1. Ocean Policy Activities
and
Ocean Observatories
Dr. Robert Gagosian
President and CEO
MACOORA
November 17, 2009

2. National Ocean Policy
“We will restore science to its rightful place” – President Barack Obama, January 20, 2009
On June 12, 2009, President Obama issued a memorandum to establish an Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force with the charge to establish a National Ocean Policy and recommend a framework for effective coastal and marine spatial planning.
A national policy “established, guided and continuously validated by science” that ensures protection, maintenance, and restoration of oceans, our coasts and the Great Lakes.

3. Marine Spatial Planning Framework
June 12th Memorandum
90 Days
National Ocean Policy
Governance Framework
Priority Areas
180 Day
Marine Spatial Planning Framework

4. Policy. Emphasis on Stewardship 1
Policy Emphasis on Stewardship Healthy and Resilient Ocean, Coasts, and Great Lakes 2. Safe and Productive Ocean, Coasts, and Great Lakes 3. Understood and Treasured Ocean, Coasts, and Great Lakes

5. Principles Ecosystem-Based Management Protect, Maintain and Restore
Minimize adverse environmental impacts
Best Available Science
Precautionary Approach

6. Report Focus: How We Do Business
Ecosystem-Based Management
Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning
Inform Decisions and Improve Understanding
Coordinate and Support

7. Report Focus: Areas of Special Emphasis
Resiliency and Adaptation to Climate Change and Ocean Acidification
Regional Ecosystem Protection and Restoration
Water Quality and Sustainable Practices on Land
Changing Conditions in the Arctic
Ocean, Coastal, and Great Lakes Observations and Infrastructure

8. Ocean Leadership’s Participation
Invited to present 2 formal lectures to the OPTF:
Role of Science in Ocean Policy
Science Requirements for Marine Spatial Planning
Participant in 4 Stakeholder Discussions including Ocean and Human Health roundtable
Developed 2 policy documents:
Deciphering the Ocean Climate System
Submitted comments and recommendations to the OPTF on the above topics

9. Science Priorities for a National Ocean Policy
Changes in Ocean Productivity
Opening of the Arctic System
Forecasting and Adapting to
Sea Level Rise
Observing System Requirements
Research Priorities
Remote Sensing Priorities
In Situ Sensing Priorities

10. Major Science Issues for MSP
Marine environment much more dynamic than terrestrial systems (three dimensional, biology-driven, fluid environment).
Impacted by climate change, so future conditions increasingly difficult to predict just using historical data.
Significant gaps of information exist in basic science which need to be addressed in order to evaluate outcomes.
Multiple Agencies with varying missions, regulations and monitoring exist without a comprehensive plan for managing, integrating, and delivering products and services for MSP.

11. Ocean Leadership MSP Science Requirements
Implementation and prioritization of MSP science requirements will be regional and goal-specific.
Conduct Regional Ecosystem Assessments
Support Continuity of Funding for Observations
Data Integration and Cyber Infrastructure
Ocean Leadership worked closely with its member institutions to develop this concise description of the science requirements and specific recommendations for MSP which have been submitted to the Ocean Policy Task Force for their consideration.
In this paper, we highlighted the following points:
The marine environment is much more dynamic than terrestrial systems (three dimensional, biology-driven, fluid environment).
The marine environment is being impacted by climate change, so future conditions are increasingly difficult to predict just using historical data.
Significant gaps of information exist in the understanding of basic science (i.e. ecosystem processes) which need to be addressed in order to evaluate outcomes (e.g. larval transport).
Multiple Agencies with varying missions, regulations and monitoring data exist without a comprehensive plan for managing, integrating, and delivering products and services for MSP.
Conduct Regional Ecosystem Assessments:
Regional assessments, at varying temporal and spatial scale, are the foundation of MSP
Provide a dynamic basis for governmental and nongovernmental collaborate and provide a common framework to support NEPA
Support Continuity of Funding for Observations:
The patchwork of current ocean observing programs and systems (e.g. IOOS) are inadequate to provide the information necessary for MSP.
Sustained observations and monitoring capabilities are essential to build baseline data, make forecasts, and evaluate success of MSP decisions.
One body needs the authority to coordinate and manage a dedicated climate/ocean observation system and science budget.
Create a Data Integration and Cyber Infrastructure Process
Existing patchwork of agencies and programs is insufficient to meet the growing demand for information and data integration.
A centralized data management system is needed for integrating, disseminating information products and services required for MSP.

