GCOOS Status and PlansAn Update

Ann E. Jochens

GCOOS Regional CoordinatorTexas A&M UniversityCollege Station, Texas

GCOOS Parties and Board MeetingBiloxi, MS26 February 2008

Topics

• Funded Proposals• Pending GCOOS Proposals• Results from FY08 Proposals• Potential Future GCOOS Proposals• Other Related Proposals• Priorities of GCOOS Conceptual Design

Funded Proposals

• Year 3 of Support for Regional

Association

• Design and Develop a Data Portal

• Standardize Local Data Nodes

Year 3 Support for GCOOS-RA

• Yr 3 funding increment of current grant received 6/12/07 in amount of $435,820 (direct and indirect)

• $1,100,688 total 3-year funding • End date 31 May 2008• Time extension to 31 May 2009 will be

requested• E/O subcontract in place through 5/31/2008;

will be extended to 5/31/2009

Design and Development of a Data Portal

• Awarded in August 2007• Period of one year • Start date: 1 January 2008• $500,000• Education and Outreach Component

– EOC Workshop on the Data Portal (EOC members, portal developers, selected committee members)

– Workshop report posted to web– E/O Coordinator and 2 EOC members participate in

meetings

Standardize Local Data Nodes

• Awarded in August 2007• 3 years beginning January 1, 2008• ~$300K/yr• Year 1 firm• Year 2 support reduced by 25%

– Education and Outreach Component removed for years 1 and 2 to meet the 25% reduction while maintaining the ability to achieve the goal of interoperability

• Year 3 support depends on funding availability

Pending GCOOS Proposals

RA Support

Results of FY08 Proposals

RA Support

• Submitted 15 August 2007

• ~$400,000/year for 3-years

• Regional Coordinator 50% time

• Data Management Coordinator 25% time

• Research Associate 100% time

• Co-PI Nowlin 5% time

• Will be funded at some level

RA Support

• Meetings component– Board meetings– Parties meetings– Council and Committee meetings– One observing system design workshop– One stakeholders workshop– Coordinators’ travel support

RA Support

• E/O component– E/O Coordinator 6.5 months/year

Time lines for milestones associated with major tasks to develop the GCOOS-RA (E=estimated completion). The numbers are correlated with the activities given in Section 2.1. Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 ACTIV ITIES Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

1.1 Revise the GCOOS Observing System Plan E E E

1.2 Revise the GCOOS Business Plan E E E 1.3 Complete (C) and revise (E) the GCOOS

Communication Plan C E E 1.4 Revise the Action Plans for GCOOS

Committees E E E Revise the Action Plan for the Education

& Outreach Council E E E Revise the Action Plan for the

Stakeholder Council E E E 1.7 Hold meetings of the OSC, PSC, and

DMACC E E 1.9 Hold meetings of Board of Directors E E E 2.2 Hold workshops focused on specif ic

stakeholder sectors E E E 2.4 Hold meetings of the Education and

Outreach Council E E E 2.5 Hold meetings of the Parties to the

GCOOS-RA E E E Hold meetings of the GCOOS

Stakeholder Council E E 2.6 Hold meetings of the GCOOS Task

Teams & Working Groups (times approximate) E E E 2.7 Prepare/revise a needs assessment for

IOOS information in the region E E E 3.1 Complete/revise the inventory of non-

federal regional observations E E E 3.3 Incorporate information into the

Observing System (O) and Business (B) Plans B O B O 4.1 Plan gap analysis E 4.2 Perform the initial gap analysis E 4.3 Refine the gap analysis E 4.4 Incorporate information into the

Observing System (O) and Business (B) Plans B O B O 5.2 Hold meetings as required for conceptual

design on priority systems E E E 6.2 Add DMAC information page to the

GCOOS web site E 6.3 Complete (C) and test (T) the GCOOS

Data Portal [Support from other grants] C C T T T T T 7.4 Attend National Federation of Regional

Associations meetings E E E E E E 7.5 Participate in the national IOOS regional

coordination workshop and meetings E E E

Results from FY08 Proposals

3-D Circulation Model Comparison

Data Portal/Regional Operation Center

Meteorological Instrumentation

HF Radar

Developing a Proven 3-D Circulation Model for the Gulf; a Pilot Project

Declined

• 3-D Gulf of Mexico circulation model; comparisons and development

• Chris Mooers, University of Miami, is lead• Industry to fund deepwater part (~$1.3M)• Seeking federal match to extend to shelf and

extend time of effort– NOAA– MMS– Others

Meteorological InstrumentationDeclined

• 2-3 year project to develop and deploy self sufficient meteorological instruments on ~10 O&G platforms

