The Gulf of MexicoCoastal Ocean Observing System:a Regional Component of the U.S.Integrated Ocean Observing System
Landry Bernard and Worth Nowlin
Univ. S. Mississippi/NOAA National Data Buoy Center
Texas A&M University/NOAA Coastal Services Center
Petroleum Industry—GCOOS WorkshopHouston, TXNovember 3, 2005
Outline
• Background• Existing Capabilities in the Gulf of Mexico
• Actions to date in building the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System
• Next steps in that development
Background: the Global Ocean
Observing System and the U.S.
Integrated Ocean Observing System
Global Ocean Observing System(GOOS)
• GOOS is an end-to-end system of observations, data management, and production and delivery of products/services.
• GOOS is being coordinated by United Nation agencies with the participation of some 100 ocean nations.
• Together with the World Weather Watch, Global Atmospheric Watch, Global Climate Observing System and Global Terrestrial Observing System, GOOS is an element of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).
The GOOS ModulesThe Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) has been designed and is being implemented in two modules:• The global module is designed to
monitor, predict, and understand marine surface conditions and climate variability/change; and
• The coastal module is designed to sustain healthy marine ecosystems, ensure human health, promote safe and efficient marine transportation, enhance national security, and predict and mitigate against coastal hazards.
The Ocean.US Enterprise
At the request of the U.S. Congress, federal agencies of the National Oceanographic Partnership Program are planning and developing a U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System focused on:
• Detecting and Forecasting Oceanic Components of Climate Variability• Facilitating Safe and Efficient Marine Operations• Ensuring National Security• Managing Marine Resources• Preserving and Restoring Healthy Marine Ecosystems• Mitigating Natural Hazards• Ensuring Public Health
Ocean.US is the national office for integrated and sustained ocean observing and prediction.Its Functions are:
• Develop & maintain strategic plan• Ensure incorporation of elements into an integrated system• Recommend enhancements• Recommend R&D priorities• Promote collaboration among participating NOPP agencies & Regional Associations
• Report regularly to the EXCOM which provides policy guidance, ensures sustained agency support, and approves implementing documents
The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System
U.S. IOOSTwo Interdependent Components
Global Ocean Climate Component
GOOS/GCOS
Resolution
Low
High
CCal Caribbean
MAB
GLsNE
SE
GoMexS
Cal
HIsl
NW
GoA
Coastal OceanComponent
NationalBackbone
RegionalObservingSystems
12501250
8484
2828
23002300
2727
531531
77
7979
7979
2626
923923
2424
497497
6767
7979
2626
497497
6767
7777
2424
370370
5656
975975
7979
2727
15721572
2424
497497
6969
12501250
9797
4545
30003000
5454
6464
2929
730730
99
106106
12501250
119119
5151
30003000
8989
3131
99
170170
12501250
115115
5151
30003000
7878
8585
3131
830830
99
148148
12501250
104104
5151
30003000
6060
7878
3131
830830
99
126126
12501250
8787
3434
30003000
5454
2727
640640
88
9191
7777
2323
370370
5151
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 GaugesReal-time StationsReal-time 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
2020 3131 544544
1515 2929 3535 3737 4141
11
00 11 11 22
53534848 6666100100888877775555Total System Total System 3030 3434 4040 4545
20002000 20012001 20022002 20032003 20042004 2006200620052005 20072007 20082008 20092009 20102010
System % CompleteSystem % Complete
33
4242 4949
340340
3737343431313030303029292929
00 00
Multi-year Phased Implementation Plan Multi-year Phased Implementation Plan (representative milestones)(representative milestones)
Coastal Component
• Operated by Federal Agencies
• EEZ & Great Lakes
• Core variables required by regions & Federal Agencies
• Networks of sentinel & reference stations
• Standards/Protocols
• Operated by Regional Associations
• Involve private & public sectors
• Inform Federal Agencies of user needs
• Enhance the backbone based on user needs
• Incorporate Sub–regional systems
Regional COOSs
National Backbone
57
7
900
150
281
88
900
80
900
77
900
72
57
900
140
85
63
15
900
39
203
36
57
210
386
118
72
15
900
39
287
164
862
204
69
15
900
39
259
59
135
270
677
174
66
15
900
39
231
48
96
240
492
146
60
15
900
26
24
35
180
281
90
900
68
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 20062005 2007 2008 2009 2010
Coastal BuoysNumber of moorings
Coastal Stations
Hurricane Buoys
Voluntary Obs. Ships
DART
NWLON Stations
PORTS
Dedicated Ship Time
Coastal HF Radar
Reg. Assoc + Industry
Low resolution wx obs.
