Shipboard Automated Meteorological and Oceanographic System (SAMOS) Initiative: A Key Component of an Ocean Observing Sy

1. Shipboard Automated Meteorological and Oceanographic System (SAMOS) Initiative:A Key Component of an Ocean Observing System Shawn R. Smith Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies Florida State University Tallahassee, FL USA

2. SAMOS Initiative • Mission: To ensure routine access to calibrated, quality assured, surface meteorological data collected by shipboard automated meteorological and oceanographic systems (SAMOS) on research vessels (R/V) and Volunteer Observing Ships (VOS) in a manner that: • supports science objectives of national and international climate programs • improves global data coverage, especially from important but data sparse regions (e.g., Southern Ocean) • enhances observations for operational meteorology and oceanography Courtesy NOAA OCO

3. What is a SAMOS? • Automated data logging system • Sampling interval 1 minute or less • Continuous recording • Typically bow or mast mounted on R/V or VOS • Typical observations: • Navigation: position, heading, course and speed over ground • Meteorology: true wind vector, air temperature, moisture, pressure • Oceanography: sea temperature, salinity, conductivity • Additional capability: • Pitch, roll, heave, ship-relative winds, precipitation, multiple radiation components, visibility, ceiling height, swell and waves • Some direct flux measurements Courtesy WHOI

4. SAMOS Data Applications • SAMOS observations provide benchmark data for: • Validation studies (e.g., global model fields, satellite observations) • Air-sea flux fields (SAMOS are capable of providing observations with sampling rates and accuracy desired for estimating air-sea fluxes) • SAMOS data also support comparison studies between in-situ platforms (e.g., ship-to-ship, ship-to-buoy). • Allows independent assessment of biases in marine observations assimilated into global models. SeaWinds on Midori

5. SAMOS vs. Bridge Obs • Air temperatures show cold bias in bridge reports for the Knorr • Lower number of matches may skew results for Knorr • Meteor comparison very good without adjusting for differing thermometer heights (bridge: 11 m, SAMOS 28 m) Courtesy NOAA OCO

6. Issues for Applications • Each R/V generally operates independently • Data collection, calibration, quality assurance, distribution methods differ • Long term archival lacking in some cases • Little organized data management infrastructure exists • Improve data quality • Necessary to achieve flux accuracy desired by international climate programs • Need better calibration methods and uniform metadata • Regular evaluation of both instrument systems and data collected • Improve data access for research and operations • Include data streams that have not been readily available • Collect all necessary parameters to estimate quality air-sea fluxes • Decrease time from data collection to making the observations available to the user community

7. Plan for SAMOS • SAMOS initiative seeks to unify the current fragmented R/V observations into a sustained network of mobile observation platforms. • Initial network will rely on U.S. research vessels • Dialog to include international vessels is underway • Activities of SAMOS initiative will focus on: • Data Stewardship • Data Accuracy • Training • SAMOS network will complement other components of ocean observing system (e.g., moorings, flux reference stations, floats, drifters)

8. SAMOS Vessels • Vessel network will build upon existing technology • SAMOS already deployed on many research vessels • Most improvements will be in communications, data & metadata standards • Some sensor enhancement possible • Vessels operated by a wide range of U. S. institutions and agencies are under consideration to participate in the SAMOS initiative • 14-22 University operated R/Vs • 18+ NOAA vessels • 3 USCG and 2 NSF polar vessels • ? VOS SAMOS (numbers unclear at present) • Expansion to include international research vessels will begin with vessels operating at high latitudes

9. Data Stewardship • A centralized data assembly center (DAC) for U.S. SAMOS data has been established at FSU through NOAA OCO funding. • The 2005 pilot project • Established daily electronic transfer of 1-min. average data from R/Vs to the DAC • Set standards for parameters collected, metadata, sampling and averaging, and data exchange • Automated data tracking, quality control, distribution • Preliminary data from WHOI R/Vs available 5 minutes after arrival of daily file at DAC • http://samos.coaps.fsu.edu/

10. Data Accuracy • The DAC is working with international partners to develop data accuracy and precision targets for SAMOS observations. • NOAA ESRL/PSD and WHOI have started development of a portable standard for onboard comparison to the R/V’s SAMOS • Vision includes a state-of-the-art flux measurement system and a set of individual sensors for side-by-side comparison to the R/V instruments • Routine comparisons will occur during typical science cruises • SAMOS plans include routine airflow modeling of vessels to: • Correct data for biases due to upstream structures • Determine optimal sensor locations and effective measurement heights Courtesy National Oceanography Centre, UK

11. Training • A reference manual of best procedures and practices for the observation and documentation of meteorological parameters, including radiative and turbulent fluxes, in the marine environment has been drafted. • Emphasis is on measuring climate quality data suitable for estimating radiative and turbulent fluxes • Manual includes information on sensor exposure, flow and heat distortion, calibration, sensor comparisons, metadata, algorithms, etc. • On-line reference will establish sources/contacts where expertise can be obtained by data collectors and users. • In future, SAMOS initiative seeks to host training workshops for marine technicians • SAMOS continues to encourage funding agencies to support human capital development through education and training.

12. Final Thoughts • The SAMOS initiative continues to seek input from our potential user community (both operational and research) • Plan is for sustained collection, distribution of high-quality marine AWS data • Will support international experiments (e.g., CLIVAR, GODAE), but will not limit focus to experiment oriented data • Additional SAMOS information (including reports from the first two workshops) are available at: • http://www.coaps.fsu.edu/RVSMDC/Workshops/ • Thank you to the NOAA Office of Climate Observation for supporting both the workshop and SAMOS activities at several U. S. institutions.