1. Interagency Ocean Observation Committee The Integrated Coastal & Ocean Observing System Act of 2009  Interagency Ocean Observing Committee  Lead Federal Agency (NOAA) and IOOS  Regional Integrated Coordination Entities IOOC Members and Staff  Three Co-chairs (NOAA, NASA, NSF)  17 Federal Agencies  Staff at Ocean Leadership

2. IOOC Responsibilities (there are many!) Identify required observation variables Identify coverage gaps. Prepare long-term and annual plans Obtain an independent cost estimate. Develop an annual coordinated budget. Establish DMAC standards. Develop certification standards for non- federal assets Dec 7, 2011 SST Anomaly (satellite + in-situ) Central role of IOOS Office

3. Recent Committee Activities Blueprint Assessment (completed) US IOOS: Independent Cost Estimate (underway) Certification Criteria (call for comments) Stakeholder Engagement IOOS/IOOC Town Hall meetings Contact us: iooc@oceanleadership.org Mean flux of carbon

4. Global Ocean Observing System ~8000 Platforms, NOAA contributes about half of the in-situ system 13+ systems (Argo, tide gauges, moored buoys, drifting buoys…) ~100 countries coordinating observing efforts Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS)

5. Trend & Variability of Global Upper Ocean Heat Content Why it matters Necessary to close the planetary energy balance Determine what fraction of heat trapped by greenhouse forcing is sequestered in the ocean Warming of the ocean is a major contributor to global sea level rise Johnson et al, Ocean Heat Content, Global Oceans Chapter, BAMS State of the Climate, 2010 New Challenges Observing deeper in the oceans (current Argo design is limited to 2000m) Knitting together changes of the global and coastal oceans

6. Right These Dynamic Sea level changes are associated with changes in the mean current structure Top Average dynamic sea level anomaly averaged over 12 IPCC models Ongoing Challenge Improve observing global ocean circulation (e.g. AMOC) and its impacts

7. Last Thoughts Numerous ocean observing assets and systems – many addressing specific needs and challenges Importance of integrating ocean observing systems – required to address many societal needs (e.g. sea level rise, oceans role in climate, marine ecosystems, etc) Partnerships are critical – Global ocean observing system would not be possible without support of many nations