1. US IOOS®, NDBC, CO-OPS Partnership Discussion
Zdenka Willis
Director, US IOOS Program Office
Regional IOOS Spring Meeting – March 8, 2013
Silver Spring, MD

2. Mission Priorities – Strategic Vision
Five main themes of uses for coastal IOOS
• Marine operations shipping, fishing and recreational vessels, search and rescue, spill planning and response and offshore energy
• Coastal, beach and nearshore hazards extreme weather events, storm surges inundation and waves, as well as public safety for beach use
• Water quality point and nonpoint source pollution, HABs, hypoxia and Eutrophication
• Ecosystems and fisheries linkages between physical, chemical and biological variables, health indices, and larval transport of fish
• Long-term change and decadal variability ocean acidification, shoreline and water level changes, and shifting ecosystem conditions
From: Synthesis of Regional IOOS Build-out Plans for the Next Decade (Jan 2013)

3. Mission Priorities – Strategic Vision
Next Steps – future needs
• Modeling nesting of models of different scales and development of boundary conditions, validation/certification, use of ensembles of models, coupling of oceanic and atmospheric models and physical-biological models
• Observations best mix of in-situ fixed, in-situ mobile and remote platforms and sensors to meet user needs, more objective system design techniques, and appropriate spatial and temporal scales to meet user needs
• Biology and ecosystems how coastal IOOS can best address user needs in this area, integration of biological, physical and chemical data, coupling of models, and expansion of new technologies into operational use
• Products and services an integrated approach to developing and/or expanding use of the 27 products for the five themes outlined in the build-out plan, building on existing products, and coordinating efforts among regions and federal partners
From: Synthesis of Regional IOOS Build-out Plans for the Next Decade (Jan 2013)

4. Current Collaborations & Success (1)
QARTOD partnership with NDBC
DMAC collaboration with NDBC & CO-OPS
Ray Toll is an effective NDBC link to IOOS Regions
Strategic collaborations with CO-OPS on sea level rise and associated inundation forecasting tools/products
Professional and helpful input and advice regarding installment of sensors in remote Pacific locations
PORTS collaboration with MARACOOS/Stevens Institute /USACOE-CDIP

5. Current Collaborations & Success (2)
Strategic and technical collaborations with CO-OPS on ocean modeling at NOAA and on the Coastal Ocean Modeling Testbed
NDBC DAC (Mission Control Center) and data going to the GTS
NDBC & IOOS testing of wave gliders

6. Challenges & Questions
IOOS Regions work closely with WFOs but not so much with NDBC & CO-OPS
Communications/dialogue with NDBC and CO-OPS on:
the operational status of their observation networks
Future network development plans (e.g. National Waves Plan)
Shared vision for future of US ocean observing
Status of CO-OPS model for Cook Inlet (AK) unclear
Use of HFR for coastal modeling/forecasting at CO-OPS
Integration of other water level data to NWLON

7. Opportunities (1)
IOOS dialogue with CO-OPS and NDBC on future network development plans – how can we support each other?
Blanket agreement CO-OPS/NOAA for the new Station Modification Request process
Shared or joint operation and maintenance of coastal moorings (perhaps also sharing use of USCG)
Agreement on common data formats, metadata, data services, etc.
Expansion of QARTOD partnership with NDBC
Collaborate on permit processes per installing new sensors

8. Opportunities (2)
Continue to share user/stakeholder feedback on product development and collaborate to provide more efficient (less redundant) and valuable tools
For regionally consistent QARTOD procedures, perhaps ask NDBC  to code the guts of it in freeware,  and then each RA could customize input, output, and visualization
Shared operations and management of DMAC including a joint vision for a common operating picture of IOOS
Closer coordination of international relationships

9. A Clear View of Tomorrow A Partnership for Lives and Livelihood
US IOOS works!
US IOOS enables decision making and underpins scientific advances
I hope during this talk you will agree the IOOS works and become part of US IOOS
U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)