Meeting Summary
PacIOOS Hawaii Stakeholder Workshop
Honolulu, Hawaii
June 25, 2010
8am-3pm
Summary of Meeting
1. Chris Ostrander welcomed everyone to meeting and gave a presentation
introducing IOOS and PacIOOS, showcasing governance development to date,
explaining a timeline for upcoming funding, and describing the purpose of
the stakeholder workshop.
2. Presentations from Eric DeCarlo, Kim Holland, Whit Au, Jake Cass, Mark
Merrifield, Brian Powell, and Jim Potemra detailed the development to date
of the PacIOOS pilot project—HiOOS—as it relates to numerical modeling,
data management, and the four HiOOS focus areas: coastal hazards,
ecosystem information, water quality, and ocean-state and forecast. All
presentations are available online.
3. PacIOOS researchers and staff facilitated rotating small-group discussion of
three questions regarding PacIOOS development in seven topic areas (ocean
conditions, coastal hazards, biological observing, water quality, numerical
modeling, data management, education and outreach):
• What are outstanding model/observational needs/gaps that
PacIOOS could deploy assets to address in Hawaii?
• Are there specific data products PacIOOS should be producing? At
whom should those products be targeted?
• How can PacIOOS enhance existing projects/partnerships and
increase leveraging opportunities in Hawaii?
Condensed Notes From Discussion Groups
Water Quality
Additional nearshore sensors would be useful to examine water quality along the
Maunalua coastline (terrestrial runoff) as well as the Kihei coast (injection wells).
Existing nearshore sensors are expensive (~ $20,000) and should be replaced with
ACT recommended CT sensors that are more affordable (~ $300).
Inclusion of imagery (satellite, land-based) might allow for additional water quality
characterization without additional sensor deployment.
Maps of salinity, temperature, chloropyll, turbidity, and DO statewide are needed.
Sedimentation and turbidity monitoring upstream with USGS would help water
quality understanding
Partner with fishponds restoration groups to monitoring water quality in and
around fishponds.
Ocean Conditions
Wave data is needed in Kihei to help inform inundation prediction. Shadowing from
Lanai and Kahoolawe require a dedicated waverider off Kihei and a sea level gauge
at Maalaea.
Full water column current profiles statewide would assist in the maintenance of
Aids to Navigation buoys.
Particle trajectories state-wide are important for SAR, pollution tracking, and
biological connectivity.
Predicted currents associated with tsunamis and the timing of waves to guide the
development of safe boating zones.
Coastal Hazards
Real-time cameras (like those installed in Waikiki) would be useful to monitor
extreme events (high surf, high wind, tsunamis, etc.) A layer in the DataViewer
showing camera locations and links would be useful.
Acoustic monitors at remote locations (Palymra, Johnston, etc.) would allow the
Coast Guard to monitor for unauthorized martime activities and investigate as
needed.
We should issue alters to interested parties when certain data products approach
extreme conditions (sea level, water quality, wave height) so appropriate responses
can be readied.
Projected inundation zones linked to GIS databases with infrastructure and
emergency management information would be useful to emergency managers
Interiew emergency managers and find out what information they find useful and
how best to present it.
Biological Observing
It was recognized many obstacles exist in regards to remote sampling of biological
organisms and characteristics including but not restricted to: organisms hard to
identify without human intervention; a lot of biological data is not interpretable in
real time; and little value in real time data of biological measures.
However two biological entities were seen as important but missing from the ocean
observing system.
• Pelagic fauna as a driver for many ecosystems
• Foraging sources – no good idea of temporal and spatial movements
Possible approaches to these and other biological measures included:
• Acoustic sampling, passive or active
• Visual transects, repeated regularly
• Aerial remote sampling
• Remote optical recognition
Biological time-series data could be produced showing current figures against past
figures. Example would be column biomass, current population counts, benthic
habitat variations.
An online regional publishing blog would allow for local information to be made
available. This would also promote data sharing and collaboration. An issue with
this that was raised was the restrictions in peer-reviewed papers that if a project
has had an article published previously then it can't be republished. The distinction
between publishing and news items for the blog would have to be identified.
