The mandate to establish a Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) was formally articulated and ratified in 1992 at the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. Specifically, Agenda 21 calls for the establishment of a global ocean observing system that will enable effective management of the marine environment and sustainable utilization of its natural resources.

IOCARIBE-GOOSThe GOOS Regional Alliance

for the IOCARIBE RegionDoug Wilson

IOCARIBE-GOOS Project Coordinator

GOOS is a permanent global system for observations, modelling and analysis of marine and ocean variables to support operational ocean services worldwide.

GOOS provides accurate descriptions of the present state of the oceans, including living resources; continuous forecasts of the future conditions of the sea for as far ahead as possible, and the basis for forecasts of climate change.

GOOS is a system of programmes, each of which is working on different and complementary aspects of establishing an operational ocean observation capability for all of the world's nations. UN sponsorship and UNESCO assemblies assure that international cooperation is always the first priority of the Global Ocean Observing System.

GOOS is the oceanographic component of GEOSS, the Global Earth Observing System of Systems .

A Global Coastal Network is to be developed through the establishment and networking of GOOS Regional Alliances, National GOOS programs, and existing global programs

-Implementation plan for Coastal Module of GOOS

IOCARIBE-GOOS was established in 1999 at IOCARIBE VI, led by an ad hoc Group of Experts. The first task of the group was to produce a Strategic Plan (The Case for IOCARIBE-GOOS, GOOS Report No. 115, UNESCO, 2002).  IOCARIBE-GOOS was accepted as a GOOS Regional Alliance by I-GOOS in 2003. 

“To serve the marine data and information needs of humanity for the efficient, safe, rational and responsible use and protection of the marine environment, and for climate prediction and coastal management, especially in matters requiring information beyond that which individual national observation systems can efficiently provide, and which enable smaller and less-developed nations to participate and gain benefit…”

IOCARIBE-GOOS IMPLEMENTATION: GOOS principles

GOOS is designed to:

Monitor, understand and predict weather and climateDescribe and forecast the state of the ocean, including living resourcesImprove management of marine and coastal ecosystems and resourcesMitigate damage from natural hazards and pollutionProtect life and property on coasts and at seaEnable scientific research

Note other RAs have slightly modified – US for example are restated as

Weather and ClimateMarine OperationsCoastal EcosystemsSustainable ResourcesNatural HazardsPublic Health

GOOS principles

GOOS is an End to End, User-driven system with three primary Sub-systems:

ObservationsData Management and Communications (incl. Dissemination and Access)Models and Analysis

And three cross-cutting Sub-systems

Governance and ManagementResearch and DevelopmentTraining and Education

Emphasizes Open exchange of Data and Information

Original GOOS Core Variables

Temperature SalinityWater Level CurrentsSurface Waves Surface Winds Ocean Color Dissolved Oxygen pH pCO2Heat Flux Bottom CharacterPathogens BathymetryIce Distribution ContaminantsStream Flow Dissolved NutrientsOptical Properties Total Suspended MatterFish Species* Fish Abundance*Zooplankton Species* Zooplankton Abundance* Phytoplankton Species* Colored Dissolved Organic Matter

IOC GOOS Today – New Structure and Strategy based on OCEANOBS 09Framework for Ocean Observing

Essential Ocean Variablesto be determinedas well as ECVs, EBEVs

Coastal GOOS Strategy based on Phenomena of Interest

Coastal Eutrophication and HypoxiaHuman Exposure to Waterborne PathogensHarmful Algal Blooms Habitat Loss & ModificationVulnerability to Coastal Flooding Ocean AcidificationFood Security

The Committee agreed that GOOS could play a significant role in advising on coastal observations, by providing expertise on a framework for developing integrated observation systems to address specific issues, promoting standards and best practice for measurements to make them intercomparable, sharing experiences and comparing designs, and promoting data sharing, integration and interoperability. GOOS could also provide an umbrella for the development of regional pilot projects. But GOOS centrally could not plan in detail coastal observations in all regions, which need to be based on regional and national priorities. It should focus energy on promoting the intercomparability and availability of coastal observations, and could build on the inventory of GRA contributions to GOOS.

IOCARIBE-GOOS future

While the region still lacks adequate in situ measurements, the capabilities to collect them AND the availability of data and products is advancing rapidly due to advances in technology..

Individual states and Regional programs need support for:

• Data Collection [Observing System] activities for various (but often overlapping) programs and purposes

• Climate Change Monitoring and Adaptation

• Hazard Forecasting, Response , and Mitigation

• Living Resources Protection, Management, and Exploitation

• Habitat Preservation and Utilization

• Data Management, Aggregation, Integration, and Distribution

• Information (value added, products, processed, modeled) Management and Distribution

These activities are at present:

Somewhat BalkanizedOften CompetitivePoorly integratedOften proprietary, protected, or with barriers to sharing

In addition, funding is not being directed in a manner that encourages and supports this approach

Success Stories

During the Rio workshop there was an opportunity to hold an ad hoc IOCARIBE-GOOS meeting with the national delegates from the IOCARIBE countries. The common request from this group for IOCARIBE-GOOS was to provide support for the activities of National GOOS and Sustained Ocean Observations and Services Programs, by addressing the following:

• Sharing of Best Practices • Promoting Data Exchange• Coordinating support from countries with more developed

operational observing and forecasting activities• Coordinating ways to address common needs; one such

noted was the need for national Buoy and other Observing Systems to support local services and forecasting activities

Needs and Recommendations

IOCARIBE-GOOS futureWhile the region still lacks adequate in situ measurements, the capabilities to collect them AND the availability of data and products is advancing rapidly due to advances in technology..

Individual states and Regional programs need support for:• Data Collection [Observing System] activities for various (but often

overlapping) programs and purposes• Climate Change Monitoring and Adaptation• Hazard Forecasting, Response , and Mitigation• Living Resources Protection, Management, and Exploitation• Habitat Preservation and Utilization• Data Management, Aggregation, Integration, and Distribution• Information (value added, products, processed, modeled)

Management and Distribution

With reference to

• Observing Systems• Remote Sensing• GIS Products• Model Outputs

IOCARIBE – GOOS could

• Coordinate• Advise (best practices)• Oversee (Standards,

Communication)• Integrate• Aggregate• Support Application and

Product Development• Promote• Identify• Distribute (Data and Product

Commons)

Needs and Recommendations

Needs and Recommendations

• Leverage National and existing Regional efforts

• Raise Donor and Government Awareness

• Need better organization and coordination among Programs tasked with observations and products:

GOOS Tsunami LMEGCOS JCOMM

IHO IODE UNEP WOA

• Pilot Projects – tied to integrated organizational infrastructure

Observations – IOC Sea Level

Real-time Satellite Products

Real-time Satellite Products

Success Stories

Asset and Product Maps

• Provided by RPS Applied Science Associates• Used by several US IOOS Regional Associations• Based on Publicly available data• Customizable

Caribbean Assets Explorerhttp://72.44.60.22/carib/

Caribbean CoastMap Explorerhttp://map.asascience.com/CoastMap/Userid: IOCARIBE Password:Ocean0bserving ( Ocean[ZERO]bserving )

Asset Maps: Caribbean CoastMap Explorer

http://map.asascience.com/CoastMap/Userid: IOCARIBE Password:Ocean0bserving ( Ocean[ZERO]bserving )

Asset Maps: Caribbean Assets Explorerhttp://72.44.60.22/carib/