The Carolinas Coastal Ocean Observing and Prediction System (Caro-COOPS): A Model for the Management and Post-Processing of Moored Buoy Networks

1Fletcher, M., 1,2Porter, D.E., 3Buckley, E., 3Pietrafesa, L., 3Xie, L., 4Johnson, J., 4Cothran, J., 4Purvis, C., 1White, D.1Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine Biology and Coastal Research, University of South Carolina

2Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina 3Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University

4Advanced Solutions Group, University of South Carolina

Abstract

The Carolinas Coastal Ocean Observing and Prediction System (Caro-COOPS) will provide nearly continuous data streams physical and biological measurements from the fixed platforms and mooring array. These data will be critical for parameterization of the NCSU Coastal and Estuarine Modeling and Environmental Prediction System (CEMEPS). To provide state and local agencies with the necessary information for emergency management applications in the event of predicted coastal flooding a seamless and intuitive data and information serving system will need to be established. The Virtual Network Information System (VNIS) will be a key component in the data management system, and will be essential to the dissemination of critical forecasts for emergency management personnel in the event of predicted coastal flooding. This system will facilitate open and fast access to Caro-COOPS data including CEMEPS outputs and predictions, near real-time data measurements and other ancillary data needed for critical decision-making. The diverse nature of these data sources and the need for real-time data dissemination necessitates a comprehensive data management and information systems strategy to provide access to data and data products.

• It will establish an extensive array of instrumented moorings in the South Atlantic Bight, which currently receives extremely sparse coverage compared with other significant coastal regions, such as the Gulf of Mexico, New England coast, and the Chesapeake Bay.

• It includes the development of a comprehensive data management system, essential for access to, and integration of, high quality, real-time data; the system will be designed to maximize flexibility and utility, with a view towards serving as a model and/or support for other coastal ocean observing systems.

• Improve the forecasts of natural hazards, which are an element of the Carolinas near coastal, coastal, and offshore marine environment to lessen the impacts of major storm-induced disasters by providing information and data so that appropriate measures can be taken to anticipate and reduce the toll on life and property.

• Provide timely alerts or notices of anomalous ocean or estuarine water conditions, such as temperature and/or salinity extremes, eutrophication, hypoxia, and anoxia, which may lead to harmful algal blooms and fish-kills.

• Provide new information on the timing of critical environmental conditions for essential fisheries habitat, such as spawning and nursery grounds, and zones of retention and/or dispersal for fish eggs and larvae.

Introduction

The Carolinas Coastal Ocean Observing and Prediction System (Caro-COOPS) is founded upon a partnership -- led by the University of South Carolina's Belle W. Baruch Institute (USC), with North Carolina State University (NCSU), the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW), and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division -- and establishes the capacity to monitor and model estuarine and coastal ocean conditions in the Carolinas. It will provide a capability for real-time predictions and ultimately forecasts to mitigate natural hazards, support management of living resources and marine ecosystems, and facilitate safe and efficient marine operations and support national security efforts. Moreover, it will provide major advances in observing system capacities, capabilities and expected benefits:

Fixed Platforms and Mooring Array, Instrumentation, and Measurements

The main observational network of fixed platforms and moorings will span the length of the Carolinas' coast (Figure 2). The array will consist of a mix of platforms and sensors with real time telemetry, including bottom mounted, upward looking Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers, which will profile the currents throughout the water column and measure the surface wave field. Also included is a mixture of Interocean S4 current meters (velocity, temperature, salinity, pressure, and wave field), ACE SeaPac current meters (velocity and temperature), and SeaBird MicroCat (temperature, salinity and pressure) and SeaCat recorders (salinity, temperature, and pressure), interfaced with WetLab fluorometers (fluorescence chlorophyll) on taut wire moorings.

Figure 2. Observational network of fixed platforms and moorings will span the length of the Carolinas' coast.

