Ocean Policy Activities and Ocean Observatories Dr. Robert Gagosian President and CEO MACOORA November 17, 2009

National Ocean Policy “We will restore science to its rightful place” – President Barack Obama, January 20, 2009 On June 12, 2009, President Obama issued a memorandum to establish an Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force with the charge to establish a National Ocean Policy and recommend a framework for effective coastal and marine spatial planning. A national policy “established, guided and continuously validated by science” that ensures protection, maintenance, and restoration of oceans, our coasts and the Great Lakes.

Marine Spatial Planning Framework June 12th Memorandum 90 Days National Ocean Policy Governance Framework Priority Areas 180 Day Marine Spatial Planning Framework

Policy. Emphasis on Stewardship 1 Policy Emphasis on Stewardship 1. Healthy and Resilient Ocean, Coasts, and Great Lakes 2. Safe and Productive Ocean, Coasts, and Great Lakes 3. Understood and Treasured Ocean, Coasts, and Great Lakes

Principles Ecosystem-Based Management Protect, Maintain and Restore Minimize adverse environmental impacts Best Available Science Precautionary Approach

Report Focus: How We Do Business Ecosystem-Based Management Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning Inform Decisions and Improve Understanding Coordinate and Support

Report Focus: Areas of Special Emphasis Resiliency and Adaptation to Climate Change and Ocean Acidification Regional Ecosystem Protection and Restoration Water Quality and Sustainable Practices on Land Changing Conditions in the Arctic Ocean, Coastal, and Great Lakes Observations and Infrastructure

Ocean Leadership’s Participation Invited to present 2 formal lectures to the OPTF: Role of Science in Ocean Policy Science Requirements for Marine Spatial Planning Participant in 4 Stakeholder Discussions including Ocean and Human Health roundtable Developed 2 policy documents: Deciphering the Ocean Climate System Submitted comments and recommendations to the OPTF on the above topics

Science Priorities for a National Ocean Policy Changes in Ocean Productivity Opening of the Arctic System Forecasting and Adapting to Sea Level Rise Observing System Requirements Research Priorities Remote Sensing Priorities In Situ Sensing Priorities

Major Science Issues for MSP Marine environment much more dynamic than terrestrial systems (three dimensional, biology-driven, fluid environment). Impacted by climate change, so future conditions increasingly difficult to predict just using historical data. Significant gaps of information exist in basic science which need to be addressed in order to evaluate outcomes. Multiple Agencies with varying missions, regulations and monitoring exist without a comprehensive plan for managing, integrating, and delivering products and services for MSP.

Ocean Leadership MSP Science Requirements Implementation and prioritization of MSP science requirements will be regional and goal-specific. Conduct Regional Ecosystem Assessments Support Continuity of Funding for Observations Data Integration and Cyber Infrastructure Ocean Leadership worked closely with its member institutions to develop this concise description of the science requirements and specific recommendations for MSP which have been submitted to the Ocean Policy Task Force for their consideration. In this paper, we highlighted the following points: The marine environment is much more dynamic than terrestrial systems (three dimensional, biology-driven, fluid environment). The marine environment is being impacted by climate change, so future conditions are increasingly difficult to predict just using historical data. Significant gaps of information exist in the understanding of basic science (i.e. ecosystem processes) which need to be addressed in order to evaluate outcomes (e.g. larval transport). Multiple Agencies with varying missions, regulations and monitoring data exist without a comprehensive plan for managing, integrating, and delivering products and services for MSP. Conduct Regional Ecosystem Assessments: Regional assessments, at varying temporal and spatial scale, are the foundation of MSP Provide a dynamic basis for governmental and nongovernmental collaborate and provide a common framework to support NEPA Support Continuity of Funding for Observations: The patchwork of current ocean observing programs and systems (e.g. IOOS) are inadequate to provide the information necessary for MSP. Sustained observations and monitoring capabilities are essential to build baseline data, make forecasts, and evaluate success of MSP decisions. One body needs the authority to coordinate and manage a dedicated climate/ocean observation system and science budget. Create a Data Integration and Cyber Infrastructure Process Existing patchwork of agencies and programs is insufficient to meet the growing demand for information and data integration. A centralized data management system is needed for integrating, disseminating information products and services required for MSP.

