NDBC Capabilities in the NDBC Capabilities in the Northern Gulf of MexicoNorthern Gulf of Mexico

Hypoxic Zone SummitHypoxic Zone Summit

30 January, 200730 January, 2007

Sept 2006

NOOSSNDBC

Ocean Observing

System of Systems: Coastal (Yellow) Buoys CMAN Stations TAO Array DART Network Partner Data via IOOS DAC

Observing System Platform Types

C-MAN station

C-MAN station

6-meterNOMAD

DART II

TAO

3-meterdiscus

IOOS Required Parameters*

Lower Ocean OceanAtmosphere Surface Sub-surface Temperature Temperature TemperaturePressure Salinity SalinityWind Currents CurrentsPrecipitation Wave Height / Period Dissolved OxygenHumidity Wave Direction Carbon DioxideRadiation Sea Height / Level ChlorophyllFluxes Fluxes NutrientsVisibility Radiation Radiation“Air quality” Ocean color Marine monitoring

Sea Ice BathymetryToxins / pollutants Toxins / pollutantsTurbidity Acoustic Signals

* GREEN parameters can be operationally observed by NDBC, YELLOW ~ Some experience.

Wind speed / directionAir temp / humidity / pressure

Tracking / communications

Navigational beacon

Solar panels

Magnetometer, compass, computer, batteries, position tracking

Wave height, period, direction*Ocean temperatureSurface currentsSurface salinity

Current profiler

MooringBottom tsunami pressure sensors*

AirWater

* Not on all buoys

How we may be able to help

• Add instrumentation to existing NDBC assets (some additional funding required)– 2 good candidates, perhaps others

• Install new buoys with appropriate instrumentation (new funding required)– Large community benefit if well-placed

• Provide DMAC services for existing and new IOOS partners for additional data– Oil Company Partnerships may provide best

opportunity in area of interest

Western Gulf

Another Well-Known“Dead Zone” (for obs…)

Louisiana/Mississippi/Alabama

Buoy 42035

•17 nm offshore•37 nm SE of LaTex Border•14 m water depth•SCM/Dir. Waves upgrade•Salinity upgrade

Buras/Southwest Pass CMAN

Monitor Nutrients?

Potential sites for new instrumentation (met)

Summary

• Hypoxic Zone unfortunately aligns well with a gap in observation coverage

• Two (at least) NDBC platforms of interest• Some IOOS partner stations of interest for which

we already handle data• New buoys/stations both in the zone and in the

gap, either “backbone” or IOOS/RCOOS, would benefit a huge community base

• NDBC excited to be a partner in the effort

Questions?Questions?

Contact Information:

Don T. Conlee, Ph.D.Chief ScientistNational Data Buoy Center1100 Balch Blvd.Stennis Space Center, MS 39529don.conlee@noaa.gov(228) 688-1753