• Fugro GEOS as Lead• Components

– Year 1: Sensor Integration and Testing

– Year 2: Installation of ~10 packages

– Year 3: Build-out to additional packages and maintain

• Education and outreach component

Maintain Data Portal and Develop Regional Operations Center

On Hold for FY09 Consideration

• For 3 years to follow year Data Portal development

• ~$750K per year• Jochens as Lead PI• Howard as Co-PI for DP and ROC• Walker as Co-PI for E/O Component• Support for E/O Coordinator (3 months)• Support for development and maintenance of

GCOOS wiki for observing systems inputs

Data Portal/Regional Operation Center On Hold for FY09 Consideration

• Components:– Data Portal

• Year 1: Internal testing & review/roll-out• Year 2: Roll-out and evaluation• Year 3: Maintain and enhance• All Years: Add Data Streams

– Regional Operation Center• Year 1: Initiate planning• Year 2: Planning and develop proto-type• Year 3: Develop & test proto-type

– Education and Outreach• Year 1: Education Materials; 2 Interactive Exhibits• Year 2: Education Materials; 2 Interactive Exhibits • Year 3: Education Materials; 1 Interactive Exhibit

HF Radar On Hold for FY09 Consideration

• ~2 year project to– integrate WERA, CODAR, and in situ systems

• Stephan Howden, USM, as Lead PI

• Other participants: UM, USF, FSU, LSU, TAMU

• Sharon Walker as E/O PI

• Ann Jochens as GCOOS representative (~5% time)

HF Radar On Hold for FY09 Consideration

• Components– Maintain existing HF Radar systems– CODAR/WERA integration/interoperability:

• Florida Straits• West Florida shelf• Mississippi shelf

– Develop Gulf-wide HF radar observing system plan– Education and outreach activities:

• Inreach• Display for outreach

Potential Future GCOOS Proposals

Gap Analysis

Regional Satellite Product Development

HABs Integrated Observing System

Hypoxia

HABs Integrated Observing System Plan for Gulf of Mexico

• Plan development and follow-on– Workshop in Nov 2007– Draft plan completed early 2008– Final plan completed by spring 2008– Activities to update plan will be developed

Other Potential Future Proposals

• Hypoxia Observing System– NOAA is leading the development of a Hypoxia Monitoring

Implementation Plan

• Gap Analysis Project - NCDDC is interested in leading this effort for GCOOS

• Regional Satellite Product Development– Encouraging regional cooperation among satellite laboratories in

their development and production of needed products

Other Related Proposals

NWQMCDeclined, but GOMA Pursuing

National Water Quality Monitoring Network for U.S. Coastal Waters and their Tributaries: Announcement of Pilot Studies and Request for Statement of Interest

• GCOOS-RA partnered with the Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA); GOMA was lead

• NO FUNDS WERE OFFERED by NWQMC• GCOOS-RA to provide relevant inventory and gap

analysis information, expertise on DMAC and ocean observing systems, and report review

• GOMA Submitted to NWQM Council on 23 February 07• NWQMC did not select the GOMA/GCOOS pilots

Homeland Security Center of ExcellenceDeclined

Possible Partnership on a Homeland Security Center of Excellence

• For study of natural disasters, coastal infrastructure, and emergency management

• Major partners are University of Washington, Texas A&M University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Center would be housed at the University of Washington

• GCOOS effort would be to enhance the storm surge and inundation workshop results through outreach

Agreement between Shell & NOAA Finalized

Priorities from GCOOS Conceptual Design

Priority activities, products, and information for the GCOOS and their societal benefits.

Seven Societal Goals of IOOS

1. Improve predictions of climate change and weather and their effects on coastal communities and the nation;

2. Protect and restore healthy coastal ecosystems more effectively;

3. Reduce public health risks;4. Enable the sustained use of ocean and coastal

resources;5. Improve the safety and efficiency of maritime

operations;6. Improve national and homeland security; and7. Mitigate the effects of natural hazards more

effectively.

