The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS): A Regional Component of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System Worth D. Nowlin, Jr Texas A&M University Coastal Services Center National Data Buoy Center GCOOS Education and Outreach Council Formation meeting November 29, 2004

Outline Background Existing Capabilities Actions to date in building the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System Next Steps

Background

Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) GOOS is being coordinated by U.N. agencies with the participation of some 100 ocean nations. GOOS is an end-to-end system of observations, data management, and production of products/services. At the request of the U.S. Congress, the federal agencies of the NOPP (National Oceanographic Partnership Program) are planning and developing an Integrated Ocean Observing System for the U.S.

National Ocean Research Leadership Council (NORLC): the NOPP Executive NOAA Administrator Secretary of the Navy Director, National Science Foundation Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Deputy Secretary, Department of Energy Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency Commandant, United States Coast Guard Director, United States Geological Survey Director, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Director, Minerals Management Service Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy Director, Office of Management and Budget

NOPP Organizational Chart National Ocean Research Leadership Council (NORLC) Ocean Research Advisory Panel (ORAP) Interagency Working Group (IWG) Program Office (NOPPO) [currently managed by CORE*] Federal Oceanographic Facilities Committee (FOFC) Ocean.US Office Ocean.US EXCOM U.S. GOOS Steering Committee

The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) is 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

The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System will consist of three parts: 1.U.S. contribution to a global component of GOOS focused on climate and maritime services; 2. National backbone of observations and products from our coastal ocean supported by federal agencies; and 3. Contributions of Regional Coastal Ocean Observing Systems.

IOOS Global Component Part of an intergovernmental, cooperative system Designed to observe and predict global, ocean-influenced phenomena (such as El Niños, extreme weather, or global warming) Nearing operational, sustained status.

Initial Ocean Observing System Milestones including international contributions Tide Gauges Operational GPS/DORIS Stations Surface Drifting Buoys Tropical Moored Buoys Ships of Opportunity Argo Floats Reference Stations Coastal Moorings System Evaluation Ocean Carbon Network Dedicated Ship Time High resolution and frequently repeated lines occupied Number of floats Number of moorings Number of buoys Days at sea (NOAA contribution) Product evaluation and feedback loops implemented Number of flux sites/lines, One inventory per 10 years Number of flux moorings Moorings with climate sensors Total System System % Complete 3 4 Milestones 10

Regional Coastal Ocean Observing Systems To 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 a National Federation of Regional Associations.

Existing Capabilities

There are many elements that can be 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.

Gulf of Mexico Observing Sites

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TCOON Network

Houston/Galveston PORTS observation locations

Satellite Products

Model Products

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

Five 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 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 50 individuals representing themselves or institutions. Actions 2

Mission Statement: Vision We 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.

Resolution The 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 Vernon Asper, University of Southern Mississippi Peter Betzer, University of South Florida John Blaha, Naval Oceanographic Office Jim Byous, Gulf Fiber Corporation Lisa Campbell, Texas A&M University Jim Cato, Florida Sea Grant Billy D. Causey, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Robert Cohen, Weathernews Americas Inc. H.D. Covert, Coastal Operations Institute George Crozier, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program and Dauphin Island Sea Lab Steven F. DiMarco, Texas A&M University Dean Dunn, National Coastal Data Development Center Norman Guinasso, Texas A&M University Matthew Howard, Texas A&M University Gregg Jacobs, Naval Research Laboratory Gary Jeffress, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi Mark Luther, University of South Florida Robert (Buzz) Martin, Texas General Land Office Gil McRae, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Douglas Meffert, Long-term Estuary Assessment Group Avichal Mehra, Mississippi State University Patrick Michaud, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi Paul Moersdorf, National Data Buoy Center Christopher N. K. Mooers, University of Miami Frank Muller-Karger, University of South Florida Worth D. Nowlin, Jr., Texas A&M University James J. O’Brien, Florida State University John C. Ogden, Florida Institute of Oceanography Shirley Pomponi, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution David Prior, Texas A&M University Nancy Rabalais, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium Mary Jo Richardson, Texas A&M University Mitchell Roffer, Roffer’s Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service, Inc. Kerry St. Pe, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium Thomas M. Soniat, Nicholls State University Robert Stewart, Texas A&M University Robert Stickney, Texas Sea Grant Program Gregory Stone, Louisiana State University LaDon Swann, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium John W. (Wes) Tunnell, Jr., Texas A&M University Corpus Christi Jan van Smirren, Fugro GEOS Inc. Nan Walker, Louisiana State University Robert H. Weisberg, University of South Florida

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: Actions 3

Estimated Costs GCOOS Elements

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

Data Management

NDBC MODEM Kit (Meteorological and Oceanographic Data Exchange Module) Public NCEP NODC NCDC Global Telecommunications Service Global Telecommunications Service NWS GATEWAY NWS GATEWAY Wx. Channel Local Media Wx. Channel Local Media NWS Forecast Offices NWS Forecast Offices Observers Web-Page Observers Web-Page Regional Observatories ftp NDBC QA/QC NDBC Web-Page Dial-A-Buoy OPeNDAP Sensor / Observation

Present Partners of NDBC in IOOS Data Sharing Skidaway Institute of Technology Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System (GoMOOS) Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction System (COMPS) Texas Automated Buoy System (TABS) Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) Texas Coastal Ocean Observing Network (TCOON) University of Connecticut’s MYSOUND Stephens Institute of Technology (New Jersey)

Future Partners of NDBC in IOOS Data Sharing SUNY Stony Brook (Long Island Ferry) NAVSEA Warfare Center (Dania, FL) Chesapeake Bay Observing System (CBOS) Mississippi Dept. of Marine Resources NOAA’s National Estuarine Research Reserve Program CORIE (Columbia River) MBARI (Monterey Bay) Oil and gas industry

Planned capabilities for transfer of real time data Present: –Wind Direction, Speed, Gust –Significant Wave Height, Dominant Period –Sea Level Pressure –Air, Dew Point, and Sea Surface Temperature –Visibility –Water Level (Coastal Stations, w/ respect to MLLW) –Temperature Profile –Salinity Profile –Current Profile Future: –Swell Direction, Period –Wave Spectrum

We have a small multi-year grant from NOAA to help establish a Regional Association to manage GCOOS. We have proposed a more ambitious effort. We have representatives from GCOOS to the National Federation of Regional Associations: Robert (Buzz) Martin, TGLO Landry Bernard, NDBC/NWS Actions 5

Next Steps

Next Steps 1 With leadership by the five Gulf Coast Sea Grant Programs, we are establishing a GCOOS Education and Outreach Council to provide guidance in these areas.

Next Steps 2 We are preparing an interim governance plan and structure for the GCOOS Regional Association. We are preparing a Business Plan for GCOOS.

Next Steps 3 An initial GCOOS Stakeholders Meeting will be held January 2005 in New Orleans to: - Ratify the governance structure - Nominate a slate of officers and committee members - Agree on elements of a Business Plan

If you wish to become a signatory to the resolution, please send an request to stating if you are signing as an individual or for an institution. Thank You Please visit our web site for further information.