Enabling Ocean Research in the 21st Century Implementation of a Network of Ocean Observatories (2003) / Chapter Skim
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1 Introduction
1 Introduction
Pages 13-27
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From page 13... ...
Oceanographers have learned that the oceans circulate vast quantities of heat that control our weather and climate. Sediments formed from organisms living in ocean surface waters are now known to contain an invaluable record of past climate change and to help regulate the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
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From page 14... ...
151) Ocean-observing systems would enable Earth and ocean scientists to study ocean processes over timescales ranging from seconds to decades and spatial scales from millimeters to thousands of kilometers.
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From page 15... ...
. These scientific problems include: · determining the role of the ocean in climate change; · quantifying the exchange of heat, water, momentum and gases between the ocean and atmosphere; · determining the cycling of carbon in the oceans and the role of the oceans in moderating the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide; lion; · improving models of ocean mixing and large-scale ocean circula· understanding the patterns and controls on biological diversity in the oceans; · determining the origin, development and impact of episodic coastal events such as harmful algal blooms; · assessing the health of the coastal ocean; · determining the nature and extent of microbial life in the deep crustal biosphere; · studying subduction zone thrust faults that may result in large, tsunami-generating earthquakes; and · improving models of global earth structure and core-mantle dynamics.
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From page 16... ...
The initiative also includes project management, data dissemination and archiving, and education and outreach components essential to the long-term success of ocean observatory science. A fully operational research observatory system would be expected to meet most of the following goals: · continuous observations at time scales of seconds to decades, · spatial measurements from millimeters to kilometers, · sustained operations during storms and other severe conditions, · real-time or near-real-time data as appropriate, · two-way transmission of data and remote instrument control, · power delivery to sensors between the sea surface and the seafloor, · standard Plug-n-Play sensor interface protocols,
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From page 17... ...
Relocatable moorings will be used to study Earth and ocean processes where they are most active, such as across major ocean current systems, in regions of high biological productivity, or along volcanically and seismically active geological plate boundaries. Regional-Scale Cabled Observatory The second element of the OOI is a cabled observatory that will provide the first comprehensive set of long-term measurements of geological
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From page 18... ...
This observatory system would use electrical/fiber-optic cables to provide unprecedented levels of electrical power and real-time two-way communication between a shore station and instrumented seafloor nodes, allowing for real-time and interactive investigation of physical, chemical, and biological processes occurring over many scales of space and time (Figure 1-1~. A variety of measurement systems have been proposed for the seafloor nodes, including: (1)
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From page 19... ...
Such research will improve predictions of harmful algal blooms or storm-related coastal erosion, improve the accuracy of regional coastal models and forecasts, and assess the magnitude and quality of anthropogenic effects on the coastal ocean. A variety of methods will be employed to gather data in the coastal region, including moored buoys, cables, surface radars, AUVs, airborne sensors, and ships (Plate 3~.
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From page 20... ...
The total five-year construction costs for the OOI are budgeted at $208 million, beginning in FY2006. Maintenance and operation of the observatory infrastructure acquired through the OOI MREFC will be supported by the NSF's Ocean Sciences Division Research & Related Activities account.
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From page 21... ...
and the other tasked to address coastal observatories (the Coastal Ocean Processes [CoOP] Observatory Science Workshop)
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From page 22... ...
DEOS has coordinated its planning efforts with the Time-series Science Team of the Ocean Observing Panel for Climate (OOPC) and the NEPTUNE group, the latter has proposed a plate-scale cabled observatory in the Northeast Pacific on the fuan de Fuca plate.
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From page 23... ...
FIGURE l-1 One component ofthe Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOl) is a global network of~15-20 moored buoys linker!
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From page 24... ...
Timeseries stations at select sites are seen as a key element of in situ observations of the global ocean, providing continuous data at select sites to complement the Argo floats, remote satellite sensing of sea surface properties, and essential reference information on the relatively slowly changing properties of the deeper ocean. The GEO time-series program is an essential component of both the international Climate Variability and Predictability Programme (CLIVAR)
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From page 25... ...
Coastal Ocean Processes and Observatory Science Workshop The CoOP Observatory Science Workshop was convened in May 2002 to provide focus and direction for the development of the coastal observatory component of the OOI. In particular, the more than 60 participants were charged with identifying research topics that can best be studied using coastal observing systems, current capabilities critical to those research topics, and areas for coastal observatory development that would provide the greatest benefit to coastal research.
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From page 26... ...
fleet and current submersibles and ROV/AUV assets in the research community; and · examine the potential role of NSF's research-based observatory network within the IOOS and other international efforts being developed and implemented primarily for operational purposes. In arriving at its findings and recommendations the study committee was to consider recent reports that outline ocean science research priorities, existing observatory strategies and implementation plans, and input from the ocean research community.
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From page 27... ...
Chapter 5 discusses related facility needs for an ocean observatory network such as ships and deep-submergence assets, as well as the role of industry in providing facilities or services for the observatory program. Chapter 6 explores the relationship of NSF's OOI to the IOOS and other national and international ocean-observing systems.
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