Coastal and Estuarine Modeling and Environmental Prediction System (CEMEPS)

The coastal atmosphere and ocean modeling group at NCSU has developed an adaptable grid Coastal and Estuarine Modeling and Environmental Prediction System (CEMEPS), which will be used as the backbone model for the Caro-COOPS modeling system. CEMEPS consists of connected, fully three-dimensional, time dependent, continental margin and estuary coupled hydrodynamic model. It contains a suite of interactively linked atmospheric, oceanic, estuary, and river model components (Figure 3). The model includes all of the physics, i.e. the phenomena that contribute to flooding and presently has a spatial resolution of 30 meters in the horizontal. It has been developed to include a wetting and drying scheme, i.e. an inundation algorithm that allows water to run up the topography and across highways, and so on.

Figure 3. CEMEPS concept diagram and example of predicted storm surge for Hurricane Floyd.

Figure 1. Imagery of Hurricane Floyd and resultant flooding in North Carolina (http://www.nws.noaa. gov/oh/hurricane/inland_flooding.html).

Background

Over the past 100 years, North Carolina has experienced more direct hurricane strikes than any other Atlantic coast state except for Florida and South Carolina (Landreneau, 2001). These storms can be extremely destructive to life and property; for example, Hurricane Floyd (1999) resulted in 56 U.S. deaths and six billion in property loss (Figure 1). In addition to hurricanes, mid-latitude or extra-tropical cyclones develop rapidly off the coast of the Carolinas throughout the winter season (Cione, et al., 1993). These storms, many of which are very rapidly intensifying "bombs," form over water and generate very high winds. The paucity of offshore weatherobservations on the Carolinas’ coast results in a detection lag for storm development, often in excess of 15 to 25 hours. These tropical and extra-tropical events result in high winds, heavy precipitation, and subsequent coastal, estuary/inland flooding. A fully operational Caro-COOPS will reduce the costs and risks to people, the economy, and natural resources from natural and human-induced hazards.   Data Flow Diagram

The data management activities fall into two primary foci: (1) the reception, management and transfer of observation data for the storm surge model, and (2) delivery of data and data products to a platform that provides access to a broad user base. The diverse nature of these data sources and the need for real-time data dissemination necessitates a comprehensive data management and information systems strategy. In order to reach and provide access to data and data products a comprehensive plan is being implemented for data input and output, data archival, and data documentation (Figure 5) that includes the following components:

1. Data collection and data transmission via the low-orbit Iridium satellite cellular communications system.

2. Data collection from federal agencies to facilitate data parameterization.

3. Archival within a relational database management systems for near-real time display and permanent storage in the NetCDF file format.

4. Access to data via Distributed Oceanographic Data System (DODS) and Live Access Server (LAS) queries.

5. Metadata search and query utilities using the FGDC compliant Z39.50 protocol.

6. Emergency management tools allowing users to generate GIS-based predictive products of impending storm events over the Internet.

7. Access to hind-casting tools for investigation of previous events.

Virtual Network Information System (VNIS)

The VNIS will provide access to collected real-time data streams, in situ data, data products and metadata. This system is currently under development and will be accessed via the Caro-COOPS website (www.caro-coops.org ) (Figure 4). This website will function as an information and data portal for the multiple aspects of the Caro-COOPS program. Considerable effort is being made to assess and accommodate the individual needs of the user groups and to implement these in a web-based environment. This site will also function as a tool for public outreach to other non-Caro-COOPS user groups.

Figure 4. Caro-COOPS website that will provide access to the Virtual Network Information System (VNIS).

Summary

The foundations for the Caro-COOPS data management infrastructure have been laid and will be enhanced and expanded during Year 2. In Year 2 of the Caro-COOPS implementation, data management activities will be focused on data transfer and acquisition and ensuring that the data streams are delivered to the modeling subsystem rapidly, accurately, and in formats required by the models. Equally important will be activities focused on delivery of the data and data products to the users in easily accessible applications that clearly demonstrate the utility and value of the Caro-COOPS system.

Data Repository

Physical Data

Governmental Agencies

RDBMS (SQL Type Database)

NetCDF Archive

Data Search and Query Functions

Metadata Search and Query

Caro-COOPS.ORG

Near Real-Time Data Display

DODS

DODS/LAS Queries

Expected Storm Event

no

AD-Hoc Simulations

yes

Web-based GIS Storm Surge Predictions

Figure 5. Data flow diagram for the Caro-COOPS information system.