Number of tsunami stations
Number of moorings
Number of stations
Number of platforms
Days at sea (USCG + NOAA)
Number of coastal radars
Number of water level stations
Phys. Oc. Real time data
57 57 57 57
0 6
175 175 175 175 175 175 188
12 12 1212
Multi-Year Program Plan
0
Multi-Year Program Plan
Coastal Marine Components:Multi-Year Program Plan
0
6 8
251 234 237 227181
Base Budget.FY 06 President’s Budget.Planning, Unfunded at this level.
25
0 19 31 97
10108
Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean
Observing System
Existing Capabilities
• Many existing elements are being used as the initial building blocks for a regional ocean observing system for the Gulf of Mexico.
• These include continuing observations, satellite products, models, and other data products.
• They are supported by local, state and federal government, private industry, NGOs, and academia.
• They provide information that will have broader uses when they are integrated and enhanced.
Building Blocks 1:In situ
observations
Gulf of Mexico observations
MMS current data via NDBC
9of9_tabs_08262004b.gif
Tampa Bay PORTSobservation locations
http://co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/images/tbports.gif
http://comps.marine.usf.edu/index.html
University of South FloridaCOMPS
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Building Blocks 2:Remotely sensed
dataand products
Satellite Products
Building Blocks 3:Models and Products
Model Products
ProductsAt present, there are only a limited number of products derived from measurements being made in the Gulf. Some were mentioned earlier.
As expected, most of these products are derived from specific observations for purposes specified by the entities paying for the observations. (Exceptions include satellite products.)
If the observations were combined with one another, many new data-products could be produced that would benefit additional sectors of users.
User Sector Users Estimated Economic Effects ($M/Y)Recreational Fishing $6.7-34.0Recreational ActivitiesRecreational Boating $4.0
Transportation Freight $30.7Search and Rescue $28.0Oil Spills $0.8
Health and Safety
Tropical Storm Prediction $15.6Energy Oil and Gas Development $14.1-26.3Commercial Fisheries Commercial Fisheries $2.1
Order of magnitude estimates of potential economic benefits of t he GCOOS to elevensectors in the Gulf of Mexico as estimated by Charles Colgan and Hauke Kite-Powell(2004). Estimates do not include the west coast of Florida.
Actions to date in building the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing
System
Requirements for Regional Coastal Ocean
Observing SystemsTo be eligible for federal support, each Regional Coastal Ocean Observing System must have a Regional Association that:
1. Provides representative governance and the capability to receive and distribute funds with all approved accounting procedures;
2. Maintains a sound business plan indicating users, requirements, costs, and sources of support; and
3. Represents the regional system within the National Federation of Regional Associations.
• Seven Gulf-wide meetings have been held:
– First focused on academia– Second focused on state and federal
agencies– Third focused on private sectors– Fourth focused on predicting, detecting
and tracking Harmful Algal Blooms– Fifth focused on underpinning research– Sixth focused on education and outreach– Seventh focused on governance and Business
Plan
Actions 1
• A GCOOS Mission Statement has been adopted.
• A Resolution to develop GCOOS, beginning with sharing of non-proprietary, non-commercial data, has been signed by some 60 individuals representing themselves or institutions.
Actions 2
Mission Statement: VisionWe seek to establish a sustained observing system for the Gulf of Mexico to provide observations and products needed by users in this region for the purposes of• Detecting and predicting climate variability and consequences,
• Preserving and restoring healthy marine ecosystems,
• Ensuring human health,• Managing resources,• Facilitating safe and efficient marine transportation,
• Enhancing national security, and• Predicting and mitigating against coastal hazards.
Mission Statement(continued)
We envision sharing of non-commercial, non-proprietary data, models, and products via the internet for the common benefit of all participants, including industry, NGOs, academia, and federal, state, regional, and local government agencies. It is understood that this Gulf of Mexico observing system will be integrated with other regional coastal ocean observing systems, in particular to create an integrated and sustained U.S. component of the ocean observing system.
Mission Statement(continued)
We recognize that the system will require sustained financial support from a combination of government, private, and non-governmental organizations. That will be possible only if the system is built and remains responsive to the needs of these organizations and to the public. Thus, the system will be subject to continuing oversight by representatives of such organizations and of the public.
Collaboration with other nations bordering the Gulf of Mexico is to be actively sought in the design and implementation of this regional observing system.
