The Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) The Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) A Regional Coastal Observing System within the Integrated Ocean Observing System Mark Johnson UAF Liason to AOOS Institute of Marine Science School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences University of Alaska Fairbanks Molly McCammon, AOOS Executive Director

Mission Statement: Alaska Ocean Observing System Provide quality processed data to generate model forecasts and information products for stakeholders. Focus on sustainability of Alaska’s marine resources, mitigation of impacts due to climate change, and improved navigation safety and search and rescue. Provide user groups, resource managers and policy makers with essential information to make informed decisions.

see Possible US Ocean Observing Regions

Alaska has special challenges because of its size, remoteness, and extreme climate.

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: partnership among federal and state agencies, private sector, users, academia Develop systems – –Pilot project in Prince William Sound -- Expand observing capacity throughout Alaska

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

Gulf of Alaska Bering Sea/ Aleutians Arctic One Alaska - Three Regions

Region 1: Gulf of Alaska Region 2: Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Region 3: The Arctic

AOOS Statewide Functions Data Management and Communications Data Management and Communications Modeling and Analysis Group Modeling and Analysis Group Observation, model and satellite data display Observation, model and satellite data display Data Visualization – animations, graphics Education and Outreach Data Visualization – animations, graphics Education and Outreach Ship coordinator; small ship upgrades Ship coordinator; small ship upgrades Major equipment investments for leveraging: Major equipment investments for leveraging: - Airborne EM sea ice thickness sensor (year 2) - Airborne Salinity Mapper (year 3) also for surface freshwater content (moisture over tundra gets CO2 flux estimate) also for surface freshwater content (moisture over tundra gets CO2 flux estimate)

Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) 50 km grid 12 km grid 3 km grid 1 km grid Modeling and Analysis Group Nested domains

AOOS Region 1: Gulf of Alaska Users - commercial fishing - recreational boaters - oil & gas developers - search & rescue - tourism - managers - navigation services - aquaculture/mariculture Information products - marine sea state - circulation patterns from ocean models - coastal erosion predictions - nowcast/forecasts for search & rescue & oil spill response - fisheries/ecosystem productivity

Gulf of Alaska Priorities: Develop PWS observing system as pilot project Build new capacity in Cook Inlet, Kodiak & Southeast Increase number of oceanographic moorings Add tide, sea-level & stream gauges in real time Deploy surface current mappers Enhance fisheries & ecosystem information Enhance ship of opportunity program

AOOS funding will support PWS Pilot Project 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

AOOS Region 2: Bering Sea/Aleutians Users Users –commercial fishing –subsistence –coastal communities –climate change research –search & rescue –resource managers Information products Information products –sea ice & vessel icing forecasts –coastal erosion predictions –fisheries/ecosystem productivity –winds and wave forecasts

Bering Sea/Aleutian Priorities: National Backbone Increase number of buoys & make real- time. Monitor more variables. Increase number of buoys & make real- time. Monitor more variables. Add tide & river gauges & C-Man stations Add tide & river gauges & C-Man stations Several long-range HF radar surface current mappers at pulse pts in circulations & major fishing grounds Several long-range HF radar surface current mappers at pulse pts in circulations & major fishing grounds Expand fisheries surveys, increase oceanic parameters measured Expand fisheries surveys, increase oceanic parameters measured

Bering Sea/Aleutians Regional Priorities N-S array of 5 moorings along 70m isobath N-S array of 5 moorings along 70m isobath Moorings across Bering Strait Moorings across Bering Strait Set of moorings across AK Stream s of Aleutians including shelf break buoys to measure entire water column. 2-3 moorings in Unimak pass, Amukta/Samalga Pass & Amchitka Pass Set of moorings across AK Stream s of Aleutians including shelf break buoys to measure entire water column. 2-3 moorings in Unimak pass, Amukta/Samalga Pass & Amchitka Pass Expand coverage of bottom trawl surveys and BASIS project surveys; add biological components Expand coverage of bottom trawl surveys and BASIS project surveys; add biological components Record in real-time key indicator species such as whales Record in real-time key indicator species such as whales Ship of opportunity program Ship of opportunity program Cable-linked observatories on Pribilofs & Little Diomede Island Cable-linked observatories on Pribilofs & Little Diomede Island

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

AOOS Region 3: The Arctic

Arctic Priorities: National Backbone 4 C-MAN stations along Arctic coast 4 C-MAN stations along Arctic coast Stream flow & tide gauges at key sites Stream flow & tide gauges at key sites Better bathymetry & nearshore topography measurements Better bathymetry & nearshore topography measurements Moored buoys along Arctic coast Moored buoys along Arctic coast Network of ice-tethered buoys Network of ice-tethered buoys Continuity of RADARSAT or similar sea ice monitoring Continuity of RADARSAT or similar sea ice monitoring Validation/ground-truthing for Arctic conditions of natl space-based sensors Validation/ground-truthing for Arctic conditions of natl space-based sensors

Arctic Priorities: Regional Improved forecasting of sea ice & fog Improved forecasting of sea ice & fog Cabled observatories at Barrow Canyon, Prudhoe & Mackenzie Canyon Cabled observatories at Barrow Canyon, Prudhoe & Mackenzie Canyon Sea gliders & AUVs for autonomous data gathering Sea gliders & AUVs for autonomous data gathering Sensors to measure sea ice thickness Sensors to measure sea ice thickness Aerosondes for remote observation of near-shore ice & leads & biological surveys Aerosondes for remote observation of near-shore ice & leads & biological surveys Offshore moorings w/ice profiling sonars Offshore moorings w/ice profiling sonars Radar coverage for measured ice edge & surface currents & for ice motion & mass balance measurements Radar coverage for measured ice edge & surface currents & for ice motion & mass balance measurements Ship of opportunity program Ship of opportunity program Wind & wave measurements to mitigate coastal erosion & improve navigation safety Wind & wave measurements to mitigate coastal erosion & improve navigation safety

AOOS funding will support: Coastal Sea Ice Radar at Barrow enhancement – –Measure sea ice edge motion & break out events – –Real time data relay – –Work with users on data delivery Possible radars at Prudhoe, Kaktovik, Nome Future sea level stations along Arctic coast

AOOS possible funding Flight Distances from Barrow Sea ice thickness sensor – –Airborne sea ice thickness Near real time Landfast ice near shore Offshore transects for large-scale estimates – –Establish repeat transects – –Real time data relay to stakeholders – –Year 2

AOOS & Barrow Cabled Observatory Focus on user needs; research is 1 user group Focus on user needs; research is 1 user group Operational components become part of regional, state, national, global systems Operational components become part of regional, state, national, global systems Tie into AOOS DMAC and MAG Tie into AOOS DMAC and MAG Education & outreach collaboration Education & outreach collaboration