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3 International Frameworks for the In Situ Ocean Observing System
Pages 59-76

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From page 59...
... This chapter describes the international frameworks for developing observing requirements, long-term coordination, data sharing, and capacity building. The committee also points out international opportunities and challenges for sustaining the in situ ocean observing system.
From page 60...
... The plan also addresses gaps and areas of improvement that had hindered progress toward about a quarter of GCOS's goals, including those related to shortfalls in deployment and maintenance of some in situ ocean observing platforms and slow progress toward increased involvement
From page 61...
... GOOS was developed to meet research and operational requirements for sustained ocean observations, both in situ and remote. GOOS coordinates observations around the global ocean for three critical themes: climate, ocean health, and real-time services (e.g., ocean hazard early warnings or weather forecasting)
From page 62...
... provides observing implementation support and monitoring capabilities for a large cross section of the in situ ocean network. Through these functionalities, JCOMM is an important element in sustaining the observing system.
From page 63...
... Climate Program Office took steps to support key elements presented at OceanObs'99, including the Argo floats, the surface drifters, the moored time-series sites, and the repeat hydrographic cruises. It thus formalized for the first time its approach to contributing to GOOS.
From page 64...
... At present, the physical EOVs important for climate identified by the OOPC are sea state, ocean surface stress, sea ice, sea surface height, sea surface temperature, subsurface temperature, surface currents, subsurface currents, sea surface salinity, subsurface salinity, and ocean surface heat flux. All but the last are considered to be obtainable by technically mature methods, while ocean surface heat flux is judged be in a pilot stage of technical readiness.
From page 65...
... For each of the EOVs, detailed specification documents have been developed by the expert panels, which outline the necessary observing platforms and sampling requirements to sufficiently measure each variable. Each variable is defined in detail in a "Variable Information" table which identifies the subvariables and derived variables TABLE 3.2  Priority Variables for Ocean Observations for Climate Budget Metric Relevant Essential Ocean Variable Heat Ocean heat content Sea surface temperature Budget Subsurface temperature Air-sea heat exchange Ocean surface heat flux Heat transport by ocean currents Surface currents Subsurface currents Subsurface temperature Ocean surface stress Mixing (temperature)
From page 66...
... Sea-Level Sea surface height Sea surface height Change Ocean heat content Sea surface temperature Subsurface temperature Heat transport by ocean current Surface currents Subsurface currents Salinity (from melting land ice) Sea surface salinity Subsurface salinity NOTE: The table compares the budget components identified by the committee to those identified (and terminology used)
From page 67...
... For example, the EOV sea surface temperature (SST) ,1 is associated with measuring coastal shelf exchange processes, air-sea fluxes, fronts and eddies, and upwelling, and the sampling requirements for each of these calls for varying spatial resolutions ranging from 1 to 100 km, and temporal resolutions ranging from hourly to weekly.
From page 68...
... Moving forward, the ocean science community will advance additional variables, make the case for maturing sampling specifications and observational methods. The Framework for Ocean Observing and the identification of EOVs under GOOS pinpoint and characterize the ocean observations most critical to understanding future changes in Earth's climate.
From page 69...
... for sustained ocean observations and provide a solid foundation for selecting and prioritizing ocean variables for sustained observing. GOOS provides the framework under which nations can plan and prioritize their ocean observing activities.
From page 70...
... . The international GO-SHIP structure remains organizationally loose in that it is not governed by formal agreements, but the contributing nations, each of which has and maintains very highly accurate and comprehensive ocean observations, finds a way to fund and carry out its work.
From page 71...
... Recognizing the need for developing near-real-time ocean analysis and forecasting capabilities as practiced by the numerical weather prediction community, the international Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment (GODAE) was launched in 1998 as a 10-year effort (Smith and Lefebvre, 1997; Bell et al., 2009)
From page 72...
... Open access to data and the requirement that investigators submit data within a reasonable period after collection ensure that the scientific community has timely access to the entire data stream. Near-real-time data distribution, championed under WOCE, has developed new stakeholders for in situ ocean data such as those involved in the calibration and validation of satellite data, data assimilation into numerical circulation models, and other operational oceanographic pursuits.
From page 73...
... The global distribution of real-time and delayed-mode ocean data is currently limited. There are a few global ocean data centers and a large number of regional ones; many coastal states are mandated to have national data centers.
From page 74...
... The first of these, Resolution XX-6 (IOC, 1999) , noted and supported the use of Argo float data in global ocean data assimilation models and required that "concerned coastal states must be informed in advance, through appropriate channels, of all deployments of profiling floats which might drift into waters under their jurisdiction, indicating the exact locations of such deployments." The JCOMMOPS Argo Information Center (AIC)
From page 75...
... could become a more impactful and fully scientifically vetted product akin to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Recommendations have been made by the science ministers of the G7 in support of the development of a global initiative to sustain and enhance ocean observing and the development of a global assessment through the UN to inform sustainable management strategies.2 The most recent addition to the international agreements that foster and depend on global ocean observations and information are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
From page 76...
... One example of the type of programs that have been effective in supporting capacity building for ocean observing is the Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans (POGO)


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