The Gulf of MexicoCoastal Ocean Observing System:a Regional Component of the U.S.Integrated Ocean Observing System

Landry Bernard and Worth Nowlin

Univ. S. Mississippi/NOAA National Data Buoy Center

Texas A&M University/NOAA Coastal Services Center

Petroleum Industry—GCOOS WorkshopHouston, TXNovember 3, 2005

Outline

• Background• Existing Capabilities in the Gulf of Mexico

• Actions to date in building the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System

• Next steps in that development

Background: the Global Ocean

Observing System and the U.S.

Integrated Ocean Observing System

Global Ocean Observing System(GOOS)

• GOOS is an end-to-end system of observations, data management, and production and delivery of products/services.

• GOOS is being coordinated by United Nation agencies with the participation of some 100 ocean nations.

• Together with the World Weather Watch, Global Atmospheric Watch, Global Climate Observing System and Global Terrestrial Observing System, GOOS is an element of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).

The GOOS ModulesThe Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) has been designed and is being implemented in two modules:• The global module is designed to

monitor, predict, and understand marine surface conditions and climate variability/change; and

• The coastal module is designed to sustain healthy marine ecosystems, ensure human health, promote safe and efficient marine transportation, enhance national security, and predict and mitigate against coastal hazards.

The Ocean.US Enterprise

At the request of the U.S. Congress, federal agencies of the National Oceanographic Partnership Program are planning and developing a U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System focused on:

• Detecting and Forecasting Oceanic Components of Climate Variability• Facilitating Safe and Efficient Marine Operations• Ensuring National Security• Managing Marine Resources• Preserving and Restoring Healthy Marine Ecosystems• Mitigating Natural Hazards• Ensuring Public Health

Ocean.US is the national office for integrated and sustained ocean observing and prediction.Its Functions are:

• Develop & maintain strategic plan• Ensure incorporation of elements into an integrated system• Recommend enhancements• Recommend R&D priorities• Promote collaboration among participating NOPP agencies & Regional Associations

• Report regularly to the EXCOM which provides policy guidance, ensures sustained agency support, and approves implementing documents

The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System

U.S. IOOSTwo Interdependent Components

Global Ocean Climate Component

GOOS/GCOS

Resolution

Low

High

CCal Caribbean

MAB

GLsNE

SE

GoMexS

Cal

HIsl

NW

GoA

Coastal OceanComponent

NationalBackbone

RegionalObservingSystems

12501250

8484

2828

23002300

2727

531531

77

7979

7979

2626

923923

2424

497497

6767

7979

2626

497497

6767

7777

2424

370370

5656

975975

7979

2727

15721572

2424

497497

6969

12501250

9797

4545

30003000

5454

6464

2929

730730

99

106106

12501250

119119

5151

30003000

8989

3131

99

170170

12501250

115115

5151

30003000

7878

8585

3131

830830

99

148148

12501250

104104

5151

30003000

6060

7878

3131

830830

99

126126

12501250

8787

3434

30003000

5454

2727

640640

88

9191

7777

2323

370370

5151

20002000 20012001 20022002 20032003 20042004 2006200620052005 20072007 20082008 20092009 20102010

Initial Ocean Observing System Milestones including international contributionsInitial Ocean Observing System Milestones including international contributions

Tide GaugesTide GaugesReal-time StationsReal-time StationsInitial GCOS SubsetInitial GCOS Subset

Surface Drifting BuoysSurface Drifting Buoys

Tropical Moored BuoysTropical Moored Buoys

Ships of OpportunityShips of Opportunity

Argo FloatsArgo Floats

Reference StationsReference Stations

Arctic SystemArctic System

System EvaluationSystem Evaluation

Ocean Carbon NetworkOcean Carbon Network

Dedicated Ship TimeDedicated Ship Time

High resolution and frequentlyHigh resolution and frequentlyrepeated lines occupiedrepeated lines occupied

Number of floatsNumber of floats

Number of mooringsNumber of moorings

Number of buoysNumber of buoys

Days at sea Days at sea (NOAA contribution)(NOAA contribution)

Product evaluation andProduct evaluation andfeedback loops implementedfeedback loops implemented(NOAA contribution)(NOAA contribution)