MSP Science Requirements (continued) Implementation and prioritization of MSP science requirements will be regional and goal-specific. However, there are some basic observation requirements Physical – temperature, salinity, bathymetry, currents Geochemical – pH, oxygen, nutrients, water quality, dissolved carbon Biological – chlorophyll, pathogens, population and diversity information

MSP Science Requirements (continued) There are other use-specific high priority informational needs (e.g. avian migration, wind fields for siting wind farms) Observations must be coupled with process studies for ecosystem assessments to be accurate. Data from various observing systems must be integrated into models, forecasts and other products for planners and resource managers.

Examples of Existing Federal Observing & Modeling Programs Integrated Ocean Observing System – Multiple Agencies Ocean Observatories Initiative - NSF National Data Buoy Center - NOAA Ocean Biological Information System – USGS PORTS – NOAA NMFS Surveys - NOAA Oil Platform Data – MMS Stream Flow – USGS Stormwater - EPA Remote Sensing Data – NOAA/NASA

Examples of Existing Federal Observing & Modeling Programs Issues which need to be addressed: The compatibility and sustainability of these systems Data integration and dissemination Management and integration of their budgets

An interactive ocean laboratory integrated by a leading-edge, multi-scalar cyberinfrastructure. Open data policy Near real time Interactive Scalable Data provenance

3 Regional cabled sites in the NE Pacific Design Elements 4 Global scale sites 3 Regional cabled sites in the NE Pacific Coastal scale arrays: Mid-Atlantic Pioneer Array, PNW Endurance Array Each scale incorporates mobile assets Cyberinfrastructure: enable adaptive sampling, custom observatory view, collaborative analysis Interfaces for education users

Regional Scale Nodes Power and Bandwidth from seafloor cable Instrumented nodes on Juan de Fuca plate

Global Arrays Fixed and mobile assets Extended duration Surface to near bottom water column coverage Mesoscale footprint Irminger Sea Argentine Basin Southern Ocean Station PAPA*

OOI Project Team Coordination/Integration: Ocean Leadership Cyberinfrastructure: UC San Diego Coastal and Global-Scale: WHOI with OSU and SIO Regional Scale: University of Washington Education and Public Engagement: TBD OL the merged corporation of JOI and CORE.

First NSF project to receive MREFC fund for education infrastructure.

OOI Science Themes Additional Science Foci Ocean-Atmosphere Exchange Climate Variability, Ocean Circulation, and Ecosystems Turbulent Mixing and Biophysical Interactions Coastal Ocean Dynamics and Ecosystems Fluid-Rock Interactions and the Sub-seafloor Biosphere Plate-scale, Ocean Geodynamics Additional Science Foci Ocean ecosystem health Climate change Carbon cycling Ocean acidification OOI Integrated Themes: High latitude observing Coastal dynamics High Power and Bandwidth Cyberspace delivery Education and public engagement Ocean-Atmosphere Exchange Includes questions addressing quantification of air-sea exchange of energy and mass during high winds and severe storms; improving climate change models and storm forecasting Climate Variability, Ocean Circulation, and Ecosystems Including questions of the ocean’s role in the global carbon cycle; impacts of climate change on ocean circulation, weather patterns, ocean acidification and biochemical processes, food webs, and ecosystem structure. Turbulent Mixing and Biophysical Interactions Understanding and quantifying mixing events and the impacts on exchange of energy, heat, mass; effects on plankton growth and community structure; cycling of material in the water column and transport of material (including carbon) to the deep ocean. Coastal Ocean Dynamics and Ecosystems Including questions addressing the role of coastal margins in the global carbon cycle; interactions of open ocean, terrestrial, and atmospheric forcing; climate variability and coastal ocean ecology; dynamics of episodic events (e.g., harmful algal blooms, hypoxia); forecasting and strategies for managing coastal systems in a changing climate. Fluid-Rock Interactions and the Subseafloor Biosphere Includes research addressing questions of the role of the ocean crust in the global budgets of material (including carbon) and heat; the role of thermal circulation and vent fluid chemistry in the ecology of vent communities, methane gas and hydrate formation; and the role of transient events on deep ocean physical and biochemical processes. Plate-scale, Ocean Geodynamics