Creation of a page that identified the location of past, current and proposed studies
would allow both identification of studies within an area for the purpose of
accessing data but also for collaboration on studies or sharing of resources or
funding for projects.
NFS projects NEON, ORION and others, were identified as projects for collaboration.
Improving how external agencies are highlighted on the HIOOS and PACIOOS pages
to ensure that they receive recognition for their contributions.
Education and Outreach
Getting flat-panel displays in hotels, libraries, and museums showing ocean
conditions and predictions would be useful in preventing dangerous situations (esp.
among beach goers).
Add simple method of user feedback to website.
Use of social scientists to generate more useful products---they can interpret data
for users to avoid decisions made based on incomplete understanding.
Incorporate PacIOOS and ocean observing into undergraduate instruction through a
dedicated OOS course as well as modules for existing courses.
Work with local schools to access and understand data. Children will take that
knowledge back to their parents and family members.
There is a general lack of familiarity with what information is available on the
HiOOS site. We need to contact potential users and demonstrate web and
dataviewer functionality.
PacIOOS should work with existing lecture programs (Hanuama Bay, EWC, UH) to
have regular public presentations IOOS technology, products, and efforts.
Host workshops on website/data usage and product development targeted at
specific user groups (MPA, educators, emergency responders) to show web
functionality and get input on products and future development.
Partnerships with local community groups (ie Surfrider, Friends of Kailua, Malama
Maunalua, etc.) could help with sensor maintenance (sensor wiping, removal of biofouling) and provide venues for further public engagement.
PacIOOS should take advantage of hotel information channels, airline spots, and TV
(esp. news and local shows) for engaging users.
Need to ensure engagement with native Hawaiian groups and work to incorporate
traditional knowledge in Ocean Atlas and website. Our repeat attempts at getting
OHA engaged are not sufficient.
Numerical Modeling
Important to provide uncertainty with predictions.
Models should provide optimal observations capabilities to direct future
development of instrumentation sites (OSSEE--ocean observing system simulation
experiments)
Nearshore modeling at high resolution with sediment, waves, etc for ALL islands.
Estimates of depth averaged currents over the upper 30m for shipping activities.
Circulation estimates of NWHI and other PacIOOS regions
Assist partners (PMNM, NOAA, etc) with OSSEE’s
Provide assessment of conditions that lead to marine debris deposit in NWHI. Given
those conditions, where does trash come from?
Wave model: forecasts of inundation with buildings as part of the flow. Inundation
plot is insufficient: maps of wave height and water speed (dissipates as it moves
inland) are important.
Biological models could be created on top of oceanographic models.
Data Management
Need to ensure disclaimers on web are easy to see and read.
The US Army Corps of Engineers has project data from around the state that can be
included and served via the HiOOS website.
Some data should be carefully considered prior to release and potentially not
released to general public (cetacean locations, fish habitats, shark tracks)
PacIOOS shouldn’t get in the business of warnings---we only provide data to
agencies that are charged with making qualitative assessments as to “go” or “no-go”
decisions.
PDC has a great online resource center (catalog for data and metadata) that would
fit in well with PacIOOS data efforts.
PacIOOS should work with PDC (GHIN) to explore common data needs/products
and collaborate with data distribution region-wide
Papahanaumokuakea has an internal map server of their data. PacIOOS can provide
data to that server and display some of their information on the HiOOS DataViewer.
PacIOOS should work to include OBIS data as layers in the DataViewer.
PacIOOS should have regular meetings with focused user groups to refine web
content and inform product development.
Handheld information (iPhone, Blackberry) is a great asset during emergencies.
Use historical information (where available) to turn a data product into a more
useful public information product (climatologies, extreme event identification)
similar to what is being doing with high-water level product.
It was identified that the HIOOS and PACIOOS sites have different users primarily
the general public and researchers. Division of the site would allow easier
interpretation of the products for the public and more direct access to data and
information for researchers.