1. Ocean Observing and Forecasting Companies
Dr Ralph Rayner

2. Background 25 years in commercial operational oceanography
Work in the oceanographic business line of the Fugro Group (earth sciences consultancy – approx 10,000 staff)
Member of IOC GSC for past 6 years
Member of exec board of MERSEA (GMES)

3. Outline Introduction The role of private companies
Examples of private company products, systems and services
The future

5. Maury and the Brussels Conference of 1853
Through the 1853 conference Maury and others established the basic principles of successful operational marine meteorology and oceanography
Common standards/formats for data collection
Common standards of data quality control and analysis
Free and open exchange of data for public good

6. Role of industry
In Maury’s time there was no significant supporting industry sector
A thriving marine meteorology industry sector only developed after public good marine meteorology became established
For the emerging field of operational oceanography industry capability is developing alongside, and in some cases, ahead of public capability
So what are the opportunities for private industry providers as global operational oceanography becomes a reality through GOOS?

7. Drivers
The principal drivers for the development of GOOS are public good requirements
These range from global issues (such as understanding climate change) to local issues (such as forecasting the fate of oil spills)
Since Maury’s time these public good drivers for understanding and forecasting the oceans have grown in importance
These are the key drivers for public investment in global ocean observations and forecasting capability

8. Users and customers
Take care with terminology and especially the term ‘user’
‘Users’ are those that do something with oceanographic data to give it utility
‘Customers’ are those that place a value (not necessarily a cost) on understanding the impact of the ocean environment on their operations
Largest ‘customer’ group by far are governments, they value this understanding in terms of ‘public goods’
Secondary customer group is industry, they also use freely available public good data or, where necessary purchase products and information (not data)

9. Commercial opportunities
The development of public observing and forecasting capability to meet public good requirements creates many opportunities for commercial companies
For provision of components of public systems
For provision of special purpose private observing and forecasting systems linked to public systems
For creation of value added data products for sale into niche markets

12. The ‘roots’ Observing hardware Data communications infrastructure
Remote sensing
In situ observations
Data communications infrastructure
Installation and maintenance services

14. Sensor technology GOOS is creating demands for new sensor technology
Chemical sensors
Biological sensors
Many research sensors being commercialised by private companies

15. ARGO

16. Moored instrumentation

18. Parameters Current speed and direction Gamma radiation
Wind speed and direction
Air and water temperature
Water salinity
CTD profiles
Air pressure
Dissolved oxygen
Directional waves
Chlorophyll
Hydrocarbons
Gamma radiation
Light attenuation
Nutrients
- (Trace metals)
Communication options
Orbcomm
Argos
Uhf/Vhf
Gprs
Gsm
Modem
TCP/IP Network
Inmarsat

21. The ‘trunk’
Provision of data management services for commercial customers
Provision of data management services for government agencies
Provision of data assimilation and model systems

22. Poseidon system Seawatch buoy data NCEP Global Forecast Atmospheric
Model
Wave
Model
Hydrodynamic
Model
Near-Shore
Wave
Oil-Spill
Model

23. SEAWATCH NUMERCIAL MODELS

24. Real-Time - Metocean Data
Real-time Weather
Aviation Operations
Marine Operations
Operational Decisions
Improved Safety
Data Collection

25. The large scale model grid used for providing boundary conditions for the regional North Sea model.
Note increased grid resolution in the Gulf Stream extension and the Nordic Seas. The inclusion of the
Arctic and the South Atlantic is necessary to avoid effects of improper specification of boundary conditions.

26. The ‘branches’
Some examples of private value added data products in the Gulf of Mexico

28. EddyNet Survey vessel / drill ship / platform Black Box
Ethernet network or
Satellite modem/ISP
RDI ADCP
Onshore office
Server
Forecaster
Real-time plots
Archives
Archive purchaser
Non-EddyNet users
Data-contributor
Cash-contributor

29. ADAM ADAM - ADCP Data Acquisition Manager
allows real-time access over the Internet to data from ADCP’s operated by Shell in the GoM 1

30. ADAM - Components Three components: database, data loader, and
web-based interface for viewing and system management

31. ADAM - Spatial Display

32. ADAM - Times Series Display

33. ADAM - Profile Display

34. Example Eddy Watch Chart
Enlarged sample Loop Current and eddies w/buoys

35. Satellite Data - Sea Surface Height

36. Satellite Data - Geostrophic Velocity

37. Satellite Data - Color and Geostrophic Current

38. Model Results 4 Nov 2003

39. SSH 14 Day Forecast and Actual 16 Jul 2003

40. The future
Increased role of private companies in all aspects of public operational oceanographic systems
Developments of new value added data products based on public data resources
Integration of private observing and forecasting systems into GOOS
A win win partnership with concerted advocacy