Getting Involved... Open data access Proposal process: NSF standard merit review Changes and/or additions to OOI Network will require additional technical guidance and information (feasibility assessments, facility usage, budgeting/scheduling, technical & cyberinfrastucture requirements, education, environmental, and security requirements). NSF, OOI, UNOLS, U.S. Navy all involved in scheduling experiments and cruises First CI release Feb 2011; first data probably in 2012.

Community Participation in OOI OOI Advisory Committees Program Advisory Committee TBD subcommittees and/or working groups NSF Scientific Oversight Committee Annual Project reviews Community Science Workshops (Nov. 11-12, 2009 and spring 2010) Future competitions for: Pioneer Array location (3-5 year intervals) Infrastructure Operations New PAC for the Pilot Period/Construction Phase. First community workshops will be introductory (network capabilities, proposal process, etc.); later the focus will be on science planning.

Ocean Research Priorities Plan Refresh Initial ORPP release Jan 2007 “Refresh” initiated Spring 2009 Public comment period closed mid-July ORPP helped inform the content of priorities identified in the Task Force Interim Report Draft Refresh ORPP to be discussed at Town Halls MTS/IEEE (October) AGU (December) Ocean Sciences Meeting (February 2010)

National Ocean Council Dual Level Council Principals Periodically Update and Set Priorities Provide Annual Direction on Implementation Dispute Resolution Deputy Level (NORLC) Oversight of Execution of Implementation Transmit Administration Priorities to Subcommittees Coordinate with other EOP Offices Guide and Receive Info from Advisory Bodies

NOC Steering Committee (4 Members) Chair CEQ Director OSTP One chair “each” Chair of Ocean Resource Management IPC Chair of Ocean Science and Technology IPC Functions Key Forum for Integration and Coordination on Priorities Areas within the NOC Ensure ORM & OST IPC Activities Fully Aligned Extended Continental Shelf Task Force reports to Steering Committee

Ocean Science and Technology Interagency Policy Committee Structure NSTC-JSOST serves as the OST-IPC Reports to NSTC/CENR Chairs appointed thru NSTC, in consultation with NOC DAS-Level Participation Function Ensure Interagency Implementation of National Policy Develop (update) ORPPIS Develop Charter, Strategic Plan –Approval by NSTC May Establish Sub-IPCs

Governance Advisory Committee (13 Members) (6) One From Each Region Chosen by NOC in consultation with regional councils (2) At-Large From Inland States chosen by NOC in consultation with NGA (3) Alaska, Pacific Islands, Caribbean chosen by NOC in consultation with regional groups (2) At-Large Tribal Representatives Chosen by NOC in consultation with Indian organization

Ocean Research and Resources Advisory Panel Existing Body (ORRAP) FACA Advisory Body to NORLC (Dep-Level NOC) Membership: To Be Reviewed Provide Independent Advice & Guidance to NOC Receive Guidance and Direction from NOC

Current Status Successful Preliminary Design Review, Dec 2007 Successful Final Design Review, Nov 2008 Design modification review, March 2009 National Science Board approval in May 2009 Funding identified FY09, ARRA; in FY10 request Construction phase started in Sept 2009 OOI has funding profile in NSF Large Facilities Construction budget FY 2010.