The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing
System (GCOOS):
A Regional Component of the U.S.
Integrated Ocean Observing System
Landry Bernard
National Data Buoy Center
University of Southern Mississippi
GCOOS Stakeholders Meeting
January 24, 2005
Outline
• Background
• Existing Capabilities
• Actions to date in building the Gulf of
Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System
• Next Steps
Background
The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System
will consist of three parts:
1. U.S. contribution to a global component
of GOOS focused on climate and maritime
services;
2. National backbone of observations and
products from our coastal ocean supported
by federal agencies; and
3. Contributions of Regional Coastal Ocean
Observing Systems.
Regional Coastal Ocean Observing
Systems
1.
2.
3.
To be eligible for federal support, each Regional Coastal
Ocean Observing System must have a Regional
Association that:
Provides representative governance and the capability to
receive and distribute funds with all approved
accounting procedures;
Maintains a sound business plan indicating users,
requirements, costs, and sources of support; and
Represents the regional system within a National
Federation of Regional Associations.
Existing Capabilities
• There are many elements that can be used as the
initial building blocks for a regional ocean
observing system for the Gulf of Mexico.
• These include continuing observations, satellite
products, models, and other data products.
• They are supported by local, state and federal
government, private industry, NGOs, and academia.
• They provide information that will have broader
uses when they are integrated and enhanced.
Building Blocks 1:
Observations
In Situ
9of9_tabs_08262004b.gif
TCOON Network
http://tcoon.cbi.tamucc.edu/TCOON/HomePage
Houston/Galveston PORTS
observation locations
http://co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/images/hgports.gif
BAYWATCH - Louisiana State University
Nan Walker
• Currently 5 stations
• Full suite meterological
• 3 Hydrographic Values
• Samples are taken every
10 seconds
• Minute, hourly, and
daily summaries are
recorded
• Data display is updated
on the web every minute
• Archive Data available
Long-Term Estuary Assessment Group (LEAG)
NOAA:
Science in Service of Policy in the
Mississippi River / Gulf of Mexico Estuary
Modeling and Processes
Technical Working Group
Tier 1. Processes
1. Acoustic Mapping (Allison, TU)
2. Biogeochemical Material Fluxes
(McKee, TU)
3. Nitrate Monitoring (Dagg,
LUMCON)
4. Geochemical Sampling (Bianchi,
TU)
5. Strontium Geochemistry
(Marcantonio, TU)
6. Pharmaceutically Active
Compounds (Wang, XU)
7. Research Cruises (Dagg,
LUMCON)
Tier Two: Modeling
1. Sediment Transport (Michaelides,
TU)
2. Mixing and Transport (Eschenazi ,
XU)
3. Modeling Transport in Rivers,
Estuaries and Coastal Environments
(Jobst, NRL/NAVO)
Tier Three: Linkages
1. Data Management and Linkages
Among Models, Monitoring and
Processes (Dagg, LUMCON)
USGS:
Nexus of Science in the
Lower Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico
Project Period: 7/1/02-8/31/03
Sensors, Platforms,
and Markers
Technical Working Group
Tier 1. Biosensors
and Platforms
Development, integration, test, and
evaluation of biosensor in
autonomous underwater vehicle
(Rey, COTS; Blake, TU; Blake, XU)
Tier 2. Biomarkers in the
Environment
1. Trace Gases of Microbial Flora
as a Biomarker of Pollution
(Boopathy, Nicholls)
2. Reproductive Status of
Amphibians as a Biomarker of
Pollution (Lafleur, Nicholls)
3. Molting in Fiddler Crabs as a
Biomarker of Pollution (Zou,
Nicholls)
Informatics
Education
Technical Working Group
Technical Working Group
Tasks
1. Integration of
environmental sciences
into high school curriculum
2. Students participate in
field research
3. Students as Teachers
(Wilson, CBR)
• Spatial analysis of
Mississippi bathymetry
• GIS data development for
other TWGs
• Mapping/analysis of AUV
pollutant data data
• Online GIS
• Support Education TWG
in GIS training
• Develop maps and
cartographic products in
support of all project efforts.
