Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) A Regional Observing System within the Integrated Ocean Observing System Molly McCammon, Executive Director 1007 W. Third Ave., Suite 100 Anchorage, AK

IOOS (National) Goals Improve prediction of climate change impacts Improve prediction of climate change impacts Improve safety & efficiency of marine operations Improve safety & efficiency of marine operations More effectively protect & restore healthy coastal ecosystems More effectively protect & restore healthy coastal ecosystems Sustain marine resources Sustain marine resources Mitigate effects of natural hazards Mitigate effects of natural hazards Reduce public health risks Reduce public health risks Improve national security Improve national security (adapted from: An Integrated and Sustained Ocean Observing System, Ocean.US 2002)

What will IOOS look like? Global component Global component (international collaboration and U.S. support) U.S. coastal component U.S. coastal component - National “backbone” system: existing federal assets (federal support) - Set of nested Regional Observing Systems, tailored to local user needs (federal, state, local, private support) (federal, state, local, private support)

Global Component of the IOOS Integrate Remote & In Situ Sensing An International Collaboration Plan for the initial system ~ 50% implemented

Bottom up: Regional Associations forming across the U.S.

Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) Gulf of Alaska Bering Sea/ Aleutians Arctic

AOOS: Partnership of Industry, Government, Non-Profits and Academia (not a complete listing) Industry/Stakeholders Industry/Stakeholders Fishing companiesRecreation FishermenAquaculture/mariculture Shipping – marine navigationTourism Oil servicesValue-added research Subsistence users Government Government State: fisheries, water quality, seafood, coastal managers Federal: resource managers, researchers, search & rescue, oil spill response Local: coastal cities, boroughs and ports Tribal: Alaska Native communities Research Institutes & Non-Profits Research Institutes & Non-Profits Arctic Research Commission North Pacific Research Board Prince William Sound Science Center/OSRI Barrow Arctic Science Consortium Alaska SeaLife Center Alaska Native Science Commission Academia Academia University of Alaska Others

Planning Secure interim and long-term funding – –$2M in year 1, with similar amounts in years 2 and 3 – –Move toward multiple regions to increase funding - $6m goal in 2006 Identify stakeholders – coastal residents, managers, industry, researchers – and stakeholder needs Develop organizational structure, DMAC, education & outreach: partnership among federal and state agencies, private sector, users, academia Develop systems – –Pilot project in Prince William Sound -- Expand observing capacity throughout Alaska

Alaska’s Special Challenges

Stakeholder needs Search and rescue, oil spill response, safe navigation Currents and winds in real-time, accurate tide info Trajectory modeling Coastal erosion Wave height & direction and storm surge modeling Landfast and sea ice conditions Seasonal and long-term forecasts Ocean conditions Sea ice Heat indices Improved weather forecasts Harmful algal blooms Observational data and models Ocean circulation, currents, frontal locations Winds, air temperature, precipitation Fisheries; ecosystem approach to management

AOOS VISION: Statewide Strategy Identify gaps in national backbone to meet larger, more statewide and national needs Identify gaps in national backbone to meet larger, more statewide and national needs Develop strategy to fill in gaps – influence federal agency budgets Develop strategy to fill in gaps – influence federal agency budgets Integrate obs that cross agency missions & disciplines Integrate obs that cross agency missions & disciplines

Statewide Priorities Remote sensing products w/high resolution Remote sensing products w/high resolution Data management & communications systems w/real- time accessible data Data management & communications systems w/real- time accessible data Information products such as ocean circulation models, nearshore forecasts for all regions Information products such as ocean circulation models, nearshore forecasts for all regions Comprehensive mapping & charting Comprehensive mapping & charting Infrastructure & equipment– buoy center; hf radar group; ice thickness sensor; salinity mapper; ship time Infrastructure & equipment– buoy center; hf radar group; ice thickness sensor; salinity mapper; ship time Support for state & federal programs - facilitation Support for state & federal programs - facilitation

AOOS VISION: Arctic Users Users - offshore oil & gas - shipping/navigation - subsistence hunting - resource managers - Native communities/planners - climate change researchers Information products Information products - sea ice & fog forecasts - real time sea ice movement - ocean circulation patterns - climate change indicators - improved weather forecasts - coastal erosion prediction

