alaska ocean observing...

Molly McCammon Alaska Ocean Observing System

October 15, 2012

Marine Operations Safe a& efficient shipping & recreational boating, search & rescue, spill response & offshore energy

development • Weather & sea state conditions for mariners • Improved wind & ocean current nowcasts/foercasts • Improved sea ice extent & trajectory nowcasts/forecasts • Real time surface currents for Coast Guard SAR operations • Improved communications of vessel location & weather & sea state • Real time surface currents for oil spill trajectories • Ocean circulation models & forecasts • Atmospheric & oceanographic info • Integrated physical/chemical/biological data for response planning

Coastal Hazards Hazard & disaster info • Improved extreme weather event forecasts • Increased water level observations & inundation forecasts • Increased wave observations • Improved sea ice extent, trajectory forecasts

Ecosystems & Climate Trends Seasonal, inter-annual & long-term change • Biological, chemical & physical parameter trends over time • Habitat change • Sea level rise • Ocean acidification

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NASA Modis satellite image

Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas - Direct exchange between the Pacific and Arctic-Atlantic Seasonally ice covered, high biological productivity Key climate regulator on short and long time scales 3

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Primary funding sources in Arctic National Science Foundation* BOEM(RE), former MMS* Industry: Shell, CP, Statoil, BP* Other federal agencies: USGS, NOAA, EPA, USFWS State agencies: ADF&G, ADEC North Pacific Research Board Other (e.g., North Slope Borough, AOOS, NGOs)

Federal research commitment to Arctic: estimated at

$400m/year (includes satellites) 5

Primary coordination/collaboration entities…many w/stakeholder advice

North Slope Science Initiative Alaska Ocean Observing System North Pacific Research Board US Arctic Research Commission/Interagency Arctic Research and

Policy Committee (IARPC) DOI LCCs, DOI Climate Center, NOAA Climate Service AK Climate Change Executive Roundtable ACCAP Co-management groups: whaling, walrus, beluga North Pacific Fishery Management Council Alaska Arctic Policy Commission (new) AK Marine Ecosystem Forum (active?) NSF’s ARCUS ARCTIC COUNCIL

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BOEM 2007-2012, about $10-15m a year:

$60-75m Studies focus on info needed to

assess potential environmental problems w/O&G activities Ocean circulation, baseline

chemistry, physics & biology, habitat, fate & effects of oil, protected species, subsistence

Identified need for more synthesis: physics & marine mammal synthesis underway

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Industry

Offshore work: primarily Shell, ConocoPhillips, & Statoil, some BP

$20-40m a year, including ship time Joint environmental studies in Chukchi Individual companies: weather buoys & sea ice SAR

images: to aid research & exploration vessels Shell: $4-5m/yr to NSB for science studies Joint Industry Program (JIP): industry cooperative to

fund studies important to entire international industry (cleanup of oil in ice)

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North Pacific Research Board 2007-2012: $52m joint study in Bering Sea w/NSF FY 11: $400k in data rescue, Arctic cod, algal toxins in

marine mammals FY 12 RFP: $400k for specific work in Arctic cod, fish, fish

habitat, lower trophic levels & primary production, walrus, belugas & ice seals; additional $400k to non-specific Arctic

FY 12 RFP w/NSF: $1.5m for synthesis & gap analysis (industry funded)

Product will help inform joint NPRB/NSF/plus others major integrated research program beginning 2014

NPRB Arctic funding commitment planned: $3m min (plus staff time)

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US Arctic Observing Coordination Mtg, March 2012: meet mgmt needs

Sea Ice Forecasting Workshops NPRB/NSF synthesis & proposed

ecosystem studies Sikuliaq launch 2013-14 Coast Guard study of Bering Strait NOAA Arctic Vision & Strategy AK Sea Grant workshop in Bering Strait, spring 2013 Natl Ocean Policy: Arctic Strategic

Action Plan DOI/UASARC: Arctic portal & integrated mgmt NRC Study on Arctic oil spills

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Arctic Information: a mix of players

3 major data portals: NSSI, AOOS & ACADIS

AOOS Arctic Assets Map

Where do you go?

Geographic Information Network of Alaska: GINA Support for North Slope Science Initiative

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Arctic Observing Network: ACADIS

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Ocean.data.gov

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Marine Cadastre: BOEM support

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Arctic ERMA

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USARC Arctic Data Portal

?

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AOOS Ocean Portal Linking AOOS data applications

View multiple types of data on one interface

Sensors Models Remote Sensing GIS & project data In-situ observations

View available time ranges for each layer Download data sets simultaneously Follow links to data sources Data management for integrated research

projects Coastal marine spatial planning tools Public access to industry data

Arctic Research Assets Map Used for research planning. • Reduce duplication of effort • Identify gaps • Avoid collisions • Opportunities for collaboration • Holistic view of research effort • Includes ship & aircraft tracks

• Have added studies; now expanding to western AK and then statewide

Over 3,000 sensors

Air temp Barometric Pressure Currents Water level Ground temp Precipitation Humidity Salinity Snow depth Stream flow Stream height Tides Water temp Web cams Weather Wind More….