(Meffert, CBR)
WAVCIS - Wave-Current Surge Information System
For Coastal Louisiana
http://csi.lsu.edu/
Tampa Bay PORTS
observation locations
http://co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/images/tbports.gif
University of South Florida
COMPS
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TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
http://comps.marine.usf.edu/index.html
Gulf of Mexico Observing Sites
Remote Sensing
Satellite Products
SeaWiFs Ocean Color
February 2001
http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgibrs/level3.pl/S20010322001059.L3m_MO_BIOS.jpg?DAY=11354&PER=m&TYP=bio&IMG=big
http://fermi.jhuapl.edu/avhrr/gm/averages/01mar/gm_01mar28_2211_mult.gif
Building Blocks 2:
Models and Products
Model Products
Gulf of Mexico Ocean Monitoring System
http://www.dynalysis.com/Projects/gom/oms/images/region.htm
Texas Water Development Board
http://hyper20.twdb.state.tx.us/tide/porta2.html
Embayments of the NE Gulf of Mexico – ADCIRC
Biloxi Bay Model
Bay St. Louis Model
Mobile Bay Model
Pearl River Model
Mississippi Bight Model
Wave Prediction in Mississippi Sound
SWAN versus Buoy 42040
11 Nov 1800 GMT 2002
Actions to date in
building the Gulf of
Mexico Coastal Ocean
Observing System
Actions 1
•
Six Gulf-wide meetings have been held:
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First focused on academia
Second focused on state and federal agencies
Third focused on private sectors
Fourth focused on predicting, detecting and tracking
Harmful Algal Blooms
Fifth focused on underpinning research
Sixth focused on education and outreach
Actions 2
•
A GCOOS Mission Statement has
been adopted.
•
A Resolution to develop GCOOS,
beginning with sharing of nonproprietary, non-commercial data, has
been signed by some 50 individuals
representing themselves or
institutions.
Mission Statement: Vision
We seek to establish a sustained observing system for the
Gulf of Mexico to provide observations and products
needed by users in this region for the purposes of
•
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Detecting and predicting climate variability and consequences,
Preserving and restoring healthy marine ecosystems,
Ensuring human health,
Managing resources,
Facilitating safe and efficient marine transportation,
Enhancing national security, and
Predicting and mitigating against coastal hazards.
Mission Statement
(continued)
We envision sharing of non-commercial, non-proprietary data, models,
and products via the internet for the common benefit of all participants,
including industry, NGOs, academia, and federal, state, regional, and local
government agencies. It is understood that this Gulf of Mexico observing
system will be integrated with other regional coastal ocean observing
systems, in particular to create an integrated and sustained U.S.
component of the ocean observing system.
Mission Statement
(continued)
We recognize that the system will require sustained financial support from a
combination of government, private, and non-governmental organizations. That
will be possible only if the system is built and remains responsive to the needs of
these organizations and to the public. Thus, the system will be subject to
continuing oversight by representatives of such organizations and of the public.
Collaboration with other nations bordering the Gulf of Mexico is to be
actively sought in the design and implementation of this regional observing
system.
Resolution
The implementation sections reads:
The Signatories hereby resolve to work together toward
establishment of a Gulf of Mexico Regional Coastal Ocean
Observing System (GCOOS); to work toward
development of regional governance structures and
coordination; to work towards common data management
standards; and to openly share non-proprietary data and
metadata, non-commercial data and products, model code,
and related information. …….Signatories will actively seek
collaborations with other nations bordering the Gulf of
Mexico in the design and implementation of this regional
observing system. The Signatories will work toward
implementation of specific action items decided upon at the
workshop held at Stennis Space Center, MS, January 14-15,
2003,
Signatories
L.G. Adams, Weeks Bay NERR
Kim Adams, Essi Corporation
Vernon Asper, University of Southern Mississippi
Peter Betzer, University of South Florida
John Blaha, Naval Oceanographic Office
Jim Byous, Gulf Fiber Corporation
Lisa Campbell, Texas A&M University
Jim Cato, Florida Sea Grant
Billy D. Causey, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
Robert Cohen, Weathernews Americas Inc.
