tara / cop21 paris, dec. 2015 global ocean observing system & argo mathieu belbéoch argo...

TARA / COP21 Paris, Dec. 2015

Global Ocean Observing System& Argo

Mathieu BelbéochArgo Technical Coordinator

JCOMMOPS Head

[email protected]@jcommops.org

https://twitter.com/jcommops




The Ocean

• The (ocean) planet is in age of increasing human impact and vulnerability.

• « The sustainability of the planet depends on the health of the ocean » I. Bokova UNESCO DG


Ocean Observations?

• CO2 …• Heat content, sea ice, sea level• Acidification, deoxygenation• Resources over-exploitation• Nutrients, sound, plastics• Climate extremes• Natural/non natural hazards• Ecosystems health


Ocean Observations?

• ¾ of human population lives in the coastal zone …

• 60% of our proteins is produced by the ocean• 60% of our oxygen is produced by the ocean• 90 % of commercial transits via the ocean• Ocean heat/carbon store

• Ocean is at the heart of climate machine


Ocean Observations?

• Predict the impact of global/local changes on coastal communitiesand nations

• Improve safety and efficiency of maritime operations• Mitigate effects of hazards• Guide international action and optimize government’s policies• Shape economic strategies• Enable sustained used of ocean resources• Reduce public health risks, protect ecosystems

• Prepare high quality and multi-disciplinary datasets for use by future generations

• Healthy ocean = healthy blue economy


History

• British survey 1872-1876: Challenger


History• 60s: electronic, miniaturisation, … instrumentation

• Before the 80s, most of ocean observations were made via research vessels (specific regional campaigns, expensive, seasonal bias, data sequestrated)

• Advent of satellite measurements and in-situ moored/floating instruments led to enormous improvements in our understanding of the ocean

• Socioeconomic benefits of global ocean observations were formally recognized in 1990 (GOOS establishment)

• The joint IOC-WMO commission for oceanography and marine meteorology was then established in 1999 (JCOMM)

www.ioc-goos.org

www.jcomm.info


Ocean Observations?

• In-situ• Satellites

• Operational forecasting systems– Weather– « Ocean weather »

• Large range of global/regional ocean analysis, including climate science and ecosystems health


Ocean Observations


Ocean Observations

• Global observing programmes are funded and implemented nationally

• International and technical coordination is required between all actors

• IOC/UNESCO, WMO, JCOMM, GOOS …. JCOMMOPS:– coordination mecanism, developing standard procedures,

best practices for fully integrated marine observing, data management, and services system


JCOMMOPS• IOC/WMO Operational Centre (Brest/France) • international/intergovernmental context, transparency• Monitor (10 000 units), coordinate and harmonize practices of sustained

international ocean observing programmes• Measure the performance vs objectives


www.jcommops.org

• Re - opening early 2016• Currently under review


Argo revolution

• Unprecedented international cooperation in history of oceanography

• Free and unrestricted data access• ~4000 autonomous robots monitor the ocean in real-time


Profiling Floats

• TEMPERATURE, SALINITY, PRESSURE (2000m)• Subsurface currents• Biogeochemical sensors (oxygen, chlorophyl,

nitrates, pH, etc)• Others: acoustic listeners, cameras ..

• Operates 5-10 years, 15k$ / base unit• 1st float in 1999, initial design achieved in 2007• 120 000 profiles/year (1 million achieved in 2012)


Float Cycle


Argo’s future (6000 units ?)

• Global (space/regional, full depth)• Multidisciplinary (Essential Ocean/Climate Variables)

3000 +1000

+1000+1000


Argo Contributions30 Participating countries


Argo ContributionsKey contributors decreasing or flat (below inflation) funding


Argo applications

• Ocean research: circulation/storage heat, climate, rainfall/drought patterns,variability

• Operational oceanography (with satellite data), climate prediction: seasons, years, decades

• ideal vector for education and outreach


Argo

• Argo makes visible large-scale ocean and climate features and processes that were once hidden to scientists.

• The network has enabled new revelations about ocean dynamics that are helping society understand and forecast global climate.

• It will continue to take the pulses of the ocean for many decades


Argo

• Argo allows the progress of planetary warming to be tracked in unprecedented accuracy and in near realtime, due to thefact that most of the extra heat trapped by Greenhouse gases on Earth is absorbed into the global ocean (90%).

• Argo network will start soondegrading !!!


Deployments

• Challenge: 1000 units / year ( +1000 surface drifters)


Civil Society

• Develop international cooperation

• Developing partnerships and sponsoring with civil society is essential:– Sailing (exploration, races, NGOs)– Industry– Blue economy

• Develop outreach (future generations)


Conclusion

• GOOS System is not achieved (60%) and vulnerable

• Completion and multidisciplinary evolution seems unachievable …

• In-situ ocean observations are crucial, but far away from societal applications

• In-situ observations are cheap vs the outcomes– Argo = 25 M$ / year …


Conclusion

Governing is observing …

CALL to UNFCC Member States:Raise national contributions to help Argo become truly global and multidisciplinaryand help sustain the other in-situ elements of the GOOS, and facilitate access to Maritime Zones under their sovereignty


Thank you

B. Stamm Barcelona World Race 2014-2015

tara / cop21 paris, dec. 2015 global ocean observing system & argo mathieu belbéoch argo...

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