NSF Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) & SOEST/Ocean/PO

NSF Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) & SOEST/Ocean/PO

Who in SOEST/Ocean/PO is currently involved?

Some opportunities for additional involvement/funding.

How can SOEST prepare for these opportunities?

Caveat: Do we understand what we’re getting into?

Briefly: What is the OOI? & Why do we need it?

Those of you who contributed to prior versions of the OOI (nee ORION) ….

Those of you who contributed to prior versions of the OOI (nee ORION) ….

…. take a deep breath,

… relax, and

… prepare yourselves …

…. take a deep breath,

… relax, and

… prepare yourselves …

Global: 3 sites (was 11)

Regional: 5 nodes (was 9)

Coastal: 2 sites (was 6)

But … the fewer sites have more infrastructure and sensors ...

Transformative Technologies & Capabilities (yes, they’re still intact, mostly)

Continuous & plentiful power.

High-bandwidth, real-time, 2-way communication.

Mobile platforms - vertically & horizontally.

Sustained presence in extreme environments.

Sustained presence in contrasting environments.

Sensor networks.

Enabled Experimental Paradigms (yes, they’re still intact, mostly)Enabled Experimental Paradigms (yes, they’re still intact, mostly)

Continuous, rapid, temporal sampling over long time periods.

Command and control; adaptive sampling.

Event detection and rapid response.

Simultaneous deployment of arrays of multi-disciplinary sensors over long periods of time.

Deployment of power hungry sensors for long time periods.

4-D obs of variables & processes over long periods of time.

Courtesy: M. Levine, OSU

Impacts: vertical nutrient fluxes stratification maintenance thermohaline circulation

Many processes contribute. Action occurs near topography. Action occurs on small time scales and is highly episodic. So, need:

sustained observations temporal & vertical resolution

full-depth profiling horizontal delineation

gliders; moorings multiple environments

smooth; hilly; scarps shallow & deep

adaptive sampling

Sub-epipelagic Diapycnal Mixing

OOI Funding OpportunitiesOOI Funding Opportunities

Only OOI Funds (not individual PI research funds) Only OOI Funds (not individual PI research funds)

$331M for 6-yr build out (average of $55M/yr) substantial fraction for infrastructure & sensor sub-contracts

$331M for 6-yr build out (average of $55M/yr) substantial fraction for infrastructure & sensor sub-contracts

$1 Billion for 20-yr O&M ($50M/yr) substantial fraction for instrument maintenance & data QA/QC, etc.

$1 Billion for 20-yr O&M ($50M/yr) substantial fraction for instrument maintenance & data QA/QC, etc.

SOEST/Ocean/PO Involvement in OOI Infrastructure:

Roger Lukas and Bruce Howe - Cabled Mooring w/Profilers

SOEST/Ocean/PO Involvement in OOI Infrastructure:

Bruce Howe - gliders with acoustic modems

5+ gliders needed at each of 5 C-GSN sites.

SOEST/Ocean/PO Involvement in OOI Sensors:

Doug Luther - HPIES

SOEST Potential Involvement in OOI O&M:

Glider operations

ADCP QA/QC

How Should SOEST Prepare?

Glider facility should be nurtured and generate a documented performance record.

To compete for awards for constructing infrastructure, such as gliders, or instruments, ESF needs to be strengthened, with clearly defined and well-regarded operating procedures, and scheduling & cost control.

To bolster claim that we can handle continuous streams of data, providing QA/QC 24/7, the HIOOIS DMAC facility must be fully functional and successful.

Be prepared for cost matching …

Caveat MaximusCaveat Maximus

Contracts are for services, not research. Contracts are for services, not research.

Data are not proprietary. Data are not proprietary.

Maintaining data streams & facilities 24/7 could be a black hole for researcher time/effort.

Maintaining data streams & facilities 24/7 could be a black hole for researcher time/effort.

While bringing in funds, effort doesn’t necessarily increase SOEST’s prestige.

While bringing in funds, effort doesn’t necessarily increase SOEST’s prestige.