Ocean Observations: Ocean Observations: Present and FuturePresent and Future

Capitol Hill Oceans Week Capitol Hill Oceans Week June 10, 2004June 10, 2004

Brig. Gen. David L. Johnson, USAF (Ret.)Brig. Gen. David L. Johnson, USAF (Ret.) NOAA Assistant Administrator for Weather ServicesNOAA Assistant Administrator for Weather Services

Ocean Observations: Present and Future

Ocean Observations: Present and Future

• BackgroundBackground

• NOAA’s Ocean ObservationsNOAA’s Ocean Observations

• National Weather Service Operational Information Flow National Weather Service Operational Information Flow

• NOAA’s Ocean ServicesNOAA’s Ocean Services

• Integrated Ocean Observing System and Integrated Ocean Observing System and National Water Quality Monitoring SystemNational Water Quality Monitoring System

• ConclusionConclusion

Increasing Global PressuresIncreasing Global Pressures

How Do You Define Ocean?How Do You Define Ocean?

• White Water to Blue Water is the White Water to Blue Water is the Geographic ScopeGeographic Scope

NOAA’s Ocean ObservationsNOAA’s Ocean Observations

PORTS™ NWLONMussel Watch NERR SitesWX Buoys C-MAN BuoysGeodesy – CORS

TAO ArrayTAO Array

Tropical Atmosphere Ocean ArrayEl Niño Forecasting

NOAA SatellitesNOAA Satellites

• Imaging & MonitoringImaging & Monitoring– Severe Weather EventsSevere Weather Events– Iceberg EventsIceberg Events– Ocean EventsOcean Events– Tropical CyclonesTropical Cyclones– Oil Spills Oil Spills – Sea Surface TemperatureSea Surface Temperature– Ocean Color and Chlorophyll LevelsOcean Color and Chlorophyll Levels– Ocean Surface WindsOcean Surface Winds– Coral BleachingCoral Bleaching– Ocean PrecipitationOcean Precipitation

GOESGOES

POESPOES

Additional Sources for NOAA Observations

Additional Sources for NOAA Observations

• Voluntary Observing ShipsVoluntary Observing Ships

• Marine Observations Marine Observations (MAROBs)(MAROBs)

• PartnershipsPartnerships

Weather Forecast Offices/River Forecast Centers

Emergency Managers

Public

National Environmental Satellite,

Data, and Information Service

National Weather ServiceOperational Information Flow

National Weather ServiceOperational Information Flow

National Centers for

Environmental Prediction

National DataBuoy Center

TelecommunicationGatewayNWS Marine

Observing

Network

Global Telecommunication

System Operational

Bulletins

DATA DELIVERY

Gulf of Maine Observing System

Coastal OceanMonitoring &

Prediction System

Texas Automated Buoy System

NOAA’s Ocean ServicesNOAA’s Ocean Services

• Marine Forecasts and Marine Forecasts and Warnings for:Warnings for:– Coastal watersCoastal waters– Great LakesGreat Lakes– Offshore watersOffshore waters– High seas watersHigh seas waters– Rip currentsRip currents– HurricanesHurricanes– TsunamisTsunamis

• Seasonal OutlooksSeasonal Outlooks– Hurricane SeasonHurricane Season– El Niño/La NiñaEl Niño/La Niña

NOAA’s Ocean ServicesNOAA’s Ocean Services

• Coral Reef Conservation

• International Collaboration

• Marine Protected Areas

• National Marine Sanctuaries

• Ocean Exploration

• Oil and Chemical Spills

• Coastal Decision-making Tools• Coastal Ecosystem Science• Coastal Management• Coastal Monitoring and

Observations• Contaminants in the Environment• Ecological Forecasting• National Estuarine Research

Reserves• Natural Hazards Assessment• Natural Resource Restoration• Training and Capacity- building

• Aerial Photography and Shoreline Mapping

• Global Positioning• Marine Navigation• Tides and Currents

Ocean Commission RecommendationsOcean Commission Recommendations

• Integrated Ocean Integrated Ocean Observing SystemObserving System

• National Water Quality National Water Quality Monitoring SystemMonitoring System

NOAA’s Vision of an Integrated Ocean Observing System

NOAA’s Vision of an Integrated Ocean Observing System

• As part of NOAA’s As part of NOAA’s integrated earth integrated earth observing system, observing system, provide a provide a sustained global to sustained global to local ocean local ocean observation & data observation & data management/management/communication communication system.system.

Integrated Ocean Management Integrated Ocean Management

Bringing It All Together Bringing It All Together

DMAC Standards and

Protocols

IOOS Data Management & Communications (DMAC)

IOOS Data Management & Communications (DMAC)

Currently '07 StartCurrently '07 Start

What is the Impact of a Climate Prediction What is the Impact of a Climate Prediction Center Forecast for a Wetter Than Normal Center Forecast for a Wetter Than Normal Summer on Chesapeake Bay Oystermen?Summer on Chesapeake Bay Oystermen?

Seasonal PrecipitationSeasonal PrecipitationSeasonal PrecipitationSeasonal Precipitation

Above NormalAbove NormalAbove NormalAbove Normal

Below NormalBelow NormalBelow NormalBelow Normal

Water Quality MonitoringWater Quality Monitoring

Nutrient LoadingNutrient LoadingNutrient LoadingNutrient Loading

Oyster MortalityOyster MortalityOyster MortalityOyster MortalitySalinitySalinitySalinitySalinity

TurbidityTurbidityTurbidityTurbidity-

NUTRIENTS

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NUTRIENTS

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TURBIDITY

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-

TURBIDITY

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MORTALITY

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MORTALITY

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SALINITY

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SALINITY

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• Enhanced ability to protect lives and property and expand Enhanced ability to protect lives and property and expand economic opportunities, understanding climate variability, economic opportunities, understanding climate variability, and promote healthy ecosystems.and promote healthy ecosystems.

• More cost-effective use of infrastructures, knowledge, and More cost-effective use of infrastructures, knowledge, and expertise.expertise.

• Rapid access to environmental data and information.Rapid access to environmental data and information.

• More timely detection and prediction of changes and More timely detection and prediction of changes and events.events.

• Broader application of data and information.Broader application of data and information.

• Increased funding for research and monitoring.Increased funding for research and monitoring.

Benefits of IOOS and a National Water Quality Monitoring System

Benefits of IOOS and a National Water Quality Monitoring System

Present Ocean Sensor?Present Ocean Sensor?

Future?Future?