OOPC’s connections to WCRP Mark Bourassa, Katy Hill, and Toshio Suga

Outline Context: OOPC’s role in sustained observations coordination Sustained Observing break out session at Pan CLIVAR (June 2014) Reframing discussions: CLIVAR input to OOPC-18 (April 2015) Taking forward connections between OOPC and WCRP/CLIVAR.

GCOS-GOOS-WCRP Ocean Observations Panel for Climate Sponsored by GCOS, GOOS and WCRP Information broker between GCOS and GOOS: Sibling Terrestrial and Atmosphere Panels in GCOS Sibling Biogeochemisty and Biology Panels in GOOS. Provides scientific advice to JCOMM (particularly the Observations Coordination Group). Taking a systems approach to observing system design and evaluation. Formal connection to WCRP through WDAC meetings. Strong working connection to CLIVAR: Basin Panels and GSOP represented at the OOPC Meetings

Break out Discussions: Role of CLIVAR. Sustained observing system requires ongoing scientific oversight and input. Use/Advocacy of the Sustained observing system. Leveraging for process studies/analyses/R&D activities. Feeding back into observing system design. GOOS moving from platform thinking to systems thinking. Considering requirements by variable. Stronger focus needed on best analyses/products by variable (drawing on multiple observing networks).

CLIVAR/OOPC Sustained Ocean Observations Breakout (Pan CLIVAR, May 2014) What is the role of CLIVAR in GOOS & GCOS? The Framework for Ocean Observations (FOO) can be used to shows where CLIVAR contributes. What do we need to observe to address various issues? How well do we need to observe it? Thanks SSC

Discussions with CLIVAR at OOPC-18 Sendai, Japan, 24-27th April.

Feedback loop needed between Research and Sustained Observations (CLIVAR-OOPC) OOPC needs to   Evaluate requirements for ocean observations, and set associated targets for ocean observing networks (i.e. seasonal and long term variability in upper ocean heat content and Argo array).  Review and report observing system implementation status, risks and challenges (with JCOMM Observations Coordination Group) Evaluate performance of observing system against requirements.  Evaluate areas of the observing system which require development (i.e Tropical Pacific, Deep Ocean, Boundary Currents) OOPC needs CLIVAR to Articulate and advocate their requirements for sustained observing; Leverage observations to do good science, process studies, etc;  Provide feed-back and guidance into improving sustained observations, closing gaps, etc., which helps us improve the observing system for research. 

Questions Addressed by CLIVAR Panels at OOPC-18 What are the current research priorities of the panel? GSOP: focussed on the development of climate quality products and reanalysis datasets; Basin Panels: Common themes: Circulation (esp. Boundary currents and interbasin flows; meso and submesoscale variability; extreme events and influence on larger scale; tropical variability; deep ocean. Atlantic/Southern Ocean have interest in meridional overturning and deep water formation. Southern Ocean highlights links to biogeochemistry and biology. How are sustained ocean observations being used to meet these priorities? Most commonly highlighted: Argo:for hear content estimate, context for historical observations, providing improved observations of upper ocean structure. OceanSITES: validation of mean fields and long term temporal variability. Tropical Moored Arrays: considered the cornerstone of basin scale observations, leveraged heavily for research activities.

Questions Addressed by CLIVAR Panels at OOPC-18 (p2) What are the gaps or uncertainties in the observations? Improved air sea flux estimates, Observations below 2000m. Short term mesoscale variability in upper ocean/stratification (extreme events, e.g. Cyclones, and strong SST gradients, e.g. boundary currents. What modelling and process experiments are currently being conducted (how can/are they being used to inform the development of sustained observations)? GSOP focussing on model experiments which test upper verses deep ocean variability and trends. Basin Panels have strong focus on eastern and western boundary regions: enthusiasm to build process experiments organised within CLIVAR to inform sustained observing system Connections to Tropical Pacific Observing System 2020 project highlighted. What issues would you like to table for discussion with OOPC?  OOPC to engage with climate modelling groups on how best to use climate + ocean models as sources of hypothesised variability and development of methods for helping to develop a quasi-optimal deep observing array. 

Taking forward OOPC connections to WCRP Attend WDAC meetings (when and where possible) Will seek comment and feedback from WCRP/CLIVAR for GCOS and GOOS planning/reporting CLIVAR Basin Panel plus GSOP representives attend OOPC meetings, engage in OOPC activities. e.g. CLIVAR Pacific Panel engagement in the TPOS Review, and TPOS 2020 Project Task Teams (node of Project office to be collocated with CLIVAR IGPO). Joint OOPC-CLIVAR Session on Boundary Currents and their interactions with the shelf to be held at Ocean Sciences. Opportunities to improve connections, and strengthen feedbacks between research and sustained observing. i.e. short term/mesoscale variability and link to large scale.