1. NSF Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) & SOEST/Ocean/PO  Who in SOEST/Ocean/PO is currently involved?  Some opportunities for additional involvement/funding.  How can SOEST prepare for these opportunities?  Caveat: Do we understand what we’re getting into?  Briefly: What is the OOI? & Why do we need it?

2. Those of you who contributed to prior versions of the OOI (nee ORION) …. …. take a deep breath, … relax, and … prepare yourselves … …. take a deep breath, … relax, and … prepare yourselves …

3. Global: 3 sites (was 11) Regional: 5 nodes (was 9) Coastal: 2 sites (was 6) But … the fewer sites have more infrastructure and sensors...

5. Transformative Technologies & Capabilities (yes, they’re still intact, mostly)  Continuous & plentiful power.  High-bandwidth, real-time, 2-way communication.  Mobile platforms - vertically & horizontally.  Sustained presence in extreme environments.  Sustained presence in contrasting environments.  Sensor networks.

6. Enabled Experimental Paradigms (yes, they’re still intact, mostly)  Continuous, rapid, temporal sampling over long time periods.  Command and control; adaptive sampling.  Event detection and rapid response.  Simultaneous deployment of arrays of multi-disciplinary sensors over long periods of time.  Deployment of power hungry sensors for long time periods.  4-D obs of variables & processes over long periods of time.

7. Courtesy: M. Levine, OSU  Impacts:  vertical nutrient fluxes  stratification maintenance  thermohaline circulation  Many processes contribute.  Action occurs near topography.  Action occurs on small time scales and is highly episodic.  So, need:  sustained observations  temporal & vertical resolution  full-depth profiling  horizontal delineation  gliders; moorings  multiple environments  smooth; hilly; scarps  shallow & deep  adaptive sampling Sub-epipelagic Diapycnal Mixing

8. OOI Funding Opportunities  Only OOI Funds (not individual PI research funds)  $331M for 6-yr build out (average of $55M/yr)  substantial fraction for infrastructure & sensor sub-contracts  $331M for 6-yr build out (average of $55M/yr)  substantial fraction for infrastructure & sensor sub-contracts  $1 Billion for 20-yr O&M ($50M/yr)  substantial fraction for instrument maintenance & data QA/QC, etc.  $1 Billion for 20-yr O&M ($50M/yr)  substantial fraction for instrument maintenance & data QA/QC, etc.

9. SOEST/Ocean/PO Involvement in OOI Infrastructure: Roger Lukas and Bruce Howe - Cabled Mooring w/Profilers

10. SOEST/Ocean/PO Involvement in OOI Infrastructure: Bruce Howe - gliders with acoustic modems 5+ gliders needed at each of 5 C-GSN sites.

11. SOEST/Ocean/PO Involvement in OOI Sensors: Doug Luther - HPIES

12. SOEST Potential Involvement in OOI O&M:  Glider operations  ADCP QA/QC

13. How Should SOEST Prepare?  Glider facility should be nurtured and generate a documented performance record.  To compete for awards for constructing infrastructure, such as gliders, or instruments, ESF needs to be strengthened, with clearly defined and well-regarded operating procedures, and scheduling & cost control.  To bolster claim that we can handle continuous streams of data, providing QA/QC 24/7, the HIOOIS DMAC facility must be fully functional and successful.  Be prepared for cost matching …

15. Caveat Maximus  Contracts are for services, not research.  Data are not proprietary.  Maintaining data streams & facilities 24/7 could be a black hole for researcher time/effort.  While bringing in funds, effort doesn’t necessarily increase SOEST’s prestige.