Priorities from GCOOS Conceptual Design: HF Radar for

Surface Currents and Waves

Activities (sub-systems) Products and information Societal benefits (uses) HF Radar System Surface wave spectra Boating safety 5 Prediction of beach erosion 4, 7 Surf and beach conditions 3, 4 Surface current fields Search and rescue 3 Efficient marine transportation 5 Conditions for offshore

operations 4, 5 Pollutant spill tracking 2, 3, 4 3-D Ocean Circulation Model

Climatology Design of structures 3, 4, 5

Assessment of climate variability 1

Now- and forecasts of surface currents

Protection of offshore structures and personnel 3, 4

Ship routing, fishing, recreational boating 3, 5

Search and rescue 3 Pollutant spill tracking 2, 3, 4 Forecasting HABs movement 2,

3 Now- and forecasts of

subsurface currents Design and protection of offshore structures 3, 4

Forecasting HABs movement 2, 3

Tracking of particulates (e.g., fish larvae, sediment) 2, 3, 4

Temperature distributions Search and rescue 3 Use in wild and farmed living

resources 2 Salinity distributions Use in wild and farmed living

resources 2 Predicting hypoxia 2, 3, 4

Activities (sub-systems) Products and information Societal benefits (uses) HAB Observing System Detection and forecasting of

HAB movement Protection of farmed living resources 2, 3

Protection of human and animal health 3

Beach and water conditions Protection of human health 3 Hypoxia Monitoring System

Occurrence, size and severity of low oxygen

Management of conditions responsible 2

Improved fishing 2 Autonomous Met. Measurements

Improved estimates of wind conditions

Safe offshore working conditions 3, 4

Improve safety for boating and fishing 3

Improved hurricane forecasts Reduce loss of property and lives 2, 3, 4, 5, 7

Operations Center with Data Portal

Enhanced knowledge of GCOOS observations

Use by information providers 1-7

Reliable data quality 1-7 Open ability to assess data and

products Use by information providers and users 1-7

Implement IOOS DMAC standards

Standardized formats and protocols

Improved data management and interoperability 1-7

Water Level Observing System

Improved water levels in navigable areas

Enhance safety/efficiency of transportation/boating 3, 5, 6

Prediction and measures of inundation

Enhanced resiliency to and mitigation of effects of inundation 2-7

Improved planning for development 4, 7

Increased/enhanced PORTS

Measures of marine meteorological and ocean conditions in major ports

Enhance safety and efficiency of marine transport 5

Now- and forecasts on currents and water level

Enhance safety and efficiency of marine transport 5

Advanced, deep-ocean station

Environmental monitoring of ocean and atmosphere

Detecting long-term variability 1

Tests of technology Advanced measurement capability for the IOOS 1-7

Priority activities, measurements, R&D needs,

and E/O aspects

Activities (sub-systems)

Measurements Needed R&D Needs Initial E/O Aspects

HF Radar System Surface currents,

Surface waves Techniques for integration of data from different radar systems and data assimilation into models

Outreach displays for targeted user groups showing availability and use of data and products; Use data in informal educational kiosk exhibits at aquariums or similar venues

3-D Ocean Circulation Model

Model output of 3-D currents, T, and S

Refinements; Expansion to couple with biological models

Outreach displays for targeted user groups showing availability and use of data and products

HAB Observing System

3-D currents; T, S, Dissolved oxygen, nutrients, HABs counts

Improvements to HABs detection sensors; Development of new sensors for additional HABs

Enhance existing and develop additional public education products to reflect new capabilities

Hypoxia Monitoring System

Currents, T, S, Dissolved oxygen, nutrients

Improved nutrient sensors for time series measurements

Public education on hypoxia and its causes

Autonomous Met. Measurements

Winds Develop self-contained sensor package for deployment on platforms

Outreach to offshore operators on the merits of allowing instrumentation to be deployed on their platforms

Activities (sub-systems)

Measurements Needed R&D Needs Initial E/O Aspects

Operations Center with Data Portal

Uses measurements of other systems

Development of the capabilities

Outreach to user communities to assure the portal and center meet user needs

Implement IOOS DMAC standards

Standardizes measurements of other systems

Decisions on standards and protocols

Outreach to data providers on DMAC standards and how to meet them

Water Level Observing System

Onshore and offshore water levels

Outreach to users on new capabilities

Increased/enhanced PORTS

Winds, pressure, currents, air and sea temperature, salinity

Outreach to users on new capabilities

Advanced, deep-ocean station

Var ious environmental monitoring parameters for ocean and atmosphere

Will be used to test new technology

E/O activities likely to teach climate variability aspects to students and the public; Outreach to users on technology test capabilities

Questions?

Contact Ann JochensGCOOS Regional Coordinatorajochens@tamu.edu; 979-845-6714