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Southeast Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing Regional AssociationSoutheast Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association(SECOORA)(SECOORA)

Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) and Regional Associationand Regional Association

OVERVIEW

Parker Lumpkin, Special Project Manager SECOORA

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An Update on Ocean Observing

• Sustained and Integrated Ocean Observing Systems (IOOS) are analogous to the weather observing and forecasting network

• IOOS has been endorsed by the Pew Commission, the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, and in the Administration’s Ocean’s Action Plan (Dec ’04)

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CentralCalifornia

PacificNorthwest Great Lakes

Northeast

Mid-Atlantic

Southeast

Gulf of Mexico

SouthernCalifornia

AlaskaHawaii

Caribbean

Population Density

In 2000, 53% of theU.S. population lived incoastal counties

Regional Coastal Ocean Observing Systems (RCOOS)

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SE region is linked oceanographically, experiences similar forcing (winds and river runoff) and has a shared biogeography.

A merged information system for the region will help address scientific and societal issues.

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IIILoop Current/Florida Current/Gulf Stream

Nick Shay, RSMAS

SECOORA

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SECOORA – SEACOOS Data Assets

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Observing the Coastal Ocean in many ways, with varying tools

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HF-radar either deployed or funded and examples of data products using two

different radar systems off of Miami and the Outer Banks.

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Satellite remote sensing products:

Sea surface temperature, color, height and derived currents, plus value added enhancements using optimal interpolation techniques to fill in cloud gaps.

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Nowcast/Forecast System Implementation

USFPOM

West FloridaShelf

UMPOM

Florida StraitsEast Florida Shelf

UNCQuoddy

South Atlantic Bight

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Inundation Modeling Examples

• Caro-COOPs (USC,UNCW,NCSU) Scenarios for coast of Carolinas http://nautilus.baruch.sc.edu/hurricane/latest/

• University of South Florida - Wiesberg and Zheng - Hurricane Storm

Simulations for Tampa Bay (FVCOM)

• University of North Carolina - Luettich - ADCIRC circulation model; widely used for modeling tides and storm surge, including those caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita

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Gulf of Mexico observations

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Overview of SECOORA Status

• Terms of Reference established in 2005

• Governance approved by Steering Committee 2006

• Membership meeting June 2005

• Membership meeting Sept 2006

• Currently 46 signatories to the Terms of Reference

• Business Plan completion scheduled for April 2007

• New Governance and Board elections scheduled

Membership Meeting; May 2007

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Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS)

Source: USGShttp://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/infobank/gazette/html/regions/gm.html

U.S. EEZ

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Overview of GCOOS Status

• Formal MoA established in January, 2005

• Currently 47 signatories to the MoA

• Board of Directors elected in June, 2005

• First BoD meeting in Houston in August, 2005

• Business Plan under Review by Board

• First Stakeholder Council Meeting in Jan. 2006

• Other Council and Committees met April 2006

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http://www.gcoos.orghttp://www.gcoos.org

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CONNECTING USERS WITH SCIENCE

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GCOOS Office Contact InformationWorth D. Nowlin, Jr. Ann E. JochensProject Principal Investigator Regional Coordinatorwnowlin@tamu.edu ajochens@tamu.edu(979) 845-3900 (979) 845-6714

Matthew K. Howard Susan R. MartinDMAC Coordinator Research Assistant and Webmistressmhoward@tamu.edu srmartin@tamu.edu(979) 862-4169 (979) 845-3900

SECOORA Contact Information

Parker Lumpkin Jennifer Dorton SECOORA Special Projects SECOORA Regional Coordinator (interim) parker.lumpkin@scseagrant.org dortonj@uncw.edu(843) 240-4672

Susannah SheldonSECOORA Regional Coordinatorsusannah.sheldon@scseagrant.org(843) 727-6497