Societal Benefits of Operational Activities Using ARGO Data Judith Gray

1. Societal Benefits of Operational Activities Using ARGO Data Judith Gray U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Miami, FL

2. “Usable science”? Current programs in climate change science are charged with seeking scientific understanding to produce“… usable information on which to base policy decisions” (1990); and provide “decision support” (2004) Providing useful knowledge is not a given Experiments in science policies offer examples from which to harvest lessons To be successful at providing useful information to decision-makers requires research and a deliberate approach (From: Lisa DillingCenter for Science and Technology Policy Research University of Colorado/CIRES, Boulder, CO USA - ldilling@cires.colorado.edu)

3. Use-inspired science policy elements • “Own the problem” – recognize the need for a new paradigm or niche for creating “use-inspired” research • Start small but dedicated – not token or add-on • Start from a problem orientation- not a disciplinary perspective • Specific users or decisions • Ethics and value transparency – why this problem? These users? Usable to whom? • Consider broader participation in priority setting and governance • Problems are multidimensional: Pull in disciplines and professions as you need them • Create new metrics for success and accountability • Celebrate the virtues of “mundane” science • Develop mechanisms to connect to and influence larger research enterprise (ldilling@cires.colorado.edu)

4. Needs Identified from Web Search (USDA/NRCS Assessment with CCARD, Minister of Food & Ag, and other Ghanaian Team Representatives) • Balance natural resource conservation and environmental protection with population growth, economic development and emerging land use and ownership conflicts • Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Development Strategy - Vision 2020 - calls for increased economic development from small-scale farming for sustainable food security including increased exports, focused on the Afram Plains • Estimated cost of $86M over 5 years

5. RAINFALL ONSET DATES: The rainy season onset dates are shown in the table below. The start of the rains will be characterized by thunder storms and strong winds and as such necessary precautions need to be taken to protect life and property during such storms. AREA ONSET DATES A 10 th – 24 th MARCH B 8 th – 22 nd APRIL C 12 th – 24 th APRIL D 20 th – 30 th MAY The margin of error, in the onset dates, is ± 10 days. How are the onset dates affected by ocean temperatures?

6. Food “With the introduction of early warning systems and seasonal forecasting for the entire country a tool monitoring the expected annual food yield has seen daylight.” “A thorough knowledge of local climate and its probable anomalies is essential for successful land-use planning as well as economic planning.” Ghana Meteorological Services Department (www.meteo.gov.gh)

7. Health “Examining weather and climate data could be used to warn about a range of diseases … scientists studied the density of green vegetation in Africa to predict outbreaks of Rift Valley Fever, which can kill livestock and humans.” (From Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent, Reuters, 7/16/99) Environmental refugees - people forced to move due to changing climate & weather are more vulnerable to disease The poor are the most vulnerable, particularly women and children (from UNEP’s Africa Environmental Outlook - www.grida.no/aeo/259.htm)

8. Marine Fisheries • Extensive mangroves, deltas, and other near-shore nursery habitats need protection • MPAs or similar mechanisms need support; they can combat pollution and develop infrastructure, legislation, and training for management (1984 UNEP Convention for Cooperation in the Protection and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the West and Central African Region) • Upwelling event forecasts off Senegal, Namibia, and Zaire (sardines) • Horse mackerel, hake, pilchard, anchovy, orange roughy,sole, monk, as well as lobster, deepwater shrimp, Gulf of Guinea prawns, deep sea crab, and inter-tidal mollusks • In Ghana, consumption of marine protein exceeds terrestrial sources. Marine fisheries accounts for circa 10% of the Namibian GNP and 30% of value of all exports. • Ecosystem Management - physical components of the system

9. Donation Program To fill up gaps in the South Atlantic using ships from Brazil and Argentina.

10. Other Resources on Societal Benefits For more information on economic benefits, a great source is: http://ioc.unesco.org/oceanteacher/OceanTeacher2/DigitalLibrary.htm Select “Oceanography Today” then “Operational Oceanography” then “Economics of Ocean Observations” ODINAFRICA complements Argo efforts: Mika Odido can be reached at m.odida@unesco.org or you can go to their webiste: http://www.odinafrica.net Benguela Environment Fisheries Interaction and Training (BENEFIT-Programme) to develop joint research and sustainable use programs BCLME Programme - environmental variability, ecosystem impacts, & improvement of predictability http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/phod/sardac/