January 2011

A Framework for Ocean Observing

Task Team on an Integrated Frameworkfor Sustained Ocean Observing(post-OceanObs’09 WG)

post-OO’09 Working Group

Building a common vision for ocean observations

Provision of routine and sustained global information on the marine environment sufficient to meet society’s needs for describing, understanding and forecasting marine variability (including physical, biogeochemical, ecosystems and living marine resources), weather, seasonal to decadal climate variability, climate change, sustainable management of living marine resources, and assessment of longer term trends

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• OceanObs’99, brought physical oceanography community together to consider ocean observations for climate

• OceanObs’09 brought together physical, chemical and biological oceanographic communities to consider future ocean observations

A decade after OceanObs’99

The conference in numbers• 600+ attendees from 36 countries, majority from developed countries• 99 Community White Papers submitted and reviewed before the

conference• 47 Plenary Presentations – with plenary papers submitted and peer-

reviewed after the conference• >200 poster presentations• 2 volumes of reviewed papers to be published imminently (and available on

web now)• 14 ‘international coordination’ sponsors, 14 additional national/regional

agency sponsors• in kind support from ESA, IOC, WCRP, CLIVAR, NASA

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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 education.

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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

– Report back to its sponsors late 2010.

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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

January 2011

Task Team Membership

January 2011

Input(Requirements)

Output(Data &

Products)

Process(Observations)

A Simple System

January 2011

Requirement

What to Measure

Essential Ocean Variables

IssuesIssues

Structure of the FrameworkStructure of the Framework

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January 2011

Framework: Societal Driver 2010

Weather & Climate•UNFCCC/IPCC

•WCRP

January 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

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

Benefits of the Framework

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

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

Benefits of the Framework

January 2011

Requirement

What to Measure

Essential Ocean Variables

IssuesIssues

Structure of the FrameworkStructure of the Framework

Dat

a A

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bly

Dat

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Observations

Argo

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IOOS

Satellite

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IMOS

Framework Flow: Requirements

Framework Flow: Observations

Framework Flow: Data Products

January 2011

January 2011

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

Readiness LevelsReadiness Levels

Concept:Initial articulation of ideas, and appropriatefeasibility studies.

Pilot: Plans evolve from draft to projects andvetted in real-world implementation.

Increasing Readiness Levels

Attributes:Peer review of ideas and studies at science, engineering, and data management community level.

Attributes: Planning, negotiating, testing, and approval within appropriate local,

regional, global arenas.

Attributes: Products of the global ocean observing system are well understood, documented, consistently available, and

of societal benefit.

January 2011

Readiness Levels

Requirements Observations Data & Information

Framework for Ocean ObservingFramework for Ocean Observing

Need for informationidentified 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.

LowestLowestReadiness Readiness

LevelLevel

Highest Highest Readiness Readiness

LevelLevel

MatureMature

PilotPilot

ConceptConcept

January 2011

Framework: Societal Driver 2010

Weather & Climate•UNFCCC/IPCC

•WCRP

January 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

• 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

Needs of the framework

• 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

Needs of the framework

January 2011

“Roll-out” of the Framework

General questions

• What comments do you have on the framework approach – is it useful? does it reflect reality? does it help organize? are things missing?

• What framework functions could your organization take on, based on your comparative advantage? How could you work with other groups and organizations?

• How do you see a path forward in the near term?

January 2011

BACK-UP SLIDES

January 2011

Outside theOutside theFramework:Framework:•Qualitative Analysis

•Policy Questions

Facilitated by Facilitated by the Framework:the Framework:

• Quantitative Analysis

•Application of Science to Societal Issues

Issue InfluenceIssue Influence

Decision GuidanceDecision Guidance

Information Products

Data: Infrastructure and Assembly Centers

Observations: Facilities & Management

What to Measure: Essential Ocean Variables

Requirements: Sensors & Scales

Societal IssuesSocietal Issues

Framework BoundaryFramework Boundary