12. MSP Science Requirements (continued)
Implementation and prioritization of MSP science requirements will be regional and goal-specific.
However, there are some basic observation requirements
Physical – temperature, salinity, bathymetry, currents
Geochemical – pH, oxygen, nutrients, water quality, dissolved carbon
Biological – chlorophyll, pathogens, population and diversity information

13. MSP Science Requirements (continued)
There are other use-specific high priority informational needs (e.g. avian migration, wind fields for siting wind farms)
Observations must be coupled with process studies for ecosystem assessments to be accurate.
Data from various observing systems must be integrated into models, forecasts and other products for planners and resource managers.

14. Examples of Existing Federal Observing & Modeling Programs
Integrated Ocean Observing System – Multiple Agencies
Ocean Observatories Initiative - NSF
National Data Buoy Center - NOAA
Ocean Biological Information System – USGS
PORTS – NOAA
NMFS Surveys - NOAA
Oil Platform Data – MMS
Stream Flow – USGS
Stormwater - EPA
Remote Sensing Data – NOAA/NASA

15. Examples of Existing Federal Observing & Modeling Programs
Issues which need to be addressed:
The compatibility and sustainability of these systems
Data integration and dissemination
Management and integration of their budgets

16. An interactive ocean laboratory integrated by a leading-edge, multi-scalar cyberinfrastructure.
Open data policy
Near real time
Interactive
Scalable
Data provenance

17. 3 Regional cabled sites in the NE Pacific
Design Elements
4 Global scale sites
3 Regional cabled sites in the NE Pacific
Coastal scale arrays: Mid-Atlantic Pioneer Array, PNW Endurance Array
Each scale incorporates mobile assets
Cyberinfrastructure: enable adaptive sampling, custom observatory view, collaborative analysis
Interfaces for education users

18. Regional Scale Nodes Power and Bandwidth from seafloor cable
Instrumented nodes on Juan de Fuca plate

19. Global Arrays Fixed and mobile assets Extended duration
Surface to near bottom water column coverage
Mesoscale footprint
Irminger Sea
Argentine Basin
Southern Ocean
Station PAPA*

20. OOI Project Team Coordination/Integration: Ocean Leadership
Cyberinfrastructure: UC San Diego
Coastal and Global-Scale: WHOI with OSU and SIO
Regional Scale: University of Washington
Education and Public Engagement: TBD
OL the merged corporation of JOI and CORE.

21. First NSF project to receive MREFC fund for education infrastructure.

22. OOI Science Themes Additional Science Foci Ocean-Atmosphere Exchange
Climate Variability, Ocean Circulation, and Ecosystems
Turbulent Mixing and Biophysical Interactions
Coastal Ocean Dynamics and Ecosystems
Fluid-Rock Interactions and the Sub-seafloor Biosphere
Plate-scale, Ocean Geodynamics
Additional Science Foci
Ocean ecosystem health
Climate change
Carbon cycling
Ocean acidification
OOI Integrated Themes:
High latitude observing
Coastal dynamics
High Power and Bandwidth
Cyberspace delivery
Education and public engagement
Ocean-Atmosphere Exchange
Includes questions addressing quantification of air-sea exchange of energy and mass during high winds and severe storms; improving climate change models and storm forecasting
Climate Variability, Ocean Circulation, and Ecosystems
Including questions of the ocean’s role in the global carbon cycle; impacts of climate change on ocean circulation, weather patterns, ocean acidification and biochemical processes, food webs, and ecosystem structure.
Turbulent Mixing and Biophysical Interactions
Understanding and quantifying mixing events and the impacts on exchange of energy, heat, mass; effects on plankton growth and community structure; cycling of material in the water column and transport of material (including carbon) to the deep ocean.
Coastal Ocean Dynamics and Ecosystems
Including questions addressing the role of coastal margins in the global carbon cycle; interactions of open ocean, terrestrial, and atmospheric forcing; climate variability and coastal ocean ecology; dynamics of episodic events (e.g., harmful algal blooms, hypoxia); forecasting and strategies for managing coastal systems in a changing climate.
Fluid-Rock Interactions and the Subseafloor Biosphere
Includes research addressing questions of the role of the ocean crust in the global budgets of material (including carbon) and heat; the role of thermal circulation and vent fluid chemistry in the ecology of vent communities, methane gas and hydrate formation; and the role of transient events on deep ocean physical and biochemical processes.
Plate-scale, Ocean Geodynamics

