1. The Carolinas Coastal Ocean Observing and Prediction System (Caro-COOPS) Funded by the National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration A partnership among the University of South Carolina, North Carolina State University, & the University of North Carolina-Wilmington

2. CARO-COOPS A user-driven system of integrated coastal & ocean observations and information products: An array of instrumented moorings/stations An array of instrumented moorings/stations A comprehensive data management system A comprehensive data management system A suite of integrated models of coastal and ocean processes A suite of integrated models of coastal and ocean processes

3. Instrumentation for Near Real-Time Observations… Instrumented moorings (5) Current velocity & direction, wave height & direction, temperature, salinity, pressure, chlorophyll Water level/meteorological stations (3) Supplement NOAA NWLON, NDBC, Supplement NOAA NWLON, NDBC, & C-MAN stations & C-MAN stations

5. Caro-COOPS Outreach Strategy Identify users Identify users Define users’ information needs Define users’ information needs Develop and test products Develop and test products Evaluate utility of products and changing user needs Evaluate utility of products and changing user needs

6. Outreach Focus Areas Past Year Past Year –Fishers/Mariners –Emergency Managers Future Directions Future Directions –Coordination with regional organizations –Data aggregation/sharing –Establishing a “stakeholders advisory committee”

7. Fishers/Mariners Fisheries Workshop (Charleston, SC) with Fisheries Workshop (Charleston, SC) with commercial/recreational fishers, scientists, managers: 1. Reliable, consistent data on ocean conditions Delayed outreach to general marinersDelayed outreach to general mariners 2. Data on fish distributions and movements Industry partners?Industry partners? NWS Carolina Marine Advisory Committee (CMAC) NWS Carolina Marine Advisory Committee (CMAC) –Potential for adding buoy info to marine forecasts Partnerships w/ SC DNR and SAFMC? Partnerships w/ SC DNR and SAFMC? –Integrate CC data with GIS-based web applications & decision-support tools

9. Emergency Managers Coastal & Estuarine Modeling & Envtl. Prediction System (L. Pietrafesa, NC State) Coastal & Estuarine Modeling & Envtl. Prediction System (L. Pietrafesa, NC State) –Interactive storm surge and flooding modeling in the Carolinas –Developing linkages with real-time Caro-COOPS observations Meetings: Meetings: –Charleston County Emergency Mgmt. officials –NWS Weather Forecast Offices –SC Emergency Mgmt Division – ongoing –What information products can Caro-COOPS provide to enhance decision-making re: coastal hazards? –What delivery formats & timelines are most appropriate?

10. Pilot study in delivering useful, operational products Pilot study in delivering useful, operational products –Operational products (fit into users’ decisionmaking procedures) –Operational interactions with users (dependable timing, etc.) Operational “drills” with SC EMDOperational “drills” with SC EMD Charley, Frances, JeanneCharley, Frances, Jeanne Ability to provide information products at key decision-making pointsAbility to provide information products at key decision-making points Utility of information productsUtility of information products Storm Surge Modeling

13. Storm Surge Modeling: Lessons Learned and Ongoing Issues In-reaching operational reliability In-reaching operational reliability “Enhancing decisionmaking” - evaluating the real value of our products “Enhancing decisionmaking” - evaluating the real value of our products Coordinating with similar initiatives Coordinating with similar initiatives

14. Coordination with regional organizations Coordination with regional organizations –NWS, FEMA, ACE, NOAA, DOT, other states, Red Cross, insurance industries, etc: –SEACOOS, SECOORA… –Actively participate in development/ consideration of storm surge “ensemble forecasts” –Same need arises for fisheries products Future Directions

15. Data Aggregation Data Aggregation –One-stop shopping? –Role of outreach in data aggregation partnerships? Data Sharing Data Sharing –Metadata and data management are key to integrated ocean observations. –Meta-Door (in development) Documenting variables, methodologies, sensors, time frames, definitions, etc. – INTEROPERABILITY Documenting variables, methodologies, sensors, time frames, definitions, etc. – INTEROPERABILITY –Role of outreach in data sharing

16. Future Directions CC Stakeholders Advisory Committee CC Stakeholders Advisory Committee –Identifying new products, needs. –Setting priorities. –Evaluating progress. –Initial focus on storm surge modeling efforts…

17. Contact info Visit http://www.caro-coops.org/ Visit http://www.caro-coops.org/ Madilyn Fletcher fletcher@sc.edu Braxton Davis bdavis@caro-coops.org Subscribe to our e-mail list for Caro-COOPS news and updates