Repeat Sections Committed,Repeat Sections Committed,One inventory per 10 yearsOne inventory per 10 years

Number of observatories, flux,Number of observatories, flux,and ocean transport stationsand ocean transport stations

Ice buoys, drifting andIce buoys, drifting andMoored stationsMoored stations

807807 671671 779779 787787

2020 3131 544544

1515 2929 3535 3737 4141

11

00 11 11 22

53534848 6666100100888877775555Total System Total System 3030 3434 4040 4545

20002000 20012001 20022002 20032003 20042004 2006200620052005 20072007 20082008 20092009 20102010

System % CompleteSystem % Complete

33

4242 4949

340340

3737343431313030303029292929

00 00

Multi-year Phased Implementation Plan Multi-year Phased Implementation Plan (representative milestones)(representative milestones)

Coastal Component

• Operated by Federal Agencies

• EEZ & Great Lakes

• Core variables required by regions & Federal Agencies

• Networks of sentinel & reference stations

• Standards/Protocols

• Operated by Regional Associations

• Involve private & public sectors

• Inform Federal Agencies of user needs

• Enhance the backbone based on user needs

• Incorporate Sub–regional systems

Regional COOSs

National Backbone

57

7

900

150

281

88

900

80

900

77

900

72

57

900

140

85

63

15

900

39

203

36

57

210

386

118

72

15

900

39

287

164

862

204

69

15

900

39

259

59

135

270

677

174

66

15

900

39

231

48

96

240

492

146

60

15

900

26

24

35

180

281

90

900

68

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 20062005 2007 2008 2009 2010

Coastal BuoysNumber of moorings

Coastal Stations

Hurricane Buoys

Voluntary Obs. Ships

DART

NWLON Stations

PORTS

Dedicated Ship Time

Coastal HF Radar

Reg. Assoc + Industry

Low resolution wx obs.

Number of tsunami stations

Number of moorings

Number of stations

Number of platforms

Days at sea (USCG + NOAA)

Number of coastal radars

Number of water level stations

Phys. Oc. Real time data

57 57 57 57

0 6

175 175 175 175 175 175 188

12 12 1212

Multi-Year Program Plan

0

Multi-Year Program Plan

Coastal Marine Components:Multi-Year Program Plan

0

6 8

251 234 237 227181

Base Budget.FY 06 President’s Budget.Planning, Unfunded at this level.

25

0 19 31 97

10108

Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean

Observing System

Existing Capabilities

• Many existing elements are being used as the initial building blocks for a regional ocean observing system for the Gulf of Mexico.

• These include continuing observations, satellite products, models, and other data products.

• They are supported by local, state and federal government, private industry, NGOs, and academia.

• They provide information that will have broader uses when they are integrated and enhanced.

Building Blocks 1:In situ

observations

Gulf of Mexico observations

MMS current data via NDBC

9of9_tabs_08262004b.gif

Tampa Bay PORTSobservation locations

http://co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/images/tbports.gif

http://comps.marine.usf.edu/index.html

University of South FloridaCOMPS

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Building Blocks 2:Remotely sensed

dataand products

Satellite Products

Building Blocks 3:Models and Products

Model Products

ProductsAt present, there are only a limited number of products derived from measurements being made in the Gulf. Some were mentioned earlier.

As expected, most of these products are derived from specific observations for purposes specified by the entities paying for the observations. (Exceptions include satellite products.)

If the observations were combined with one another, many new data-products could be produced that would benefit additional sectors of users.

User Sector Users Estimated Economic Effects ($M/Y)Recreational Fishing $6.7-34.0Recreational ActivitiesRecreational Boating $4.0

Transportation Freight $30.7Search and Rescue $28.0Oil Spills $0.8

Health and Safety

Tropical Storm Prediction $15.6Energy Oil and Gas Development $14.1-26.3Commercial Fisheries Commercial Fisheries $2.1

Order of magnitude estimates of potential economic benefits of t he GCOOS to elevensectors in the Gulf of Mexico as estimated by Charles Colgan and Hauke Kite-Powell(2004). Estimates do not include the west coast of Florida.

