Framework for Ocean Observing

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4 April 2011, Exeter

Framework for Ocean Observing

Eric Lindstrom, OOPC Chair

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OceanObs’09: calls for action

(1)  Calls on all nations and governments to fully implement by 2015 the initial physical and carbon global ocean observing

system originally envisioned at OceanObs’99, and refined at

OceanObs'09.

(2) Calls on all nations and governments to commit to the

implementation and international coordination of systematic

global biogeochemical and biological observations, guided by

the outcomes of OceanObs’09, and taking into account regional variations in ecosystems.

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OceanObs’09: calls for action

(3) Invites governments and organizations to embrace a

framework for planning and moving forward with an

enhanced global sustained ocean observing system over the next decade, integrating new physical, biogeochemical, biological observations while sustaining present observations. Recommendations on this Framework, considering how to best take advantage of existing structures, will be developed by an

post-Conference working group of limited duration.

(4) Urges the ocean observing community to increase our efforts to achieve the needed level of timely data access, sensor

readiness and standards, best practices, data management, uncertainty estimates, and integrated data set availability. (5) Asks governments, organizations, and the ocean observing

community to increase their efforts in capacity-building and

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Sponsorship

•  IOC Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO •  GEO Group on Earth Observations

•  CEOS Committee on Earth Observation Satellites

•  POGO Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans •  SCOR Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research

•  SCAR Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research •  GCOS Global Climate Observing System

•  GOOS Global Ocean Observing System

•  JCOMM Joint WMO-IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology

•  PICES North Pacific Marine Science Organization

•  ICES International Council for the Exploration of the Sea •  CoML Census of Marine Life

•  IGBP International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme •  WCRP World Climate Research Programme

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January 2011

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April 2011 Input (Requirements) Output (Data & Products) Process (Observations)

A Simple System

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April 2011

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April 2011

Framework: Societal Driver 2010

Weather & Climate

• UNFCCC/IPCC • WCRP

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April 2011

Regional

• Regional Seas • CCAMLR

Framework: Societal Drivers Next Decade

Fisheries • FAO • RFMOs Ecosystem services/ Biology • CBD • CSD

• WSSD Real-time services _{• Emergency support} • Ocean forecasting

Assessments

• Global Marine (UN) • TWAP (GEF)

• Regional

Weather & Climate

• UNFCCC/IPCC • WCRP • Climate services Requirements Expanded EOVs Expanded observing systems and networks D ata Pr o d u cts

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April 2011

Concept:

Initial articulation of ideas, and appropriate feasibility studies.

Attributes:

Peer review of ideas and

studies at science, engineering, and data management

community level.

Pilot:

Plans evolve from draft to projects and vetted in real-world implementation.

Attributes:

Planning, negotiating, testing, and approval within appropriate local, regional, global arenas.

Mature:

Requirements, systems, and data become elements of the sustained global ocean observing system.

Attributes:

Products of the global

ocean observing system are well understood, documented, consistently available, and of societal benefit.

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January 2011

Key Concepts of the Framework

•  Articulated for global sustained ocean observing systems •  Designed for multidisciplinary approach

•  Builds on existing structures and best practices

•  Introduces “Essential Ocean Variables” as the common language

•  Assesses “readiness” based on feasibility and impact –

integrates developmental activity (R&D) into the framework •  Seeks to connect requirements setting process directly to

scientific and society needs (with feedback from products)

•  Systems approach better defines interfaces for all actors in the framework, promoting collaborative alignment of independent groups/communities/networks

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Aligning organizations to implement the Framework

•  The team considered several approaches for governing the Framework

–  Characterized by Simplicity –  Based on Functional Needs –  Bring Stakeholders Together –  Nominal Operating Costs

•  Requires ongoing engagement of international sponsors and other bodies

•  Recommends establishment of a Framework Steering Group: representatives of international sponsors of OO’09, including

WCRP

–  ephemeral, not permanent

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•  Management

•  Review/Development of Requirements •  Conventions

•  Facilitate Community-wide Alignments •  Endorsement of Mature Elements Oversight &

Coordination

Framework Steering Group Members / Appointed by Sponsors

Ocean Observing Panels / Appointed by Steering Group Physical Panel •  Build on OOPC Biogochem Panel •  Build on IOCCP Bio/Ecological Panel •  No existing structure Expert Reviews

•  Develop new EOVs •  Articulate Best-Practices •  Assess Readiness Levels

•  Develop Implementation Strategies

•  Coordinate National, Regional, Local Activities

EOV Expert and Implementation Teams / Identified by Steering Group & Panels EOVs: SST / Sea Level / pCO2* / Plankton*/ Alkalinity* / Transport* / Other* (*-potential)

EOV

Implementation Groups

•  Improve readiness levels (Design pilots and new products) •  Develop Implementation Plans

•  Improve Literacy (Train experts, Educate Users, Facilitate Integration)

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April 2011

Deep Ocean Observing Strategy

(Workshop 3/30/11-4/1/11)

High Level Outline for Strategy built on FOO

•  Rationale and science drivers (Climate, Carbon Chemistry, Biodiversity/Ecosystems)

•  The Essential Ocean Variables for the deep ocean •  Strategy for developing/improving recommendations •  Strategy for observing: existing, scalable, and potential

observing networks and programs; addressing readiness •  Strategy for data management and policy

