Mid-Atlantic Coastal Mid-Atlantic Coastal Observing Regional Observing Regional

Association: Association: A Federation of Subregional SystemsA Federation of Subregional Systems

W. C. BoicourtW. C. Boicourt

University of Maryland University of Maryland

Center for Environmental ScienceCenter for Environmental Science

Where do we stand? Where do we stand?

I. What are Regional Associations?

II. MACOORA: an Abbreviated History

III. Assets

IV. Expectations

V. Pathways Ahead

IOOS Coastal ComponentIOOS Coastal Component • Operated by Federal Agencies

• EEZ & Great Lakes • Core variables

required by regions• Networks

sentinel stations reference stations

• Standards/Protocols QAQC, DMAC Products

• Regional Associations Design Operate

• Involve private sectors, NGOs, State Agencies

Design, Operate Use Evaluate

• Incorporate Subregional systems Elements thereof

• Enhance the Backbone based on User Needs

Regional COOS’s

National Backbone

People

Existing ObservingAssets

Proto NEOS – 1999 Solomons, MD Workshop Classic NEOS – 2000-2002

NEOS Revival – 2003 Maryland & New Hampshire Workshops Response to Ocean.US & NOAA requests

MARA – MACOORA 2004

MACOORA Pre-History: The North East Observing System (NEOS)

Operational Observation Networks for Ports, A Large Estuary and an Open Shelf – PORTS – Physical Oceanographic Real Time System CBOS – Chesapeake Bay Observing System LEO – Longterm Ecosystem Observatory

Challenges and Promise of Designing and Implementing an Ocean Observing System for U.S. Coastal Waters

Solomons, Maryland

Glenn et al., 2000

Proto NEOS – 1999 Solomons, MD Workshop Classic NEOS – 2000-2002

NEOS Revival – 2003 Maryland & New Hampshire Workshops Response to Ocean.US & NOAA requests

MARA – MACOORA 2004

MACOORA Pre-History: The North East Observing System (NEOS)

User-DrivenUser-Driven

USERS

OS

Early OS’s from the Outside WorldEarly OS’s from the Outside World

Science-crazed, jargon-talking, condescending, sneering, sniveling, and ultimately unreliable Academics

USERS

Regional AssumptionsRegional Assumptions• MACOORA will oversee Evolution and

Operation of Regional Observing System—MARCOOS

• Operational; 24/7• Federal and Regional Support will be handled

through RA • User Engagement Essential for Sustainability• Diversity Necessary at both User and Provider

ends of Spectrum• Transition from Research-Driven Systems

Regional Associations: Regional Associations: CRITERIACRITERIA(formulated from the community via Ocean.US leadership)(formulated from the community via Ocean.US leadership)

• Formalized partnerships have been established within a region.

• Provision of an acceptable business plan • Expected economic impacts• Capable of routine, sustained, 24-hour-a-

day operations• Data and information management• Free and open access to the data

collected; and• Adhere to standards and protocols

MACOORA Subregional ComponentsMACOORA Subregional Components

Additional Challenges for Additional Challenges for MACOORAMACOORA

• 9 States

• How to integrate Subregionals while preserving their autonomy?

• Region not Replete with Earmarked Systems (Subregional or Regional)

MACOORA AssetsMACOORA Assets• Regional Association Designation• People→Users• 9 Coastal States

– Water Quality– Emergency Management—Storm Surges, Waves,..– Coastal Zone Management

• Major Estuaries, Ports, and Harbors, most with developing PORTS systems—part of Federal Backbone

• Industries—– Navigation– Fisheries– Energy Production– Marine Recreation– ….

Assets, cont’dAssets, cont’d

• Subregional Systems in place, most not earmarked

• NOPP Experience

• Education—Outreach—Sea Grants, COSEE, NERRs

• NEOS Heritage—Structure, Cooperation

• HF Radar Network

Next StepsNext Steps• Set Out on Road to Certification• Organization/Governance Structure—set up Working

Group• Business Plan, Economic Impact, Working Group?• Federation of Subregionals—Coordinate Subregional

Meetings • Initiate Data Management and Collection Operations • Develop Priorities and Communicate to

Implementation Plan Development

Next Steps, cont’dNext Steps, cont’d• Coordinate with other RA’s through

NFRA

• Acquire an Executive Officer

• Pilot Project

• Users—Community Support

• PLENARY MACOORA MEETING MAY 2005

Organization/GovernanceOrganization/Governance

MACOORA and Subregionals:MACOORA and Subregionals:the new Federalism?the new Federalism?

