Data Analytics Needs Scenario Water Quality Earth Science Data Analytics Federal Big Data Working Group May 6, 2014

1. Data Analytics Needs ScenarioWater QualityEarth Science Data AnalyticsFederal Big Data Working GroupMay 6, 2014 Joan L. Aron, Ph.D. Aron Environmental Consulting Columbia, Maryland

2. End User of Big DataPerspective of Risk Analysis • Risk analysis for environmental issues. • Trends (comparisons) across time and space. • Other end user needs may be different. • Example: Emergency response systems need the latest data, but not historical data.

3. End User of Big DataContinuity of Data • Continuity – Will these data continue? • Continuity – Criterion for usability of Big Data. • Decennial census has constitutional mandate but mandates are not typical. • Data re-analysis can provide continuity for multiple sources that may change over time. • NASA has MERRA re-analysis of climate data supporting research on global climate models that determines spatial and temporal scales.

4. End User of Big DataLinkages of Data • Linkages – Ability to link datasets from different agencies, sectors and/or disciplines. • Linkages – Criterion for usability of Big Data. • Interagency Council on Climate Preparedness and Resilience (Co-Chairs: Council on Environmental Quality; Office of Science & Technology Policy; Assistant to President for Homeland Security & Counterterrorism) • Executive Order 13653 (11/2013) – Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change

5. End User of Big DataLinkages: Climate and Water Quality • Big Data can improve the speed of monitoring to keep up with the identification of problems • Big Data can improve the accuracy of monitoring to better target interventions • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) periodic reporting on physical science, impacts, adaptation, vulnerability, mitigation http://www.ipcc.ch/

6. End User of Big DataLinkages: Climate and Water Quality • Terrestrial and inland water systems (IPCC WGII Impacts, 2014, Chap. 4) • Increased urbanization and agricultural irrigation • Altered thermal and precipitation regimes • Coastal systems and low-lying areas (IPCC WGII Impacts, 2014, Chap. 5) • Increased development and pollution (nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment, dead zones) • Altered sea level, ocean temperature & acidity

7. End User of Big DataWater Quality Complexity w/o Climate • Mississippi River • Lake Erie • Chesapeake Bay • Las Vegas Wash

8. End User of Big DataMississippi River – Water Quality • U.S. largest hypoxic (low oxygen) zone where Mississippi flows into northern Gulf of Mexico • High nitrate levels in Miss. River cause algal growth that consumes oxygen • Increasing trend between 1980 and 2010 despite efforts to reduce nitrates (agricultural fertilizers, wastewater treatment) • Urban sprawl; replacing soy with corn; ???

9. End User of Big DataLake Erie – Water Quality • Smallest and shallowest of Great Lakes • Pollution (esp. phosphorus) causes harmful algal blooms (HABs) • HABs impact ecosystem, drinking water supplies, fisheries, recreation, tourism • Municipal sewage treatment 1960s, 1970s • Problem re-emerged 2000s with runoff • HAB toxin shut water plant in Ohio - 2013

10. End User of Big DataChesapeake Bay – Water Quality • Urban and storm-water runoff growing • Chesapeake Bay watershed – new impervious surface equiv. to Washington DC every 4 years • Nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment plus trash, fecal bacteria, oil and other petroleum products, pesticides, herbicides, road salt, copper, lead, zinc • Fish mortality, oyster restrictions, beach closures, nitrate filtration – drinking; dredging

11. End User of Big DataLas Vegas Wash – Water Quality • Drains storm-water runoff and treated effluent from Las Vegas Valley to LV Bay / Lake Mead • Rapid population growth and development – excess sediment in water • Plan to control erosion (small dams / weirs), restore wetlands, and limit invasive plants; water intake for tunnel to Lake Mead • Las Vegas Wash water quality OK since 2004 • History of storms and massive erosion leading to loss of habitat and infrastructure – resilience??

12. End User of Big Data Thanks for background information and helpful discussion from: • Brand Niemann(Semantic Community) • Bob Hall (USEPA) • Dan Heggem (USEPA) • John Schnase (NASA) • Steve Kempler (NASA)

13. End User of Big Data • Category: • Perspective of Risk Analysis: • CODATA Integrated Research on Disaster Risk: • Continuity of Data: • US EPA Air Data: • Linkages of Data: • Conservation International: • Linkages of Climate and Water Quality: • US Interagency Chesapeake Bay Program: • Answer Three Questions: • How was the data collected? • Where is the data stored? • What are the data results?

14. Perspective of Risk Analysis - CODATA Integrated Research on Disaster Risk: How was the data collected? http://semanticommunity.info/Data_Science/Big_Data_Science_for_CODATA#Databases_at_a_Glance

15. Perspective of Risk Analysis - CODATA Integrated Research on Disaster Risk: Where is the data stored? Web Player

16. Perspective of Risk Analysis - CODATA Integrated Research on Disaster Risk: What are the data results? Web Player

17. Continuity of Data - EPA Air Data:How was the data collected? http://semanticommunity.info/Data_Science/Data_Science_for_EPA_Air_Data

18. Continuity of Data - EPA Air Data:Where is the data stored? Web Player

19. Continuity of Data - EPA Air Data:What are the data results? Web Player

20. Linkages of Data - Conservation International:How was the data collected? http://www.teamnetwork.org/protocols

21. Linkages of Data - Conservation International:Where is the data stored? http://www.teamnetwork.org/data/query

22. Linkages of Data - Conservation International:What are the data results? My Note: Work in progress. • http://www.teamnetwork.org/gridsphere/gridsphere?cid=download • http://semanticommunity.info/Data_Science/Earth_Insights_from_Big_Data

23. Linkages of Climate and Water Quality - US Interagency Chesapeake Bay Program: How was the data collected? http://semanticommunity.info/Chesapeake_Bay_Program

24. Linkages of Climate and Water Quality - US Interagency Chesapeake Bay Program: Where is the data stored? http://semanticommunity.info/Chesapeake_Bay_Program

25. Linkages of Climate and Water Quality - US Interagency Chesapeake Bay Program: What are the data results? My Note: The variations in climate explain why the pollution controls have not improved water quality! Web Player

26. Linkages of Climate and Water Quality - US Interagency Chesapeake Bay Program: What are the data results? Web Player