Actions to date in building the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing

System

Requirements for Regional Coastal Ocean

Observing SystemsTo be eligible for federal support, each Regional Coastal Ocean Observing System must have a Regional Association that:

1. Provides representative governance and the capability to receive and distribute funds with all approved accounting procedures;

2. Maintains a sound business plan indicating users, requirements, costs, and sources of support; and

3. Represents the regional system within the National Federation of Regional Associations.

• Seven Gulf-wide meetings have been held:

– First focused on academia– Second focused on state and federal

agencies– Third focused on private sectors– Fourth focused on predicting, detecting

and tracking Harmful Algal Blooms– Fifth focused on underpinning research– Sixth focused on education and outreach– Seventh focused on governance and Business

Plan

Actions 1

• A GCOOS Mission Statement has been adopted.

• A Resolution to develop GCOOS, beginning with sharing of non-proprietary, non-commercial data, has been signed by some 60 individuals representing themselves or institutions.

Actions 2

Mission Statement: VisionWe seek to establish a sustained observing system for the Gulf of Mexico to provide observations and products needed by users in this region for the purposes of• Detecting and predicting climate variability and consequences,

• Preserving and restoring healthy marine ecosystems,

• Ensuring human health,• Managing resources,• Facilitating safe and efficient marine transportation,

• Enhancing national security, and• Predicting and mitigating against coastal hazards.

Mission Statement(continued)

We envision sharing of non-commercial, non-proprietary data, models, and products via the internet for the common benefit of all participants, including industry, NGOs, academia, and federal, state, regional, and local government agencies. It is understood that this Gulf of Mexico observing system will be integrated with other regional coastal ocean observing systems, in particular to create an integrated and sustained U.S. component of the ocean observing system.

Mission Statement(continued)

We recognize that the system will require sustained financial support from a combination of government, private, and non-governmental organizations. That will be possible only if the system is built and remains responsive to the needs of these organizations and to the public. Thus, the system will be subject to continuing oversight by representatives of such organizations and of the public.

Collaboration with other nations bordering the Gulf of Mexico is to be actively sought in the design and implementation of this regional observing system.

ResolutionThe implementation sections reads:The Signatories hereby resolve to work together toward establishment of a Gulf of Mexico Regional Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS); to work toward development of regional governance structures and coordination; to work towards common data management standards; and to openly share non-proprietary data and metadata, non-commercial data and products, model code, and related information. …….Signatories will actively seek collaborations with other nations bordering the Gulf of Mexico in the design and implementation of this regional observing system. The Signatories will work toward implementation of specific action items decided upon at the workshop held at Stennis Space Center, MS, January 14-15, 2003,

Signatories• L.G. Adams, Weeks Bay NERR• Kim Adams, President, Essi Corporation• Vernon Asper, for College of Marine Sciences,

University of Southern Mississippi• Peter R. Betzer, for University of South Florida

(USF) College of Marine Science• John Blaha, Naval Oceanographic Office• Jim Byous, Ocean Specialist Services, for Gulf

Fiber Corporation• Lisa Campbell, Texas A&M University• Jim Cato, Florida Sea Grant• Billy D. Causey, Superintendent of the Florida

Keys National Marine Sanctuary• Robert Cohen, Weathernews Americas Inc.• H. D. Covert, Coastal Operations Institute• George Crozier, for Dauphin Island Sea Lab and

Mobile Bay National Estuary Program• Steven F. DiMarco, Texas A&M University• Richard E. Dodge, Nova Southeastern University

Oceanographic Center• Dean A. Dunn, for National Coastal Data

Development Center (NCDDC)• Wilford Gardner, Head, Department of

Oceanography, Texas A&M University• Bryon O. Griffith, Deputy Director, EPA Gulf of

Mexico Program Office• D. Jay Grimes, Provost, Gulf Coast and Director,

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, The University of Southern Mississippi

• Norman L. Guinasso, Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, for Texas Automated Buoy System (TABS)

• Robert Hetland, Texas A&M University• Matthew Howard, Texas A&M University • Ann Jochens, Texas A&M University• Gregg Jacobs, NRL Stennis Space Center• Gary Jeffress, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi,

for Texas Coastal Ocean Observing Network (TCOON)• Mark Luther, representing both the Coastal Ocean