Arctic Priorities Sea ice monitoring Sea ice monitoring Coastal erosion Coastal erosion Barrow cabled observatory Barrow cabled observatory HF radar – nearshore monitoring HF radar – nearshore monitoring Marine mammals Marine mammals Collaboration with other efforts - circumpolar Collaboration with other efforts - circumpolar

AOOS VISION: Bering Sea/Aleutians Users Users - commercial fishing - subsistence; communities - climate change research - safe navigation: search & rescue & oil spill response - resource managers Information products Information products - sea ice & vessel icing forecasts - coastal erosion predictions - fisheries/ecosystem productivity – climate change - wind and wave forecasts

Bering Sea/Aleutian Priorities: Increase National Backbone assets: NDBC buoys, C-Man stations, CRN sites, tide & river gauges. Increase National Backbone assets: NDBC buoys, C-Man stations, CRN sites, tide & river gauges. Moorings to monitor water in, out & thruout Moorings to monitor water in, out & thruout Coastal erosion monitoring Coastal erosion monitoring Expand fisheries surveys, increase oceanic parameters measured Expand fisheries surveys, increase oceanic parameters measured Better bathymetry; charts Better bathymetry; charts Long-range HF radar surface current mappers at pulse pts in circulations & major fishing grounds Long-range HF radar surface current mappers at pulse pts in circulations & major fishing grounds Long-term: cable-linked observatories on Pribilofs & Little Diomede Island Long-term: cable-linked observatories on Pribilofs & Little Diomede Island

AOOS VISION: Gulf of Alaska Users Users - navigation services - commercial fishing - recreational boaters - oil & gas development - search & rescue - tourism - managers - aquaculture/mariculture Information products Information products - marine sea state & icing conditions - ocean circulation patterns - coastal erosion predictions - nowcast/forecasts for search & rescue & oil spill response - fisheries/ecosystem productivity - HAB forecasts

Gulf of Alaska Priorities: National Backbone: Increase # of ocean moorings, tide & stream gauges – enhance w/ other sensors: water quality, sediment; better bathymetry maps & charts National Backbone: Increase # of ocean moorings, tide & stream gauges – enhance w/ other sensors: water quality, sediment; better bathymetry maps & charts Circulation obs: more buoys & long & short range HF radar surface current mappers; freshwater input into Alaska Coastal Current Circulation obs: more buoys & long & short range HF radar surface current mappers; freshwater input into Alaska Coastal Current Enhance existing estuarine & coastal monitoring Enhance existing estuarine & coastal monitoring Add biological component to physical monitoring Add biological component to physical monitoring Develop HAB forecast ability Develop HAB forecast ability Enhance ship of opportunity programs Enhance ship of opportunity programs PWS observing system: use as pilot project PWS observing system: use as pilot project Develop new capacity in Kodiak & SE Develop new capacity in Kodiak & SE Integrate & enhance Cook Inlet observations Integrate & enhance Cook Inlet observations

PWS Demonstration of an“End to End” System Field Validation Experiments Ancillary Data Retrieval & Processing 3D Model Assimilation Application Server (GIS) Research Server (POET) Model Data Real time data Retrieval & Processing 3D Model Assimilation Feedback Application Server Research Server Sea Surface Conditions Meteorology Oceanography Water Quality Currents Precipitation Education Communities Fishery management Economic models PWS Data Assimilation PWS Weather PWS Waves

Next Steps Work with national groups to get national authorizing legislation & national funding Work with national groups to get national authorizing legislation & national funding Strengthen newly formed national federation of regional associations Strengthen newly formed national federation of regional associations Continue user outreach & needs assessment – identify information products Continue user outreach & needs assessment – identify information products Develop implementation plans for 3 regions Develop implementation plans for 3 regions Develop education & outreach plan Develop education & outreach plan COORDINATE, COLLABORATE AND LEVERAGE! COORDINATE, COLLABORATE AND LEVERAGE!

Alaska Ocean Observing System 1007 W. 3 rd Avenue, Suite 100 Anchorage, Alaska