• Articles of Confederation

• 5 Subregionals

• 9 States

• Hierarchy of User Scales

• Mutually Beneficial Structure: Both face similar challenges in attempt to develop user base and through this, a sustainable, operational observing system

Organization/GovernanceOrganization/Governance

Community Model

Hydrodynamics—ROMS/TOMS

Li and Zhong

The WiredThe Wired Watershed Watershed

• USGS• NEON• CLEANER• CUASI• LTER• SERC

CBOS AssetsCBOS Assets

Field ResearchFacility

The Outer Banks of North Carolina

Cape Hatteras

Wallops Coastal OceanObservation Lab

WA-COOLUSACE FRF

CBOS AssetsCBOS Assets• People→Users• Coastal States, Watershed States, D.C.

– Water Quality– Emergency Management—Storm Surges, Waves,..– Coastal Zone Management

• Major Estuarine System, Ports, and Harbors• Industries—

– Navigation– Fisheries– Marine Recreation– Energy Production– ….

CBOS Next StepsCBOS Next Steps

• RA Mandate—Governance and Structure• User Involvement of Paramount Importance• MARA Meeting Spring 2005• IOOS in 2005 Budget • Pilot Project—Waves, Winds, and O2

– Data Management and Interoperability– Product Development

• Watershed

CBOS Buoy Mark IIICBOS Buoy Mark III

CBOS Goals at the Outset

Research Forecasts and Warnings Long-Term Ecosystem Change

Change Detection Models Indices of Ecosystem Health

Education

REGIONALREGIONALSUPPORT TEAMSSUPPORT TEAMS

Drawn fromGAIN Partners

Program ManagementData Management

Satellite DataHF Radar Data

Coastal MeteorologyNowcasting & Forecasting

Product Generation & Distribution

SUB-REGIONALSUB-REGIONALOBSERVATORIESOBSERVATORIES

GAIN PartnersObserving Systems

GoMOOSMVOC

Narragansett PORTSNJSOSNYHOS

NY-PORTSDelaware PORTS

DBOSCBOS

CB-PORTSWA-COOLFRF-Duck

NC-SEACOOS

CROSS-CUTTINGCROSS-CUTTINGWORKING WORKING GROUPSGROUPS

GAIN Partners

Science GroupsTechnology Groups

ProductsApplications

Data Management ModelingEducationOutreachMarketing

Economic ImpactLegal

NEOS  (ne' os)  n. [fr. Greek neos: new]:1. In a new, different, or modified way. 2. A GAIN Partnership-driven Coastal Collaboratory for the Northeast U.S.

NEOS : The North East Observing SystemNEOS : The North East Observing System Operational GroupsOperational Groups

PARTNERSPARTNERSADVISORYADVISORY

BOARDBOARD

REGIONALREGIONALFUNDINGFUNDINGSOURCESSOURCES

REGIONALREGIONALSUPPORT SUPPORT

TEAMSTEAMS

SUB-REGIONALSUB-REGIONALOBSERVATORIEOBSERVATORIE

SS

CROSS CROSS CUTTINGCUTTINGWORKING WORKING GROUPSGROUPS

LOCALLOCALFUNDINGFUNDINGSOURCESSOURCES

NEOS NEOS OPERATIONALOPERATIONAL

BOARDBOARD

SCIENCESCIENCEADVISORYADVISORY

BOARDBOARD

RESEARCRESEARCHH

FUNDINGFUNDINGAGENCIESAGENCIES

GENERALGENERALPUBLICPUBLIC

Roles and Responsibilities: BLUE = Innovation & Implementation

RED = Advice & AccountabilityGREEN = Feedback & Funding

NEOS  (ne' os)  n. [fr. Greek neos: new]:1. In a new, different, or modified way. 2. A GAIN Partnership-driven Coastal Collaboratory for the Northeast U.S.

NEOS : The North East Observing SystemNEOS : The North East Observing SystemRooted in Science, Conducted in Partnership, Delivered through InnovationRooted in Science, Conducted in Partnership, Delivered through Innovation

GAIN Partners:GovernmentAcademic IndustryNon-Profit

Advantages:

Assumptions, cont’dAssumptions, cont’d

• Transition from Research-Driven Systems

• New Partnerships