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Useful Parameters Air Temp Currents Dew point Ground Temp Precipitation Relative Humidity Salinity Sea Ice Snow Depth Snow Water Equivalent Water Level (tides) Water Temperature Waves Wind

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Ocean Portal: Cook Inlet Demonstration

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STAMP Project Spatial Tools for Arctic Mapping & Planning

Strong state support for data integration Focus on identifying needs for data layers for decision support: human uses, 20 year climate scenarios, environmental (physical, biological, chemical) What info do stakeholders need to plan for potential commercial fisheries in Arctic? What tools do decision- makers need? Scenarios? Cumulative impacts? 1.5 year, $760k No Bering & Chukchi Seas Partners: AOOS, UA, TNC

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STAMP: Sea Ice Concentration (Daily Snapshot 1978-Current)

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Industry/NOAA Data Sharing MOA

Signed in August by NOAA & 3 companies: Shell, Statoil & ConocoPhillips

Umbrella agreement committing industry to sharing data with government and public

1st priority: Annex #1, met ocean data in real-time to assist weather forecasting & sea ice images for forecasting – now signed

2nd priority: Annex #2, historic met-ocean data and non-real time environmental studies data, sign in Nov.

3rd priority: Annex #3, hydrographic & bathymetry surveys for charting, habitat mapping

AOOS Data Portal: public access to industry data NOAA data centers: archives and access

~1.0 Sv mean transport through Bering Strait

Exchange with the Arctic proper is not well known. Schematic advection pathways, but details are largely missing

Study area

IOOS-AOOS Glider survey line

Observations: 5 year physical oceanography study: Scientific Mission

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2010-2011 Glider tracks, mooring array and HF radar coverage

HFR

HFR

HFR

AUV operations in 2010 and 2011 using 3 Webb Slocum gliders performing > 6000 km of track length, collecting >20,000 CTD profiles. Also equipped with Wetlabs three-channel “Eco Pucks” for sampling hydrocarbon/CDOM and chlorophyll. Longest single mission duration 2.5 months using lithium batteries. Small 30’ fast local landing vessel for deployments and recoveries. 2012: HF radar units are operational. AUV glider, drifter and mooring deployments will start in mid August.

Webb Slocum G2 glider after a 2.5 month mission

Deploying gliders of the 32’ vessel “Tukpuk”

Remote Power Module (RPM) Fully-automated, solar and wind hybrid station provides power to HF radars, AIS and ship tracking. Designed to operate in arctic and sub-arctic maritime environments.

CODAR HF Radar Hourly 2-D current vectors over ~160 km offshore. Operate 5 units 2009-2012 in remote Arctic Alaskan villages (Barrow, Wainwright and Point Lay) from June to October.

Divergent mode Continuous (reversed) mode

Two main circulation modes: Four-day average HF radar surface current vectors

Vessel Traffic Identified by

AIS 32

Simulated HF Radar Derived Ship Detections Range, Range Rate and Bearing

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Disseminating Weather Info over AIS

Current Situation • Most vessels in AK receive real time weather data over VHF radio but coverage is limited and inefficient. • AK has an existing network of 80+ AIS receiving stations. • Many vessels have AIS transceivers already connected to this network. AOOS Plan: •Develop pilot program (Homer & Juneau) to enhance existing AIS receiving stations to collect and broadcast real-time weather conditions and forecasts. • Allow captains to see real-time ocean conditions on their AIS screens. • Incrementally expand the number of AIS broadcast/WX stations.

Future direction: Establish repeat glider transects onshelf and shelfbreak-to-deep Arctic Develop under-ice AUV capabilities – Coastal glider and MBARI Tethys Extend HF radar network to cover the Arctic Alaska coastline

Intense surveys

Mooring lines

Glider lines

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Success Stories – Making a Difference Optimizing HF Radar for SAR using USCG Surface Drifters

Art Allen U.S. Coast Guard Scott Glenn Rutgers University Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System 36

5000 Virtual Drifters – 24 Hours Into Search

HYCOM

Low Confidence

CODAR

High Confidence

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5000 Virtual Drifters – 48 Hours Into Search

HYCOM

Low Confidence

CODAR

High Confidence

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5000 Virtual Drifters – 72 Hours Into Search

HYCOM

Low Confidence

CODAR

High Confidence

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5000 Virtual Drifters – 96 Hours Into Search

HYCOM

Low Confidence

CODAR

High Confidence

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5000 Virtual Drifters – Search Area After 96 Hours

HYCOM

36,000 km2

CODAR

12,000 km2

232 km

154 km

123 km

100 km

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MARACOOS CODAR deemed Operational in SAROPS Present Activity: Bring all sustained regional-scale HFR networks up to operational status in USCG SAROPS 3 West Coast Regions for California & Oregon are ready.

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• Need to coordinate & integrate the Arctic data portals • Need to develop clear operational needs for Arctic observations • Need to learn from Deepwater Horizon: need for sub-surface monitoring is just as critical as surface

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Acknowledgements:

Axiom Consulting & Design, and many, many other partners on the federal, state, regional, and local level

www.aoos.org

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