Monitoring and Prediction System (COMPS) and the Tampa Bay Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (TBPORTS), USF College of Marine Science

• Robert (Buzz) Martin, for Texas General Land Office• Gil McRae, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation

Commission, Florida Marine Research Institute • Douglas J. Meffert, Center for Bioenvironmental

Research, Tulane and Xavier Universities, for Long-term Estuary Assessment Group (LEAG)

• 29.Avichal Mehra, Engineering Research Center, Mississippi State University, for DMEFS

• Patrick Michaud, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi• Paul Moersdorf, Director, NOAA's National Data Buoy

Center (NDBC)• Christopher N. K. Mooers, Rosenstiel School of Marine

and Atmospheric Science• Frank Muller-Karger, Institute for Marine Remote

Sensing, University of South Florida• Worth D. Nowlin, Jr., Distinguished Professor, Texas

A&M University

Signatories (continued)

• James J. O'Brien, Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies, Florida State University

• John C. Ogden, as Director, Florida Institute of Oceanography

• Alejandro Orsi, Texas A&M University• Chris Oynes, Minerals Management Service, Gulf

of Mexico Region• Shirley Pomponi, Vice-President and Director of

Research, for Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution

• David Prior, Executive Vice-President and Provost for Texas A&M University

• Nancy N. Rabalais, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), for NGOMEX Hypoxia Studies

• Mary Jo Richardson, Interim Dean for the College of Geosciences, Texas A&M University

• Mitchell A. Roffer, President, Roffer's Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service, Inc. (ROFFS)

• Kerry St. Pe, Interim Administrator, for Louisiana Universities Marine Consorium (LUMCON)

• Ken Schaudt for Schaudt.US• William Seitz, Department Head, Marine

Sciences, Texas A&M University Galveston• Thomas M. Soniat, Professor, Nicholls State

University, for DermoWatch• Robert Stewart, Department of Oceanography,

Texas A&M University

• Robert Stickney, Director, Texas Sea Grant Program, Texas A&M University

• Gregory Stone, Louisiana State University• LaDon Swann, Director, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant

Consortium, Auburn University • Raymond F. Toll, Jr., Assistant Vice President, Earth

Space and Atmospheric Sciences Operations; Space, Earth and Aviation Sciences Business Unit of the Science Applications International Corporation, Hampton, VA

• John W. (Wes) Tunnell, Jr., Research Scientist and Professor, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, for Center for Coastal Studies and Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies

• Jan van Smirren, Fugro Global Environmental & Ocean Sciences, Inc.

• Nan Walker, Director, Earth Scan Laboratory, Coastal Studies Institute and Dept. of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University

• Robert H. Weisberg, representing both the Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction System (COMPS) and the Tampa Bay Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (TBPORTS), USF College of Marine Science

• Chuck Wilson, Vice Provost Academic Affairs, Louisiana State University, for Louisiana Sea Grant College Program

• James Robert Woolsey, Director, MS Mineral Resources Institute, University of Mississippi, for Gulf of Mexico Hydrates Research Consortium and its Hydrates Sea Floor Observatory Program

• An inventory of existing operational and product-producing components for the Gulf of Mexico, together with descriptions, costs, out-year budgets, and users is being maintained.

• A web portal to ongoing Gulf of Mexico activities has been created:

http://www.gcoos.org

Actions 3

Actions 4• We are working to establish a data and information management system that is –Part of a national system; integrated with other regional coastal observing systems

–Coordinated with observing system elements in Mexico and Cuba

–Integrated with the global observing system module

Well along in dealing with real-time physical data

NDBC MODEM Kit(Meteorological and Oceanographic Data Exchange Module)

PublicPublic

NCEPNCEPNODCNODC NCDCNCDC

GlobalTelecommunications

Service

GlobalTelecommunications

Service

NWSGATEWAY

NWSGATEWAY Wx. Channel

Local MediaWx. ChannelLocal Media

NWSForecastOffices

NWSForecastOffices

Observers Web-PageObservers Web-Page

Regional Observatories

ftpftp

NDBC

QA/QC

NDBCWeb-Page

Dial-A-Buoy

OPeNDAP

Sensor / Observation

Sensor / Observation

• We have a multi-year grant from NOAA to help establish a Regional Association to manage GCOOS.

