Ocean Observing and Forecasting Ocean Observing and Forecasting CompaniesCompanies

Dr Ralph RaynerDr Ralph Rayner

BackgroundBackground

• 25 years in commercial operational 25 years in commercial operational oceanographyoceanography

• Work in the oceanographic business Work in the oceanographic business line of the Fugro Group (earth sciences line of the Fugro Group (earth sciences consultancy – approx 10,000 staff)consultancy – approx 10,000 staff)

• Member of IOC GSC for past 6 yearsMember of IOC GSC for past 6 years

• Member of exec board of MERSEA Member of exec board of MERSEA (GMES)(GMES)

OutlineOutline

• Introduction Introduction

• The role of private companiesThe role of private companies

• Examples of private company Examples of private company products, systems and servicesproducts, systems and services

• The futureThe future

Maury and the Brussels Maury and the Brussels Conference of 1853Conference of 1853

Through the 1853 conference Maury and others Through the 1853 conference Maury and others established the basic principles of successful established the basic principles of successful operational marine meteorology and operational marine meteorology and oceanographyoceanography

• Common standards/formats for data collectionCommon standards/formats for data collection

• Common standards of data quality control and Common standards of data quality control and analysisanalysis

• Free and open exchange of data for public Free and open exchange of data for public goodgood

Role of industryRole of industry

• In Maury’s time there was no significant In Maury’s time there was no significant supporting industry sectorsupporting industry sector

• A thriving marine meteorology industry sector A thriving marine meteorology industry sector only developed after public good marine only developed after public good marine meteorology became establishedmeteorology became established

• For the emerging field of operational For the emerging field of operational oceanography industry capability is developing oceanography industry capability is developing alongside, and in some cases, ahead of public alongside, and in some cases, ahead of public capability capability

• So what are the opportunities for private industry So what are the opportunities for private industry providers as global operational oceanography providers as global operational oceanography becomes a reality through GOOS?becomes a reality through GOOS?

DriversDrivers

• The principal drivers for the development of The principal drivers for the development of GOOS are public good requirementsGOOS are public good requirements

• These range from global issues (such as These range from global issues (such as understanding climate change) to local understanding climate change) to local issues (such as forecasting the fate of oil issues (such as forecasting the fate of oil spills)spills)

• Since Maury’s time these public good drivers Since Maury’s time these public good drivers for understanding and forecasting the for understanding and forecasting the oceans have grown in importanceoceans have grown in importance

• These are the key drivers for public These are the key drivers for public investment in global ocean observations and investment in global ocean observations and forecasting capabilityforecasting capability

Users and customersUsers and customers

• Take care with terminology and especially the Take care with terminology and especially the term ‘user’term ‘user’

• ‘‘Users’ are those that do something with Users’ are those that do something with oceanographic data to give it utilityoceanographic data to give it utility

• ‘‘Customers’ are those that place a value (not Customers’ are those that place a value (not necessarily a cost) on understanding the impact necessarily a cost) on understanding the impact of the ocean environment on their operationsof the ocean environment on their operations– Largest ‘customer’ group by far are governments, they Largest ‘customer’ group by far are governments, they

value this understanding in terms of ‘public goods’value this understanding in terms of ‘public goods’– Secondary customer group is industry, they also use Secondary customer group is industry, they also use

freely available public good data or, where necessary freely available public good data or, where necessary purchase products and information (not data)purchase products and information (not data)

Commercial opportunitiesCommercial opportunities

The development of public observing and The development of public observing and forecasting capability to meet public good forecasting capability to meet public good requirements creates many opportunities requirements creates many opportunities for commercial companiesfor commercial companies

• For provision of components of public For provision of components of public systemssystems

• For provision of special purpose private For provision of special purpose private observing and forecasting systems linked observing and forecasting systems linked to public systems to public systems

• For creation of value added data products For creation of value added data products for sale into niche marketsfor sale into niche markets

The ‘roots’The ‘roots’

• Observing hardwareObserving hardware– Remote sensingRemote sensing– In situ In situ observationsobservations

