outline - world meteorological organization

OGP/JCOMM/WCRP WorkshopGeneva, May 2008

Outline• The Global Ocean Observing System• The importance of the oceans as a driver of

climate change• Some consequences for the offshore industry• The current status of the Global Ocean

Observing System• The need for sustained observations• How the offshore industry can support realising

the goal of a sustained Global Ocean Observing System


What is GOOS?

The Global Ocean Observing System is a permanent global system for observations,

modelling and analysis of marine and ocean variables to support operational

ocean services worldwide

.


The Global Ocean Observing System

• First established in 1990• Led by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic

Commission of UNESCO under the sponsorship of IOC/WMO/UNEP/ICSU

• A programme to define and build an integrated, sustained observation and forecasting system for the oceans

• Is the ocean component of the Global Climate Observing System and the Global Earth Observation System of Systems


Why a global ocean observing system?


Why a Global Ocean Observing System?

Multinational commitment to establishing a global ocean observation and forecasting system addressing key areas of societal benefit:- Understanding global change- Projecting climate variability- Protecting and managing marine ecosystems- Complying with international agreements- Protecting life and property on the coast and at

sea- Providing information for a variety of uses and

users


Coastal GOOS


Open Ocean GOOS

• Implementation plan for the Open Ocean module of GOOS is a major component of the overall plan for the Global Climate Observing System


What role do the ocean’s play in climate?

• Oceans contain 97% of Earth’s water, hence they are fundamental in the global hydrological cycle

• Oceans experience 86% of evaporation, hence they are central to energy exchange on planetary scales

• Oceans receive 78% of planetary precipitation; for example, a 1% increase in Atlantic precipitation equals the annual Mississippi runoff

• The oceans control the timing and magnitude of changes in the global climate system


Why are the ocean’s so important?

Data from Levitus et al, Science, 2001

Because, that is where the heat goes !


Warming of the World’s Oceans(An Analysis of the past 40 Years)

No Anthropogenic Forcing (Blue)

With Anthropogenic Forcing (Green)

Observational Data (Red Dots)

Source: T.P. Barnett, et al 2005


Consequences

• Changes in this vast reservoir of heat have consequences for all of the climate issues of concern to the offshore industry

OGP/JCOMM/WCRP WorkshopGeneva, May 2008Photo: NOAA

Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina• August 29, 2005• August 29, 2005


Tropical Storm ZetaTropical Storm Zeta• December 31, 2005• December 31, 2005

Photo: NOAA


• Thermal expansion combined with increased freshwater inputs leading to sea level rise


Projected Sea Ice ExtentProjected Sea Ice Extent

Recent Model Runs Suggest this by

2040 - plus or minus a decade


146 million worldwide live within 1 metre of MHW

Hollywood, FL – Population Impacted 140,000

Miami Beach – Population Impacted 88,000


Arctic Marine TransportIcebreaking (Double Acting) Container Ship Norilskiy Nickel in the Kara Sea

March 2006


Temp Data Distributions since 1950.

1950-62

1963-75

1976-88

1989-00

Blue colors mean fewer than 20% of months had any obs.

300m 500m

Harrison, 2008


Temp Data Distributions since 1950.

1950-621963-751976-881989-00

Blue colors mean fewer than 20% of months had any obs.

1000m depth

Harrison, 2008


Argo Profiling Float ArrayMilestone

3000 FloatsOctober 2006


Mean Sea Level has been rising at

an increasing rate: ~1.7 mm/yr past

century ~3.1 mm/yr past

decadeReconstructed From Tide Gauges

Based onAltimeters

IPCC AR4 projection: ~30-80 cm by 2100


Sea Level Rise from Precision Altimetry


Atmospheric Dynamics Ocean Dynamics

2.Density

1.Pressure

Temperature & Humidity Temperature & Salinity

Surface Height Sea level air pressure

X.Calbet, EUMETSAT, 2008

Observations: buoy, ship and dropsondes

Observations: e.g., IASI on METOP

Observations: e.g.,Argo floats(now 3000)

Observations: Satellite Altimetry


87%

Total in situ networks October 200759%

62%

81%

43%74%48%24%

Initial Global Ocean Observing System for Climate Status against the GCOS Implementation Plan and JCOMM targets

100%

100%


NW Shelves

ARCTIC

BALTIC SEA

MED SEAGLOBALOCEAN


Sustainability

• The Global Ocean Observing System is proceeding against a well formulated plan

• BUT commitment to long-term sustainability of the system is weak


The Alliance


Advocacy

AMR Reflector

AMR Electronics

GPSP Antenna

LRA

Poseidon 3 Altimeter

DORIS


We need your help!

outline - world meteorological organization

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