Development of a Gulf of Mexico

Coastal Ocean Observing System(GCOOS)

Development of a Gulf of Mexico

Coastal Ocean Observing System(GCOOS)

Robert (Buzz) MartinState Scientific Support Coordinator

Oil Spill Prevention & ResponseTexas General Land Office

Robert (Buzz) MartinState Scientific Support Coordinator

Oil Spill Prevention & ResponseTexas General Land Office

• What is GCOOS?

• What’s been done?- Meetings- Priorities- Existing Capabilities- Resolution

• Key next steps.

• What is GCOOS?

• What’s been done?- Meetings- Priorities- Existing Capabilities- Resolution

• Key next steps.

OutlineOutline

What is GCOOS?What is GCOOS?

• The nascent “Regional Association” representing the Gulf of Mexico in the yet-to-be formed Federation of Regional Coastal Ocean Observing Systems.

• An organization of groups and individuals that share a vision for the future of coastal ocean observations as expressed in the GCOOS Resolution and mission statement.

• The nascent “Regional Association” representing the Gulf of Mexico in the yet-to-be formed Federation of Regional Coastal Ocean Observing Systems.

• An organization of groups and individuals that share a vision for the future of coastal ocean observations as expressed in the GCOOS Resolution and mission statement.

U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing SystemU.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System

First StepsFirst Steps

Over the past 2-3 years, several meetings have been held to discuss a regional ocean observing system

for the Gulf of Mexico

In January 2003, agreement among a key group of operators or users of

observing system elements in the Gulf was reached to share data and

to work toward development of a regional observing system.

Over the past 2-3 years, several meetings have been held to discuss a regional ocean observing system

for the Gulf of Mexico

In January 2003, agreement among a key group of operators or users of

observing system elements in the Gulf was reached to share data and

to work toward development of a regional observing system.

• Identified many activities that can serve as the initial building blocks for a regional ocean observing system for the Gulf of Mexico, including:

continuing ocean observations,

satellite products,

modeling efforts, and

other products. • Recognized that support for these

activities comes from many sources.• Helped participants see that they

provide information that could have broader use if integrated and enhanced.

• Identified many activities that can serve as the initial building blocks for a regional ocean observing system for the Gulf of Mexico, including:

continuing ocean observations,

satellite products,

modeling efforts, and

other products. • Recognized that support for these

activities comes from many sources.• Helped participants see that they

provide information that could have broader use if integrated and enhanced.

Benefit of

Meetings

Benefit of

Meetings

Initial Priority ActionsInitial Priority Actions

Complete and circulate for signature a Resolution agreeing to form a Regional System;

Refine the Inventory of existing observing system elements in the Gulf of Mexico (including costs);

• Create an organization of users; Establish data sharing first

Obtain commitments for data sharing Utilize assistance offered by NVODS, NDBC, and

NCDDC;

Identify and publicize products Create a Gulf of Mexico Portal http://www.gcoos.org

• Share, compare, and validate models.

• inventory - identify and entrain those responsible into the design process

• organization of users - mechanism to ensure system remains accountable and responsive to needs

• identify and publicize products - system will require sustained, broad-based support

• establish mechanism for data sharing - ensures system can be integrated with other regional coastal observing systems both nationally and internationally

• resolution - a statement of intent and shared goals • sharing, comparing, validating models - move beyond

academic exercises

Purpose of Initial Priority ActionsPurpose of Initial Priority Actions

Existing Capabilities:

The Inventory

Existing Capabilities:

The Inventory

1,000 miles

Gulf of Mexico Observing SitesGulf of Mexico Observing Sites

Satellite Products (8 Programs Identified)

Satellite Products (8 Programs Identified)

TAMU

USF

TWDB

USF

Model Products (10+)Model Products (10+)

ExamplesExamples

The Signatories hereby resolve to work together toward:

• establishment of a Gulf of Mexico Regional Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS);

• development of regional governance structures and coordination;

• common data management standards.

The Signatories hereby resolve to work together toward:

• establishment of a Gulf of Mexico Regional Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS);

• development of regional governance structures and coordination;

• common data management standards.