H.D. Covert, Coastal Operations Institute
George Crozier, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program and Dauphin Island
Sea Lab
Steven F. DiMarco, Texas A&M University
Dean Dunn, National Coastal Data Development Center
Wilford Gardner, Texas A&M University
Bryon O. Griffith, EPA Gulf of Mexico Program Office
Norman Guinasso, Texas A&M University
Matthew Howard, Texas A&M University
Ann Jochens, Texas A&M University
Gregg Jacobs, Naval Research Laboratory
Gary Jeffress, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi
Mark Luther, University of South Florida
Robert (Buzz) Martin, Texas General Land Office
Gil McRae, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Douglas Meffert, Long-term Estuary Assessment Group
Avichal Mehra, Mississippi State University
Patrick Michaud, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi
Paul Moersdorf, National Data Buoy Center
Christopher N. K. Mooers, University of Miami
Frank Muller-Karger, University of South Florida
Worth D. Nowlin, Jr., Texas A&M University
James J. O’Brien, Florida State University
John C. Ogden, Florida Institute of Oceanography
Alex Orsi, Texas A&M University
Shirley Pomponi, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution
David Prior, Texas A&M University
Nancy Rabalais, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium
Mary Jo Richardson, Texas A&M University
Mitchell Roffer, Roffer’s Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service, Inc.
Kerry St. Pe, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium
William Seitz, Texas A&M University Galveston
Thomas M. Soniat, Nicholls State University
Robert Stewart, Texas A&M University
Robert Stickney, Texas Sea Grant Program
Gregory Stone, Louisiana State University
LaDon Swann, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium
John W. (Wes) Tunnell, Jr., Texas A&M University Corpus Christi
Jan van Smirren, Fugro GEOS Inc.
Nan Walker, Louisiana State University
Robert H. Weisberg, University of South Florida
James Robert Woolsey, University of Mississippi
Actions 3
•
An inventory of existing operational
and product-producing components
for the Gulf of Mexico, together with
descriptions, costs, out-year budgets,
and users is being maintained.
•
A web portal to ongoing Gulf of
Mexico activities has been created:
http://www.gcoos.org
Actions 4
• We are working to establish a data and
information management system that is
– Part of a national system; integrated with
other regional coastal observing systems
– Coordinated with observing system
elements in Mexico and Cuba
– Integrated with the global observing
system module
Well along in dealing with real-time
physical data
NDBC MODEM Kit
(Meteorological and Oceanographic Data Exchange Module)
Regional
Observatories
Sensor /
Observation
Observers
Web-Page
ftp
NDBC
NDBC
QA/QC
Global
Telecommunications
Service
NODC
NWS
GATEWAY
NCDC
NCEP
Web-Page
Dial-A-Buoy
OPeNDAP
Wx. Channel
Local Media
NWS
Forecast
Offices
Public
Present Partners of NDBC
in IOOS Data Sharing
• Skidaway Institute of Technology
• Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System (GoMOOS)
• Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction System
(COMPS)
• Texas Automated Buoy System (TABS)
• Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON)
• Texas Coastal Ocean Observing Network (TCOON)
• University of Connecticut’s MYSOUND
• Stephens Institute of Technology (New Jersey)
Future Partners of NDBC
in IOOS Data Sharing
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SUNY Stony Brook (Long Island Ferry)
NAVSEA Warfare Center (Dania, FL)
Chesapeake Bay Observing System (CBOS)
Mississippi Dept. of Marine Resources
NOAA’s National Estuarine Research Reserve Program
CORIE (Columbia River)
MBARI (Monterey Bay)
Oil and gas industry
Planned capabilities for transfer
of real time data
• Present:
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Wind Direction, Speed, Gust
Significant Wave Height, Dominant Period
Sea Level Pressure
Air, Dew Point, and Sea Surface Temperature
Visibility
Water Level (Coastal Stations, w/ respect to MLLW)
Temperature Profile
Salinity Profile
Current Profile
• Future:
– Swell Direction, Period
– Wave Spectrum
Actions 5
•
We have a small multi-year grant from
NOAA to help establish a Regional
Association to manage GCOOS. We have
a pending proposal for a more ambitious
effort.
•
We have representatives from GCOOS to
the National Federation of Regional
Associations:
Robert (Buzz) Martin, TGLO
Landry Bernard, NDBC/NWS
Next Steps
Next Steps 1
• We must agree on a governance
structure for the GCOOS Regional
Association
Next Steps 2
• We must elect a Board of Directors
for the Regional Association and
appoint members to other
structures:
- Stakeholders Council
- Education and Outreach Council
- Committees
Next Steps 3
• We must prepare an initial Business
Plan for the GCOOS-RA.
Thank You
Please visit our web site for further information.
http://www.gcoos.org
If you wish to become a signatory to the resolution, please
send an email request to wnowlin@tamu.edu stating if you
are signing as an individual or for an institution.