23. Getting Involved... Open data access Proposal process:
NSF standard merit review
Changes and/or additions to OOI Network will require additional technical guidance and information (feasibility assessments, facility usage, budgeting/scheduling, technical & cyberinfrastucture requirements, education, environmental, and security requirements).
NSF, OOI, UNOLS, U.S. Navy all involved in scheduling experiments and cruises
First CI release Feb 2011; first data probably in 2012.

25. Community Participation in OOI
OOI Advisory Committees
Program Advisory Committee
TBD subcommittees and/or working groups
NSF Scientific Oversight Committee
Annual Project reviews
Community Science Workshops (Nov , 2009 and spring 2010)
Future competitions for:
Pioneer Array location (3-5 year intervals)
Infrastructure Operations
New PAC for the Pilot Period/Construction Phase. First community workshops will be introductory (network capabilities, proposal process, etc.); later the focus will be on science planning.

26. Ocean Research Priorities Plan Refresh
Initial ORPP release Jan 2007
“Refresh” initiated Spring 2009
Public comment period closed mid-July
ORPP helped inform the content of priorities identified in the Task Force Interim Report
Draft Refresh ORPP to be discussed at Town Halls
MTS/IEEE (October)
AGU (December)
Ocean Sciences Meeting (February 2010)

28. National Ocean Council Dual Level Council
Principals
Periodically Update and Set Priorities
Provide Annual Direction on Implementation
Dispute Resolution
Deputy Level (NORLC)
Oversight of Execution of Implementation
Transmit Administration Priorities to Subcommittees
Coordinate with other EOP Offices
Guide and Receive Info from Advisory Bodies

29. NOC Steering Committee (4 Members)
Chair CEQ
Director OSTP
One chair “each”
Chair of Ocean Resource Management IPC
Chair of Ocean Science and Technology IPC
Functions
Key Forum for Integration and Coordination on Priorities Areas within the NOC
Ensure ORM & OST IPC Activities Fully Aligned
Extended Continental Shelf Task Force reports to Steering Committee

30. Ocean Science and Technology Interagency Policy Committee
Structure
NSTC-JSOST serves as the OST-IPC
Reports to NSTC/CENR
Chairs appointed thru NSTC, in consultation with NOC
DAS-Level Participation
Function
Ensure Interagency Implementation of National Policy
Develop (update) ORPPIS
Develop Charter, Strategic Plan –Approval by NSTC
May Establish Sub-IPCs

31. Governance Advisory Committee (13 Members)
(6) One From Each Region
Chosen by NOC in consultation with regional councils
(2) At-Large From Inland States
chosen by NOC in consultation with NGA
(3) Alaska, Pacific Islands, Caribbean
chosen by NOC in consultation with regional groups
(2) At-Large Tribal Representatives
Chosen by NOC in consultation with Indian organization

32. Ocean Research and Resources Advisory Panel
Existing Body (ORRAP)
FACA Advisory Body to NORLC (Dep-Level NOC)
Membership: To Be Reviewed
Provide Independent Advice & Guidance to NOC
Receive Guidance and Direction from NOC

33. Current Status Successful Preliminary Design Review, Dec 2007
Successful Final Design Review, Nov 2008
Design modification review, March 2009
National Science Board approval in May 2009
Funding identified FY09, ARRA; in FY10 request
Construction phase started in Sept 2009
OOI has funding profile in NSF Large Facilities Construction budget FY 2010.