A five-year National Science Foundation-funded Research Coordination Network (RCN), the “OceanObs” RCN, is currently in its third year. The RCN, through a series of working groups continues to focus on key issues in ocean observations. Two outcomes are highlighted in this presentation. Recommendations for improvements in the joint use of in situ and remote sensing were developed by one of the RCN’s working groups; an exemplar use case considered observation of coastal waters. An RCN supported working group examined the maturity of sensors for ocean biology observations. This presentation reviews the outcomes of these working groups.

1. OCEAN
OBSERVATIONS
RESEARCH
COORDINATION
NETWORK
Insitu-­‐RS
Interfaces
with
focus
on
coastal
observations
H.-­‐P.
Plag,
A.
Williams
3rd,
S.
Simmons,
F.
Chavez,
J.
Pearlman
Blue
Planet
Meeting
May
2015

2. RCN
Motivation
New
technologies
and
approaches
can
vastly
improve
ocean
observations.
Sensors
in
laboratories
can
now
be
adapted
for
in-­‐situ
observations.
Open
Data
and
DOIs,
etc
lead
to
new
innovation
and
culture
change
Foster
a
broad,
multi-­‐disciplinary
dialogue,
enabling
more
effective
and
sustained
use
of
ocean
observing
systems
for
addressing
local,
national
and
global
challenges.
Real
time
interfaces
and
automation
can
change
observation
dynamics

3. RCN
objectives
Community
Capacity
and
interest
Approaches
for
Sustainability
of
Observing
Systems
Promote
Standards
and
Interoperability
Facilitating
Open
Exchange
of
Data
and
Information
Improving
the
flow
of
information
to
users

4. Insitu-­‐RS
Interfaces
Thoughts
on
integrating
future
satellite
measurements
with
future
in
situ
measurements
from
ocean
observing
systems
to
study
ocean/
coastal
processes.
Focus
is
on
coastal
environments
with
a
scenario
of
regions
of
large
river
influx.
Jim
Yoder
WHOI
Curt
Davis
Oregon
State
University
Eric
Delory
Oceanic
Platform
of
the
Canary
Islands
Heidi
Dierssen,
University
of
Connecticut
Paul
DiGiacomo,
NOAA-­‐NESDIS
Amala
Mahadevan,
WHOI
Frank
Muller-­‐Karger,
Univ
of
South
Florida
Dave
Siegel,
University
of
California,
Santa
Barbara
Heidi
Sosik,
WHOI

5. Satellite
Observations
• We
support
a
balanced
system
of
geosynchronous
and
polar
satellites.
As
a
longer
term
objective,
we
also
support
the
development
of
a
constellation
of
small
satellites
covering
all
latitudes
at
high
frequency
(1-­‐3
hours)
– The
PACE
mission
for
global
ocean
color
(PACE
:
Pre-­‐
Aerosol,
Clouds,
and
ocean
Ecosystem)
– GEO-­‐CAPE
provides
“continuous”
information
on
coastal
ocean
– (GEO-­‐CAPE
:
Geostationary
Coastal
and
Air
Pollution
Events)
– The
Hyperspectral
Infrared
Imager
mission

6. In
situ
Observations
• For
the
coastal
ocean,
we
recommend
that
the
new
generation
of
coastal
ARGO
floats
include
bio-­‐optical
sensors
(IOCCG
2011),
-­‐-­‐
transmissometers
(water
clarity),
chlorophyll,
oxygen
and
backscattering
meters
(back-­‐
scattered
solar
spectral
irradiance
to
compare
with
satellite-­‐derived
measurements).
• For
data
compatibility,
instrumentation
should
be
the
same
or
similar
to
that
already
available
on
open
ocean
Argo
floats

7. In
situ
Observations
• Further
use
of
gliders
and
AUVs
for
the
coastal
ocean
• Expand
the
use
of
targets
(i.e.
platforms)
of
opportunity
• New
forms
of
communication
and
sensor
control
– sensor
webs
– interface
standards
such
as
OGC
“PUCK
From O. Schofield

8. Data
Analyses
and
Modeling
• All
coastal
data
(in
situ
and
satellite)
needs
to
be
quality
assured,
and
made
available
in
a
consistent
format
in
near-­‐real
time.
• High-­‐resolution
(<
1
km)
coupled
physical
bio-­‐optical
models
of
the
coastal
ocean
are
essential
for
the
merging
of
these
disparate
data
sets
and
must
be
an
integral
part
of
any
coastal
observing
system
with
format
that
can
be
used
by
other
scientists
and
the
general
public.
Chlorophyll a (mg m-3).
New York Area Aug 11 2006
Courtesy of J. Yoder

9. Thank
you