program coordinating the use of autonomous data buoys to observe the atmosphere and ocean for forecasting and research.

• Formed in 1985, as a joint body of the WMO and IOC of UNESCO.

• It makes up the data buoy component of the Joint WMO-IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM).  

• The DBCP began support for a Technical Coordinator in 1987 to resolve data flow and quality control issues, and as a focal point for the program. Currently the Technical Coordinator works 70% of the time on DBCP and 30% on OceanSITES. The panel has one Chair and regional Vice-Chairs for each continent. It is also supported by IOC and WMO via dedicated secretariat staff who assist in meetings and implementing the work plan.

DBCPDBCPhttp://www.jcommops.org/dbcp

• The DBCP was the first component of the GOOS to achieve its initial goal, when in 2005, it deployed its 1250th drifter, which was initially defined by the requirement for at least one buoy in every 500 x 500 km square.

• The panel meets annually and has an open membership, but is mainly Buoy operators, Data Managers, telecommunications providers, manufacturers and other interested parties. It also cooperates through 9 Action Groups (Global and Regional), an Executive Committee and various task teams focussing on different elements of the Panel’s work.

• The DBCP has worked for many years, in cooperation with platform manufacturers to develop a standard set of drifting buoy and moored buoys to suit observational requirements for meteorological and oceanographic applications.

OceanSITESOceanSITES

• OceanSITES is an international program to coordinate a global system of long-term, deepwater reference stations measuring dozens of variables and monitoring the full depth of the ocean from air-sea interactions down to 5,000 meters.

• Though the  OceanSITES program has long term sponsorship from POGO, OOPC, CLIVAR and JCOMM it has recently made good progress in coordinating its work internationally.

• It has – a Steering Team which comprises all PIs and Platform Operators (with 2 Co-

Chairs), – a Data Management Team (with 2 Co-Chairs) to manage the Global Data System

(GDACs and DACs), Data format, metadata requirements and data flow issues– an Executive Committee to manage programmatic decisions and – a Project Office at JCOMMOPS (Hester Viola)

Retrieval of beached instrumentsRetrieval of beached instruments

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• 1.5% of floats are beached• (15% In Marginal Seas)• Tools available• Worldwide contacts established• Experience gained

• Similar procedure to be developed for Gliders ?

International IssuesInternational Issues

• IOC/UNESCO

– IOC Res. XX-6, adopted in June 2000: “(…) notify to Member States of all floats which might drift into some EEZs (…)”

– JCOMMOPS/AIC implemented and maintains the procedure

– IOC Res. XLI-4 adopted in June 2008, recognized Argo as a “programme” to be sustained, acknowledged the work of JCOMMOPS/AIC

– Continue the efforts in notifying deployments (Transparency)

– EEZ = 30% of the ocean ...

– Developing cooperation helps to solve issues

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How JCOMMOPS can assist the How JCOMMOPS can assist the Glider community?Glider community?

• JCOMMOPS immediate synergies (infrastructure, experience in international coordination)

• JCOMMOPS host (CLS/Ifremer) Operational (365/24/7): could be useful for specific Gliders applications

• JCOMMOPS experienced in new (web based) technologies

• International visibility and communication channels

• Existing products and services can adapted for gliders

• Implementation: development of regional connections (DBCP regional Actions Groups, Argo Regional Centres, JCOMM Regional Marine Instrumentation Centres, GOOS Regional Alliances)

• Sharing of deployment opportunities (e.g. mooring maintenance cruises)

• Knowledge of existing and future data systems and formats

How JCOMMOPS can assist How JCOMMOPS can assist Gliders communityGliders community

Gliders Coordinator Position / Glider Information Centre

• JCOMMOPS can:

– Make the case of the need at the international level (done for JCOMM)

– Help to define the ToR based on examples of Argo, DBCP, OceanSITES

– Help on the administrative aspects and relationship with IOC/UNESCO and WMO

• What would be the level support required for Glider coordination

– ½ time ? Full time?

• For Information:

– UN Civil Servant (IOC/UNESCO), grade P2 full time

– Funds required: ~100 k€ / year

– = Salary + Mission budget + participation to infrastructure

ConclusionsConclusions

• JCOMMOPS has an infrastructure in place, providing services to the JCOMM community

• Feedback from JCOMM and its programmes indicates that JCOMMOPS is a major element in the successful implemention of the observing systems

• JCOMMOPS is visible and recognized internationally

• JCOMMOPS has achieved a lot with meagre means and could do much more with new partners

• JCOMMOPS is ready to fulfill new expectations and pursue new challenges

• It is the right timing for a glider coordinator to join JCOMMOPS for the benefit of the implementation of a sustained array of gliders in the context of GOOS.

EGO transition into an international programme may be the first step, but an EGO coordinator/project office can also help to structure and raise the visibility of the

programme.

DiscussionDiscussion

JCOMMOPS is very flexible infrastructure and can adapt to the specific support

required for Glider Programme Coordination.

JCOMMOPS would need to understand your requirements better to see how it

could assist as appropriate.

More Info: OceanObs‘09 JCOMMOPS CWP

http://www.jcommops.org

support@jcommops.org

Thank you …