ResolutionThe implementation sections reads:The Signatories hereby resolve to work together toward establishment of a Gulf of Mexico Regional Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS); to work toward development of regional governance structures and coordination; to work towards common data management standards; and to openly share non-proprietary data and metadata, non-commercial data and products, model code, and related information. …….Signatories will actively seek collaborations with other nations bordering the Gulf of Mexico in the design and implementation of this regional observing system. The Signatories will work toward implementation of specific action items decided upon at the workshop held at Stennis Space Center, MS, January 14-15, 2003,
Signatories• L.G. Adams, Weeks Bay NERR• Kim Adams, President, Essi Corporation• Vernon Asper, for College of Marine Sciences,
University of Southern Mississippi• Peter R. Betzer, for University of South Florida
(USF) College of Marine Science• John Blaha, Naval Oceanographic Office• Jim Byous, Ocean Specialist Services, for Gulf
Fiber Corporation• Lisa Campbell, Texas A&M University• Jim Cato, Florida Sea Grant• Billy D. Causey, Superintendent of the Florida
Keys National Marine Sanctuary• Robert Cohen, Weathernews Americas Inc.• H. D. Covert, Coastal Operations Institute• George Crozier, for Dauphin Island Sea Lab and
Mobile Bay National Estuary Program• Steven F. DiMarco, Texas A&M University• Richard E. Dodge, Nova Southeastern University
Oceanographic Center• Dean A. Dunn, for National Coastal Data
Development Center (NCDDC)• Wilford Gardner, Head, Department of
Oceanography, Texas A&M University• Bryon O. Griffith, Deputy Director, EPA Gulf of
Mexico Program Office• D. Jay Grimes, Provost, Gulf Coast and Director,
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, The University of Southern Mississippi
• Norman L. Guinasso, Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, for Texas Automated Buoy System (TABS)
• Robert Hetland, Texas A&M University• Matthew Howard, Texas A&M University • Ann Jochens, Texas A&M University• Gregg Jacobs, NRL Stennis Space Center• Gary Jeffress, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi,
for Texas Coastal Ocean Observing Network (TCOON)• Mark Luther, representing both the Coastal Ocean
Monitoring and Prediction System (COMPS) and the Tampa Bay Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (TBPORTS), USF College of Marine Science
• Robert (Buzz) Martin, for Texas General Land Office• Gil McRae, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation
Commission, Florida Marine Research Institute • Douglas J. Meffert, Center for Bioenvironmental
Research, Tulane and Xavier Universities, for Long-term Estuary Assessment Group (LEAG)
• 29.Avichal Mehra, Engineering Research Center, Mississippi State University, for DMEFS
• Patrick Michaud, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi• Paul Moersdorf, Director, NOAA's National Data Buoy
Center (NDBC)• Christopher N. K. Mooers, Rosenstiel School of Marine
and Atmospheric Science• Frank Muller-Karger, Institute for Marine Remote
Sensing, University of South Florida• Worth D. Nowlin, Jr., Distinguished Professor, Texas
A&M University
Signatories (continued)
• James J. O'Brien, Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies, Florida State University
• John C. Ogden, as Director, Florida Institute of Oceanography
• Alejandro Orsi, Texas A&M University• Chris Oynes, Minerals Management Service, Gulf
of Mexico Region• Shirley Pomponi, Vice-President and Director of
Research, for Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution
• David Prior, Executive Vice-President and Provost for Texas A&M University
• Nancy N. Rabalais, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), for NGOMEX Hypoxia Studies
• Mary Jo Richardson, Interim Dean for the College of Geosciences, Texas A&M University
• Mitchell A. Roffer, President, Roffer's Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service, Inc. (ROFFS)
• Kerry St. Pe, Interim Administrator, for Louisiana Universities Marine Consorium (LUMCON)
• Ken Schaudt for Schaudt.US• William Seitz, Department Head, Marine
Sciences, Texas A&M University Galveston• Thomas M. Soniat, Professor, Nicholls State
University, for DermoWatch• Robert Stewart, Department of Oceanography,
Texas A&M University
• Robert Stickney, Director, Texas Sea Grant Program, Texas A&M University
• Gregory Stone, Louisiana State University• LaDon Swann, Director, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant
Consortium, Auburn University • Raymond F. Toll, Jr., Assistant Vice President, Earth
Space and Atmospheric Sciences Operations; Space, Earth and Aviation Sciences Business Unit of the Science Applications International Corporation, Hampton, VA
• John W. (Wes) Tunnell, Jr., Research Scientist and Professor, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, for Center for Coastal Studies and Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies
• Jan van Smirren, Fugro Global Environmental & Ocean Sciences, Inc.
• Nan Walker, Director, Earth Scan Laboratory, Coastal Studies Institute and Dept. of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University
• Robert H. Weisberg, representing both the Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction System (COMPS) and the Tampa Bay Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (TBPORTS), USF College of Marine Science
• Chuck Wilson, Vice Provost Academic Affairs, Louisiana State University, for Louisiana Sea Grant College Program
• James Robert Woolsey, Director, MS Mineral Resources Institute, University of Mississippi, for Gulf of Mexico Hydrates Research Consortium and its Hydrates Sea Floor Observatory Program
• An inventory of existing operational and product-producing components for the Gulf of Mexico, together with descriptions, costs, out-year budgets, and users is being maintained.