Resolution(Implementation Section)

Resolution(Implementation Section)

Implementation (continued)Implementation (continued)

• and to openly share non-proprietary data and metadata, non-commercial data and products, model code, and related information.

• GCOOS will not compete with the private sector because it will not distribute commercial products and services, which are those produced by commercial enterprises.

• The Signatories will actively seek collaborations with other nations bordering the Gulf of Mexico in the design and implementation of this regional observing system.

• and to openly share non-proprietary data and metadata, non-commercial data and products, model code, and related information.

• GCOOS will not compete with the private sector because it will not distribute commercial products and services, which are those produced by commercial enterprises.

• The Signatories will actively seek collaborations with other nations bordering the Gulf of Mexico in the design and implementation of this regional observing system.

Who can sign the resolution?Who can sign the resolution?

Signatories to this resolution:

1) are actively engaged in some aspect of coastal ocean observing systems in the Gulf of Mexico or

2) are principal end-users of data, products and services from coastal ocean observing systems in the Gulf of Mexico.

Signatories to this resolution:

1) are actively engaged in some aspect of coastal ocean observing systems in the Gulf of Mexico or

2) are principal end-users of data, products and services from coastal ocean observing systems in the Gulf of Mexico.

• research institutions,

• port or harbor authorities,

• water management districts,

• non-governmental organizations,

• local government agencies,

• state & federal agencies,

• private industry, or

• other entities with these characteristics.

• research institutions,

• port or harbor authorities,

• water management districts,

• non-governmental organizations,

• local government agencies,

• state & federal agencies,

• private industry, or

• other entities with these characteristics.

Signatories may include, but are not limited to:Signatories may include, but are not limited to:

32 Signatories ...• Vernon Asper for University of Southern

Mississippi

• Peter R. Betzer for University of South Florida

• Jim Byous for Gulf Fiber Corporation

• Jim Cato, Florida Sea Grant

• George Crozier for Dauphin Island Sea Lab and Mobile Bay National Estuary Program

• Dean A. Dunn for National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC)

• Norman L. Guinasso for Texas Automated Buoy System (TABS)

• Gregg Jacobs, NRL Stennis Space Center

• Gary Jeffress for Texas Coastal Ocean Observing Network (TCOON)

• Mark Luther for the Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction System and the Tampa Bay Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System

• Robert (Buzz) Martin for Texas General Land Office

• Gil McRae, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission

• Douglas J. Meffert for Long-term Estuary Assessment Group (LEAG)

• Avichal Mehra for DMEFS

• Patrick Michaud, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

• Paul Moersdorf, NOAA's NDBC

• Christopher N. K. Mooers, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science

• 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

• Shirley Pomponi for Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution

• David Prior, Executive Vice-President and Provost for Texas A&M University

• Nancy N. Rabalais, LUMCON for NGOMEX Hypoxia Studies

• Mary Jo Richardson, Texas A&M University

• Mitchell A. Roffer, Roffer's Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service, Inc. (ROFFS)

• Kerry St. Pe for Louisiana Universities Marine Consorium (LUMCON)

• Thomas M. Soniat, Nicholls State University, for DermoWatch

• Robert Stickney, Seagrant,Texas A&M University

• LaDon Swann, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, Auburn University

• John W. (Wes) Tunnell, Jr., (TAMU) for Center for Coastal Studies and Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies

• Nan Walker, Coastal Studies Institute, Louisiana State University

• We have begun with meetings between organizers and Sea Grant Marine Advisory Services personnel. First meeting with Texas MAS on 14 October 2003 in Corpus Christi, TX.

• On 31 October 2003, NOAA made a 3 year grant to Texas A&M Research Foundation to provide funding to developers of GCOOS to:– develop the user base, – create a governance structure, – develop a business plan,– data and product sharing, and– share, compare, and validate models.

Key Next Steps Key Next Steps

Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System

Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System

http://www.gcoos.orghttp://www.gcoos.org

wnowlin@tamu.eduwnowlin@tamu.edu

ContactContact