• Data communications infrastructureData communications infrastructure

• Installation and maintenance Installation and maintenance servicesservices

Sensor technologySensor technology

GOOS is creating demands for new GOOS is creating demands for new sensor technologysensor technology

• Chemical sensorsChemical sensors

• Biological sensorsBiological sensors

• Many research sensors being Many research sensors being commercialised by private commercialised by private companiescompanies

ARGOARGO

Moored instrumentationMoored instrumentation

ParametersParameters– Current speed and Current speed and

directiondirection– Wind speed and directionWind speed and direction– Air and water Air and water

temperaturetemperature– Water salinityWater salinity– CTD profilesCTD profiles– Air pressureAir pressure– Dissolved oxygenDissolved oxygen– Directional wavesDirectional waves– ChlorophyllChlorophyll– HydrocarbonsHydrocarbons

– Gamma radiationGamma radiation– Light attenuationLight attenuation– NutrientsNutrients- (Trace metals)- (Trace metals)

Communication optionsCommunication options– OrbcommOrbcomm– ArgosArgos– Uhf/VhfUhf/Vhf– GprsGprs– GsmGsm– ModemModem– TCP/IP NetworkTCP/IP Network– InmarsatInmarsat

The ‘trunk’The ‘trunk’

• Provision of data management Provision of data management services for commercial customersservices for commercial customers

• Provision of data management Provision of data management services for government agenciesservices for government agencies

• Provision of data assimilation and Provision of data assimilation and model systemsmodel systems

Poseidon systemPoseidon system

AtmosphericModel

HydrodynamicModel

WaveModel

Oil-SpillModel

Near-ShoreWave

Seawatch buoy data

NCEP GlobalForecast

SEAWATCH NUMERCIAL SEAWATCH NUMERCIAL MODELSMODELS

Real-Time - Metocean DataReal-Time - Metocean Data

Real-time Weather

Aviation Operations

Operational Decisions

Improved Safety

Data Collection

Marine Operations

The ‘branches’The ‘branches’

• Some examples of private value Some examples of private value added data products in the Gulf of added data products in the Gulf of MexicoMexico

EddyNetEddyNet

RDI ADCPBlack Box

Survey vessel / drill ship / platform

Ethernet network or

Satellite modem/ISP

Real-time plots Archives

Data-contributor Cash-contributor

Archive purchaser

Server

www.EddyNet.com

Forecaster

Non-EddyNet users

Onshore office

ADAMADAM

• ADAM - ADCP Data Acquisition ADAM - ADCP Data Acquisition ManagerManager

• allows real-time access over the allows real-time access over the Internet to data from ADCP’s Internet to data from ADCP’s operated by Shell in the GoM operated by Shell in the GoM

ADAM - ComponentsADAM - Components

Three components:Three components:

• database, database,

• data loader, and data loader, and

• web-based interface for viewing and web-based interface for viewing and system managementsystem management

ADAM - Spatial DisplayADAM - Spatial Display

ADAM - Times Series ADAM - Times Series DisplayDisplay

ADAM - Profile DisplayADAM - Profile Display

Example Eddy Watch Example Eddy Watch ChartChart

Satellite Data - Sea Surface Satellite Data - Sea Surface HeightHeight

Satellite Data - Geostrophic Satellite Data - Geostrophic Velocity Velocity

Satellite Data - Color and Satellite Data - Color and Geostrophic CurrentGeostrophic Current

Model Results 4 Nov 2003Model Results 4 Nov 2003

SSH 14 Day Forecast and SSH 14 Day Forecast and Actual Actual

16 Jul 200316 Jul 2003

The futureThe future

• Increased role of private companies in all Increased role of private companies in all aspects of public operational aspects of public operational oceanographic systemsoceanographic systems

• Developments of new value added data Developments of new value added data products based on public data resourcesproducts based on public data resources

• Integration of private observing and Integration of private observing and forecasting systems into GOOSforecasting systems into GOOS

• A win win partnership with concerted A win win partnership with concerted advocacyadvocacy