• A web portal to ongoing Gulf of Mexico activities has been created:
http://www.gcoos.org
Actions 3
Actions 4• We are working to establish a data and information management system that is –Part of a national system; integrated with other regional coastal observing systems
–Coordinated with observing system elements in Mexico and Cuba
–Integrated with the global observing system module
Well along in dealing with real-time physical data
NDBC MODEM Kit(Meteorological and Oceanographic Data Exchange Module)
PublicPublic
NCEPNCEPNODCNODC NCDCNCDC
GlobalTelecommunications
Service
GlobalTelecommunications
Service
NWSGATEWAY
NWSGATEWAY Wx. Channel
Local MediaWx. ChannelLocal Media
NWSForecastOffices
NWSForecastOffices
Observers Web-PageObservers Web-Page
Regional Observatories
ftpftp
NDBC
QA/QC
NDBCWeb-Page
Dial-A-Buoy
OPeNDAP
Sensor / Observation
Sensor / Observation
• We have a multi-year grant from NOAA to help establish a Regional Association to manage GCOOS.
• We have representatives from GCOOS to the National Federation of Regional Associations:– Robert (Buzz) Martin, TX
General Land Office– Raymond Toll, Science
Applications International Corporation
Actions 5
• A Memorandum of Agreement has been selected as the initial governance structure for the GCOOS Regional Association.
Actions 6
Parties to GCOOS MOA• Peter Betzer, University of South Florida• Kendall L. Carder, Individual• Michael Dagg, Individual• William Dentel, Aquatrak Corporation• Richard E. Dodge, Nova Southeastern University
Oceanographic Center• Richard Eckenrod, Tampa Bay Estuary Program• James W. Feeney, Horizon Marine• George Forristall, Forristall Ocean
Engineering, Inc.• Wilford Gardner, Texas A&M University• Sherryl Gilbert, The Alliance for Coastal
Technologies, Gulf of Mexico Partner• Norman Guinasso, Texas Automated Buoy System
(TABS); GERG• Robert Hetland, Individual• Roger R. Hoffman, The Boeing Company• Patrick Hogan, Naval Research Laboratory• Matthew Howard, Individual• Stephan Howden, Individual• Ann Jochens. Individual• Björn Kjerfve, Individual• Harvey Knull, Texas A&M University - Corpus
Christi• Steven E. Lohrenz, The University of Southern
Mississippi• Mark Luther, Tampa Bay PORTS
• John MacLeod, Evans Hamiltons, Inc.• Kumar Mahadevan, Mote Marine Laboratory Inc.• Robert “Buzz” Martin, Texas General Land
Office• Thomas McGee, Gulf of Mexico Hydrates Research
Consortium, University of Mississippi• Douglas Meffert, Tulane/Xavier Center for
Bioenvironmental Research & LEAG• Frank Muller-Karger, Individual• Worth D. Nowlin, Jr., Individual• James J. O’Brien, COAPS, Florida State
University• Chris C. Oynes, Minerals Management Service
GoM Region• Nancy Rabalais, LUMCON• Sammy Ray, DermoWatch• Mitchell Roffer, Roffer’s Ocean Fishing
Forecasting Service• Steve J. Smith, ChevronTexaco Energy
Technology Company• Mike Spranger, Florida Sea Grant Program• Robert Stickney, Texas Sea Grant College
Program• Joseph W. Swaykos, Center of Higher Learning,
University of Southern Mississippi• Raymond F. Toll, Jr., Science Applications
International Corporation• Neil Trenaman, RD Instruments• Jan van Smirren, Fugro GEOS• Sharon Walker, J. L. Scott Marine Education
Center & Aquarium• William W. Walker, Mississippi Department of
Marine Resources
• A Board of Directors for the GCOOS Regional Association has been elected and as held its initial meeting in August 2005.
Actions 7
Next Stepsin Developing
GCOOS
Next Steps 1
• We are in the process of establishing:
- Stakeholders Council- Education and Outreach Council- Products and Services Committee- Data Management and CommunicationCommittee- Observing Systems Committee
Next Steps 2
• We are working on the third draft of a Business Plan for the GCOOS-RA.
Next Steps 3
• We are working to refine priorities and plan pilot projects.
Next Step 4
• We are working to identify observations and products needed by users. This workshop is one effort toward that objective.
Invitation to Workshop Attendees
• Become a signatories to the Resolution to develop GCOOS• Sign the Memorandum of Agreement for the GCOOS Regional Association• Consider sharing through GCOOS non-proprietary, non-commercial data or products of mutual interest.• Consider nominating members to the GCOOS Councils and Committees.
http://www.gcoos.org
If you wish to become a signatory to the resolution, please send an email request to [email protected] stating if you are signing as an individual or for an institution.
If you wish to become a Party to the Regional Association, download the Memorandum of Agreement from the GCOOS web site, sign and fax to Worth Nowlin (979-847-8879)
Thank You
Please visit our web site for further information.
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