1. JCOMM Observations Coordination Group: integrating the in situ global ocean observing system
Candyce Clark
JCOMM Observations Programme Area Coordinator
NOAA Office of Climate Observation
Argo ST, Hangzhou, March 2009
photo courtesy of MeteoFrance

2. Objective The Plan is in place GCOS-92:
Initial GOOS
GEOSS Ocean Baseline
UNFCCC Priority
G8 Commitment
Implement the ocean domain of GCOS-92:
Objective
Tsunami
Additional Drivers
IPY
IOOS,
Regional
GOOS

3. Initial Global Ocean Observing System for Climate
The initial system is designed to meet Climate requirements, but it also supports:
Weather prediction
Global and coastal ocean prediction
Marine hazards warning
Transportation
Marine environment and ecosystem monitoring
Naval applications
8 of 9 Societal Benefits
Tide gauge stations
Drifting Buoys
Tropical Moored Buoys
Profiling Floats
Ships of Opportunity
Ocean Reference Stations
Ocean Carbon Networks
Arctic Observing System
Dedicated Ship Support
Data & Assimilation Subsystems
Management and Product Delivery
Satellites -- SST, Surface Topography, Wind, Color, Sea Ice

4. JCOMM Observations Coordination Group
ADD the mission and objectives for the global component
All six global in situ implementation programmes are linked internationally through the WMO-IOC JCOMM Observations Coordination Group. Together they are building a global ocean observing system.
Satellite Remote Sensing Requirements
Data Assimilation and Modeling
Capacity Building
Data Management PA Services PA

5. Initial Global Ocean Observing System for Climate Status against the GCOS Implementation Plan and JCOMM targets
Total in situ networks
61%
February 2009
87%
100%
59%
81%
100%
73%
62%
48%
34%
Milestones
Drifters 2005
Argo 2007

6. System Status 8132 Platforms reporting in the last month

7. System Status 473 Moored Data Buoys reporting in the last month

8. Progress Toward Global Coverage (representative milestones)
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Goal
170
Real-time Stations
Initial GCOS Subset
101
Tide Gauges 85 57 57 59 61 71 51 56
1300
807
671
779
787
1250
1307
1235
1250
Surface Drifting Buoys
955
Number of buoys 94 96
132 75 82
Number of moorings
Tropical Moored Buoys 67 67 69 69 73 51
High resolution and frequently
repeated lines occupied 39 41 41
Ships of Opportunity 39 27 23 24 26 26
3055
3283
3000 20 31
544
Number of floats
Argo Floats
2240
2557
923
1572 87
Number of observatories, flux,
and ocean transport stations 28 34 35
Reference Stations 15 19 25 27 38 37 73
Ice buoys, drifting and
Moored stations
Arctic System 19 19 20 20 17 16 32 55 69 37
Repeat Sections Committed,
One inventory per 10 years
Ocean Carbon Network 1 15 17 20 23 5 9
Initial Ocean Observing System Milestones
Initial Targets 30 34 40 44 48 53 60 66 77
100 45 59 60
System % Complete
Index
Total System 30 34 40 55 56 48
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Goal

10. Observations Coordination Group (OCG) – 3rd session, 9-11 March 2009, Paris:
Systems approach (funding, implementation, deployment, monitoring etc.)
Non-climate requirements
Integration of in situ and satellite observations
Report by variable – network optimization

11. 15 Essential Climate Variables
Surface:
Sea surface temperature, sea surface salinity, sea level, sea state, sea ice, currents ocean color, carbon dioxide partial pressure;
Sub-surface:
Temperature, salinity, currents, nutrients, carbon, ocean tracers, phytoplankton.

12. Observing System Status: 2008, Q4 Temperature Profiles
Sampling requirements:
1 profile
Every 10 days
In every 3 x 3 º
BATHY (mostly XBTs)
TRACKOB (surface underway data)
TESAC (mostly Argo floats)
BUOY (moored and drifting)
Requirement: All boxes blue
Goal: 100% Global Coverage

13. OCG-3 (continued)
Data – importance of metadata, QC, close to RT as possible!
BUFR, ‘Cookbook for submitting data’
JCOMM catalogue of standards and best practices
Research and operations as close as possible
OceanObs’09
Observing System Support

14. Observing System Monitoring Center – http://www.osmc.noaa.gov
Argo Information Centre (AIC) / JCOMMOPS (also includes DBCP, SOT, OceanSITES) –
Observing System Monitoring Center –
JCOMM general information –

15. with Acknowledgement and Thanks to all who, through their efforts,
deliver observations day after day
and sustain the ocean observing system.
photo courtesy of MeteoFrance