Molly McCammon Alaska Ocean Observing System Chair, National Federation of Regional Associations

1. Regional Ocean Observing SystemsEssential components of the national IOOS systemWashington, DCFebruary 28, 2008 Molly McCammon Alaska Ocean Observing System Chair, National Federation of Regional Associations

2. Diverse needs require a regional approach NERACOOS GCOOS PacIOOS CaRA

3. The Multifaceted Benefits of IOOS • More effectively protect and restore healthy ecosystems • Sustain and restore living marine resources • Improve the safety and efficiency of marine operations • Improve prediction of natural hazards (including tsunamis and storm surges) to reduce resulting damages and costs • Improve predictions of climate change and its socio-economic consequences • Improve national security and Coast Guard operations • Reduce public health risks

4. Benefits of regional component • Stakeholder/user needs at regional level • Facilitate federal/state/local synergies • Federal needs usually implemented at regional levels – regions can help fulfill agency missions • Agile, flexible, can be more immediately responsive • Regional data integration – leads to regional decision-making tools

5. Regional Associations build IOOS Partnerships(an informed constituency) • Business and Industry • Shipping • Researchers and Universities • State agencies • NGOs • International Organizations • Local and Tribal governments • Federal Agencies

6. National Federation of Regional Associations • Trade organization for regions • Speak as 1 voice • Facilitate regional perspective • Share information, lessons learned & information products among regions • Articulate user-based needs

7. RAs showing successes • 11 RAs formed • Represent all regions of US coastline • User needs identified or in process • Conceptual designs of optimal observing systems in development • Pilot projects underway • Several regional data integration centers • Regional component in President’s budget FY08 and FY 09 • Now demonstrating proofs of concept

8. Southern California

9. CA Prop 40/50 $21M for funding Coastal current Monitoring program California

10. NANOOS

11. PacIOOS Region

13. Case Study: Tropical Storm Ernesto : Sept 1-3 2006 RU-WRF provided the most accurate real-time forecast of Tropical Storm Ernesto after landfall. Used by Researchers, by Regional, State & Local Managers, by Power Companies, by Agriculture Extension. The most significant difference with operational models was improved physics. This is a common storm track for the Mid-Atlantic States. MACOORA

14. GCOOS Data Portal • 1-yr NOAA funding, began work1-Jan-08, $500K • Design-build a centralized Data Portal to: • aggregate and disseminate the region’s near real-time oceanographic data. • Serve data and products to people and machines through standards-based interfaces. • Participate in the NOAA IOOS Data Integration Framework (DIF) Program by: • participating in refinement of interim standards and practices. • Serve regional data to DIF models.

15. Standardization of Local Data Nodes • 3-yr NOAA funding, Began work 1-Jan-08, ~$300k/yr • Supports programmers in residence at 10 nodes. (TCOON,TABS,WAVCIS,LSU/ESL,LUMCON,CenGCOOS,DISL,COMPS,IMaRS,Mote) • Goals • Participate in IOOS Regional Observation Registry • Adopt common vocabulary for region, to enable machine accessible catalogs and interoperability • Serve near real-time and archived data via Open Geospatial Consortium Service interfaces (OGS WFS-WCS). This support model establishes a de facto ocean data partnership for the region and funds and trains local IT staff to make changes to their data systems leading to interoperability.

16. AOOS Issues and Users • Users - State economic interests: fisheries, oil & gas, military, shipping - Govt regulators/managers - Coastal communities • Issues - Importance of resource extraction and military to state economy - Transportation needs in remote, harsh environment - Increased climate change & coastal erosion impacts & changing ecosystems

17. 130°E 140°E 150°E 160°E 170°E 180° 170°W 160°W 150°W 140°W 130°W 120°W 70°N 70°N 60°N 50°N 40°N 40°N 30°N 30°N 20°N 20°N 170°E 130°E 140°E 150°E 160°E 180° 170°W 160°W 150°W 140°W 130°W 120°W Aleutians Seattle Portland San Francisco Tokyo LA/Long Beach Pusan Great Circle Route

18. Reduced sea ice likely • to increase marine transport

21. PWS ocean observing system Meteorology Sea Surface Conditions Oceanography Water Quality Precipitation Currents PWS Weather Data Assimilation Field Validation Experiments PWS ROMS Real time data Data Data Assimilation Model Ancillary 3D Model 3D Model Retrieval & Retrieval & Data Data Assimilation Assimilation Processing Processing PWS Waves Application Application Research Research Server Server Server (GIS) Server (POET) Public Feedback Economic models Fishery management Education Communities

22. Challenges ahead • Concept is proven throughout the country; now need to transition to a sustained program • Have created expectations, and now need funding to fulfill • NOAA is stepping up to plate w/ IOOS Program Office – now need to work with other federal agencies & devise ways to bridge the funding divide • Potential synergies w/other ocean programs: ocean health, CZM, climate, exploration, sanctuaries & NERRS, OOI, hydrographic services & mapping, energy, etc.