•  Strategy to develop information to answer the questions (rationale and science drivers)

•  Priorities [phased implementation]

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April 2011

Deep Ocean Observing Strategy

Executive committee responsible for monitoring progress

•  Eric Lindstrom (OOPC/FOO) Bob Molinari (WCRP/CLIVAR) Albert Fischer (OOPC)

Kathy Tedesco (IOCCP) Bill Westermeyer (GCOS) Myriam Sibuet (post-CoML)

Initial Core writing [bold: co-leads]

climate [could have sub-organization]

Greg Johnson Stephen Riser Bernadette Sloyan Brian King Patrick Heimbach Detlef Stammer sea level: ?

circulation: ? [include tracers]

carbon/biogeochemistry

Rik Wanninkhof Toste Tanhua

biogeochemistry, and

interface with ecology/biodiversity [US: OCB]

carbon capture/storage, sedimentary flows [Peter Haugen]

biodiversity and ecosystems

contacts developed from Myriam Sibuet

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April 2011

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http://www.oceanobs09.net/wg/outputs.php

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April 2011

Obtain the full consultative draft at:

http://www.oceanobs09.net/wg/outputs.php

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Working Group terms of reference

The WG will consider the outcomes and recommendations from the OceanObs’09 Conference and, in consultation with the international organizations and expert advice, shall:

–  Recommend a framework for moving global sustained ocean observations forward in the next decade; integrating feasible new biogeochemical, ecosystem, and physical observations while sustaining present observations; considering how best to take advantage of existing structures,

–  Foster continuing interaction between organizations that contribute towards and are in need of sustained ocean observations, and

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•  100% implementation of initial system by 2015, as called for by OceanObs'09.

•  Deep ocean observations to address gap in monitoring of net transports of mass, heat and freshwater.

•  Ocean reference stations - surface flux and transport stations in boundary currents to address gaps in understanding air-sea

interactions in mid-latitudes and in regions where high spatial resolution is necessary; and for providing data for assimilating into weather, ocean and climate models and for assessing their products.

•  Biogeochemical observations for carbon uptake and ecosystems - improve knowledge of dissolved oxygen and sea surface salinity - and the eternal note about improved coordination between satellite and in situ observations of key ECVs.

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January 2011

Readiness Levels

Requirements _Observations

_{Data & Information}

Need for information identified and

characteristics

determined. Feasibility study of measurement strategy and technology. Measurement validated through peer review, implemented at regional and/or global scales and capable of being sustained.

The system is articulated, capability is documented and tested. Proof of concept validated by a basin scale feasibility test.

Following validation of observation via peer review of specifications and documentation, system is in place globally and indefinitely.

Data model is articulated, expert review of

interoperability strategy. Verification of model with actual observational unit. Measurement and

sampling strategy verified at sea. Autonomous deployment in an

operational environment.

Establishment of international governance mechanism, international commitments, and sustaining components.

Maintenance and servicing logistics negotiated.

Validation of data policy via routinely available and relevant information products.

Data management

Practices determined and tested for quality and accuracy throughout the system. Creation of draft data policy.

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January 2011

•  For Ocean Observing Communities

–  Focus on variables allows innovation, research, while sustaining the key output of the observing system

–  Clear path to selling utility of observations to high level, articulation of societal importance

–  learn from best practices and principles of other observing systems

–  reduce/remove duplication of measurements

–  cross-disciplinary synergy: shared platforms, data systems –  other data available to set your data in context

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January 2011

•  For Scientists

–  Measure once use many times

–  Consistent methods and standards

–  “One-stop-shop” that generates new scientific opportunities •  For Sponsoring Organizations

–  Improve the integration among the many independent communities

–  Maximize cost savings and quality assurance

–  Enable the development of a wide range of information products –  Development of a multi-faceted and interoperable elements

–  Increased utility of data within and external to the ocean observing community

–  Facilitates identification of: new opportunities for integration, redundancies, and gaps

–  Flexible response to future marine and societal issues

Benefits of the Framework

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January 2011

•  For Society

–  Core contribution from the science community towards ensuring sustained ocean “services”

–  Improved response to issues impacting human health and security

–  Improved response to issues impacting ocean ecosystem health –  Generate a strong evidence base for decision making

–  Focus ocean science community attention toward investments in sustained observing where societal need is the greatest

–  Assist in the evolution of coordinated prioritization for emerging societal needs

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•  Aligning existing organizations to the framework

–  A central tenet of working group’s discussions was to build on existing structures

–  needs sustained dialogue and negotiation amongst the sponsors, transition over time

–  Framework articulates ‘best practices’ of a systematic approach, a theory that needs to be put into practice

–  now in ‘roll-out’ phase soliciting feedback and input from the sponsors (will come back to this)

–  Organizations need to articulate the function they would like to play

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•  Education, outreach

–  culture of decision-making is often distant from scientific knowledge

–  developing societal understanding of role of oceans in their lives, the ocean-related threats, ecosystem services, and

human-generated stresses on the oceans

–  Formal education and outreach both important •  Capacity development

–  Develop local scientific infrastructure to support local decision-making

–  Can be mainstreamed into development strategy

Framework for Ocean Observing