NOS SENTINEL SITES PROGRAM A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR ALIGNING NOS CAPABILITIES INTO A

SUITE OF SERVICES TO ASSESS AND RESPOND TO CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS

A SEA LEVEL RISE AND COASTAL INUNDATION EXAMPLE

Sentinel Sites Program Working Group

June 9, 2011

NOS Sentinel Program: Local Responses to Global Change

An NOS suite of services for understanding and responding to sea level change impacts on coastal ecosystems and surrounding communities.

Science Science Service Service Stewardship Stewardship

Observe & Monitor

Applied Research

Models & Predictions

Spatial Analysis & Visualization

Information Transfer

Education & Outreach

Management & Decision Making

Integrated Ocean and Coastal Mapping (IOCM):Map Once, Use Many Times

• International Working Group on Ocean and Coastal Mapping (IWG-OCM)

Goal: Increase efficiency and improve coordination of many Federal mapping agencies.

• Coordination of ocean and coastal mapping data and activities

• Partnerships for resource synergies

• Integrated products and services

Orthometric Height (m) 29.19

-1.34

Goal

By concentrating geospatial infrastructure within and around biomonitoring stations and linking that infrastructure to a common reference frame through robust surveying methodology, we can enhance capacity to assess change and increase our confidence in our understanding of complex spatial relationships.

Definition: Sentinel Sites Discrete locations in coastal and marine environments that have the operational capacity for intensive study and sustained observations to detect and understand changes in the ecosystems they represent.

Sweet Hall MarshChesapeake Bay VA NERR

Definition: Sentinel Networks

Nested sets of sentinel sites selected to better understand ecosystem conditions at specific temporal and spatial scales in order to address science and management priorities.

Sweet Hall MarshChesapeake Bay VA NERRSweet

Hall

Taskinas Creek

Catlett Island

Goodwin Islands

Four Components of Chesapeake Bay Virginia NERR

National Estuarine Research Reserve System Network of 27 Reserves

Definition: Sentinel Program

Collective NOS assets and efforts that support and guide Sentinel Network priorities, concentrate and leverage capabilities and resources, and engage and support resilient coastal communities.

Observe & Monitor

Applied Research

Models & Predictions

Spatial Analysis &

Visualization

Information Transfer

Education & Outreach

Management & Decision

Making

Components of NOS Sentinel Program: System of Systems

Science Service Stewardship

ScienceObserve & Monitor Applied Research

NC Marsh Study OHHI Competitive

Research Grants ORPP Grants CAPRI NERRS Science

Collaborative NERRS Graduate

Research Fellowships

Nancy Foster & Hollings Scholars

Models & Predictions

Integrated ecosystem models

Coastal hydrodynamic and inundation models

nowCOAST Vdatum Digital Coast IPCC contributors

ServiceSpatial Analysis & Visualization

Sea Level Rise Impacts Viewer State of the Coast Reports Sea Level Trend Publications Sea Levels Online ERMA NERRS Science Collaborative Social science trends Digital Coast

Information Transfer

CSC Training NERRS CTP Digital Coast Journal Articles Technical guidance

Sea Level Change assessments standards

Inundation mapping standards Tidal and geodetic datum training

NERRS Science Collaborative NMS Condition Reports NMS Conservation Series

StewardshipManagement & Decision

MakingEducation & Outreach

CORS/SETs/Tide Stations /Benchmarks

Long Term Tide Stations

Local Sea-Level Rise 3.29 mm/yr

Survey Control Monuments Continuously Operating (GPS)

Reference Stations (CORS)

Land Elevation Trend -1.1mm/yr

Surface Elevation Tables (SETs)

-30

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Years

Cu

mu

lati

ve

Ele

va

tio

n C

ha

ng

e (

mm

)

Wetland elevation dynamics Local Marsh Trajectory -

2.1mm/yr

Control Monument

CORS

•Minimum of three geodetic control markers at each reserve.

•Simultaneous observations of all 3 markers, during two separate GPS constellations.

•Observe for as long as practicable, 5 – 48 hour sessions recommended.

Establishing a Local Geodetic Network at Each Reserve

Tool: Static GPS

Result: Sub-decimeter accuracy to the National CORS network.

•Use OPUS to reduce GPS data and select option to “submit to database”.

•Final positions are the average of the two independent solutions.

Control Monument

SET

SWMP Station

•Double run level loop (per NGS guidelines) through all Control Monuments, SWMP Station, or NWLON station if available, and as many SETs or other sensors as can be leveled to.

•Data are reduced using LOCUS tool.

•Averaged OPUS GPS Derived Heights held at one Control Monument.

•OPUS results from other monuments archived for future comparison.

Connecting NERRS sensors to the Local Geodetic NetworkTool: Geodetic Leveling

Result: Sub-Centimeter relative accuracy to the local network

Control Monument

SET

SWMP Station

•Following NGS RTK Guidelines, use RTK to determine position information for all sensors and other measurements not accessible by geodetic leveling.

•All RTK observations are conducted with the base station set up at one of the 3 local control marks.

Connecting NERRS sensors to the Local Geodetic NetworkTool: Kinematic GPS

Result: Centimeter level relative accuracy to the local network.

New Fixed Dimension SET based on error analysis of previous instrument designs

Draft Guidelines Document for establishing Orthometric Heights on SET foundations

Statistical framework for SET experimental design and data analysis

Technical Assistance for SET deployment design and data analysis protocols

Surface Elevation Tables (SET)

Developing survey protocols for establishing local vertical control networks and tying in ecosystem

monitoring infrastructure in protected areas

NGS, CO-OPS and NERRS working on Guidelines Documents.

Example GeographiesThe following geographies have been identified by the working group as example locations to explore due to existing NOAA investments and infrastructure. These geographies and specific sites within them will be used to begin discussions at the regional level where other ideas will be encouraged.

North Atlantic South Florida Northern Gulf of Mexico Southern California San Francisco Bay Area Windward Oahu

Proposed Selection Proposed Selection CriteriaCriteria

QUESTIONS?

Back Up Slides Screen shots for Google Earth Tour

Satellite Altimetry – Global

Downscaling Models

Sea Levels Online

Geospatial Infrastructure

GB NERR Boundary

System Wide Monitoring Program

Vegeations Monitoring and SETs

Shallow water bathy

Mobile Bay Project

NCCOS Ecological Effects of SLR

GB NERR Visitor Center

Service & Stewardship

Data Access

SLR Viewer

IOOS Data Catalog