Ocean Observing and Forecasting Companies Dr Ralph Rayner

Background 25 years in commercial operational oceanography Work in the oceanographic business line of the Fugro Group (earth sciences consultancy – approx 10,000 staff) Member of IOC GSC for past 6 years Member of exec board of MERSEA (GMES)

Outline Introduction The role of private companies Examples of private company products, systems and services The future

Maury and the Brussels Conference of 1853 Through the 1853 conference Maury and others established the basic principles of successful operational marine meteorology and oceanography Common standards/formats for data collection Common standards of data quality control and analysis Free and open exchange of data for public good

Role of industry In Maury’s time there was no significant supporting industry sector A thriving marine meteorology industry sector only developed after public good marine meteorology became established For the emerging field of operational oceanography industry capability is developing alongside, and in some cases, ahead of public capability So what are the opportunities for private industry providers as global operational oceanography becomes a reality through GOOS?

Drivers The principal drivers for the development of GOOS are public good requirements These range from global issues (such as understanding climate change) to local issues (such as forecasting the fate of oil spills) Since Maury’s time these public good drivers for understanding and forecasting the oceans have grown in importance These are the key drivers for public investment in global ocean observations and forecasting capability

Users and customers Take care with terminology and especially the term ‘user’ ‘Users’ are those that do something with oceanographic data to give it utility ‘Customers’ are those that place a value (not necessarily a cost) on understanding the impact of the ocean environment on their operations Largest ‘customer’ group by far are governments, they value this understanding in terms of ‘public goods’ Secondary customer group is industry, they also use freely available public good data or, where necessary purchase products and information (not data)

Commercial opportunities The development of public observing and forecasting capability to meet public good requirements creates many opportunities for commercial companies For provision of components of public systems For provision of special purpose private observing and forecasting systems linked to public systems For creation of value added data products for sale into niche markets

The ‘roots’ Observing hardware Data communications infrastructure Remote sensing In situ observations Data communications infrastructure Installation and maintenance services

Sensor technology GOOS is creating demands for new sensor technology Chemical sensors Biological sensors Many research sensors being commercialised by private companies

ARGO

Moored instrumentation

Parameters Current speed and direction Gamma radiation Wind speed and direction Air and water temperature Water salinity CTD profiles Air pressure Dissolved oxygen Directional waves Chlorophyll Hydrocarbons Gamma radiation Light attenuation Nutrients - (Trace metals) Communication options Orbcomm Argos Uhf/Vhf Gprs Gsm Modem TCP/IP Network Inmarsat

The ‘trunk’ Provision of data management services for commercial customers Provision of data management services for government agencies Provision of data assimilation and model systems

Poseidon system Seawatch buoy data NCEP Global Forecast Atmospheric Model Wave Model Hydrodynamic Model Near-Shore Wave Oil-Spill Model

SEAWATCH NUMERCIAL MODELS

Real-Time - Metocean Data Real-time Weather Aviation Operations Marine Operations Operational Decisions Improved Safety Data Collection

The large scale model grid used for providing boundary conditions for the regional North Sea model. Note increased grid resolution in the Gulf Stream extension and the Nordic Seas. The inclusion of the Arctic and the South Atlantic is necessary to avoid effects of improper specification of boundary conditions.

The ‘branches’ Some examples of private value added data products in the Gulf of Mexico

EddyNet Survey vessel / drill ship / platform Black Box Ethernet network or Satellite modem/ISP RDI ADCP Onshore office Server www.EddyNet.com Forecaster Real-time plots Archives Archive purchaser Non-EddyNet users Data-contributor Cash-contributor

ADAM ADAM - ADCP Data Acquisition Manager allows real-time access over the Internet to data from ADCP’s operated by Shell in the GoM 1

ADAM - Components Three components: database, data loader, and web-based interface for viewing and system management

ADAM - Spatial Display

ADAM - Times Series Display

ADAM - Profile Display

Example Eddy Watch Chart Enlarged sample Loop Current and eddies w/buoys

Satellite Data - Sea Surface Height

Satellite Data - Geostrophic Velocity

Satellite Data - Color and Geostrophic Current

Model Results 4 Nov 2003

SSH 14 Day Forecast and Actual 16 Jul 2003

The future Increased role of private companies in all aspects of public operational oceanographic systems Developments of new value added data products based on public data resources Integration of private observing and forecasting systems into GOOS A win win partnership with concerted advocacy