• We have representatives from GCOOS to the National Federation of Regional Associations:– Robert (Buzz) Martin, TX

General Land Office– Raymond Toll, Science

Applications International Corporation

Actions 5

• A Memorandum of Agreement has been selected as the initial governance structure for the GCOOS Regional Association.

Actions 6

Parties to GCOOS MOA• Peter Betzer, University of South Florida• Kendall L. Carder, Individual• Michael Dagg, Individual• William Dentel, Aquatrak Corporation• Richard E. Dodge, Nova Southeastern University

Oceanographic Center• Richard Eckenrod, Tampa Bay Estuary Program• James W. Feeney, Horizon Marine• George Forristall, Forristall Ocean

Engineering, Inc.• Wilford Gardner, Texas A&M University• Sherryl Gilbert, The Alliance for Coastal

Technologies, Gulf of Mexico Partner• Norman Guinasso, Texas Automated Buoy System

(TABS); GERG• Robert Hetland, Individual• Roger R. Hoffman, The Boeing Company• Patrick Hogan, Naval Research Laboratory• Matthew Howard, Individual• Stephan Howden, Individual• Ann Jochens. Individual• Björn Kjerfve, Individual• Harvey Knull, Texas A&M University - Corpus

Christi• Steven E. Lohrenz, The University of Southern

Mississippi• Mark Luther, Tampa Bay PORTS

• John MacLeod, Evans Hamiltons, Inc.• Kumar Mahadevan, Mote Marine Laboratory Inc.• Robert “Buzz” Martin, Texas General Land

Office• Thomas McGee, Gulf of Mexico Hydrates Research

Consortium, University of Mississippi• Douglas Meffert, Tulane/Xavier Center for

Bioenvironmental Research & LEAG• Frank Muller-Karger, Individual• Worth D. Nowlin, Jr., Individual• James J. O’Brien, COAPS, Florida State

University• Chris C. Oynes, Minerals Management Service

GoM Region• Nancy Rabalais, LUMCON• Sammy Ray, DermoWatch• Mitchell Roffer, Roffer’s Ocean Fishing

Forecasting Service• Steve J. Smith, ChevronTexaco Energy

Technology Company• Mike Spranger, Florida Sea Grant Program• Robert Stickney, Texas Sea Grant College

Program• Joseph W. Swaykos, Center of Higher Learning,

University of Southern Mississippi• Raymond F. Toll, Jr., Science Applications

International Corporation• Neil Trenaman, RD Instruments• Jan van Smirren, Fugro GEOS• Sharon Walker, J. L. Scott Marine Education

Center & Aquarium• William W. Walker, Mississippi Department of

Marine Resources

• A Board of Directors for the GCOOS Regional Association has been elected and as held its initial meeting in August 2005.

Actions 7

Next Stepsin Developing

GCOOS

Next Steps 1

• We are in the process of establishing:

- Stakeholders Council- Education and Outreach Council- Products and Services Committee- Data Management and CommunicationCommittee- Observing Systems Committee

Next Steps 2

• We are working on the third draft of a Business Plan for the GCOOS-RA.

Next Steps 3

• We are working to refine priorities and plan pilot projects.

Next Step 4

• We are working to identify observations and products needed by users. This workshop is one effort toward that objective.

Invitation to Workshop Attendees

• Become a signatories to the Resolution to develop GCOOS• Sign the Memorandum of Agreement for the GCOOS Regional Association• Consider sharing through GCOOS non-proprietary, non-commercial data or products of mutual interest.• Consider nominating members to the GCOOS Councils and Committees.

http://www.gcoos.org

If you wish to become a signatory to the resolution, please send an email request to wnowlin@tamu.edu stating if you are signing as an individual or for an institution.

If you wish to become a Party to the Regional Association, download the Memorandum of Agreement from the GCOOS web site, sign and fax to Worth Nowlin (979-847-8879)

Thank You

Please visit our web site for further information.