Letter of Intent
25 January 2007 draft
Target of the letter of intent:
Coastal Services Center
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Department of Commerce
Funding opportunity title and number:
FY 2007 Regional Integrated Ocean Observing System Development
NOS-CSC-2007-2000875
Proposed project title:
Development of the Northeast Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems (NERACOOS): Proof of Concept and Scientifically Based Observing System Design
Principal investigators:
Philip Bogden, Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System (GoMOOS)
Janet Campbell, University of New Hampshire (UNH)
Alfred Hanson, University of Rhode Island (URI)
David Mountain, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
James O’Donnell, University of Connecticut (UConn)
Neal Pettigrew, University of Maine (UMaine)
Brian Rothschild, University of Massachusetts (UMass)
Peter Smith, Bedford Institute of Oceanography (BIO)
John Trowbridge*, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)
*lead principal investigator
Contact information for lead principal investigator:
Center for Ocean, Seafloor and Marine Observing Systems (COSMOS)
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole, MA 02543
508-289-2296 (voice)
508-457-2194 (fax)
Focus area:
Regional coastal ocean observing systems (RCOOS) development
1. Statement of purpose
The proposed purpose is to develop a Northeast Regional Coastal Ocean Observing System by (1) to integrate integrating and expanding existing observational, computational, and data management assets; in the NERACOOS region to demonstrate a proof-of-concept of an end-to-end observing capability; (2) demonstrating the multi-use capabilities of the system in the priority areas of harmful algal blooms (HABs), water quality, living marine resources (LMRs), and inundation; and (3) developing a systems engineering scientifically-based design of the system to develop a scientifically-based design of a Northeast observing system that optimizes the arrangement and operation of both new and existing assets and capabilities; (3) to demonstrate the multi-use capabilities of the system in the priority areas of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), water quality, living marine resources, and inundation. This design will serve as a blueprint for the future, long-term development of the system.
2. Summary of work to be completed
Objective 1 will be achieved through coordination and enhancement of the considerable existing regional infrastructure of the organizations and institutions of the authors, collaborating federal agencies (USCG, NWS, NODC, NMFS, EPA), and the New England States. Objective 1 will be achieved through coordination and enhancement of existing observational, computational, and data management infrastructure. Existing observational assets include GoMOOS, Bowdoin’s Harpswell Sound Buoy, UNH’s Coastal Ocean Observing Center (COOA), UConn’s Long Island Sound Integrated Coastal Observing System (LISICOS), the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC), WHOI’s Martha’s Vineyard Coastal Observatory (MVCO), shipboard surveys conducted by NMFS and COOA/UNH, and ferry-based observations extending from Long Island Sound to the Gulf of Maine. Twenty-two regional groups have formed theThe Gulf of Maine Ocean Data Partnership is working with regional data collection groups to make their data discoverable, accessible and interoperable in accord with DMAC guidelines. Existing computational assets in the region include meteorological, wave, and circulation models. Enhancements of existing infrastructure may will include the addition of biological and chemical sensors on existing platformsto measure HAB species, nutrients, oxygen, carbon dioxide, chlorophyll, pH, and plankton, and relocation of some observation platforms to improve regional coverage.
Objective 2 is to demonstrate representative applications of the enhanced regional system. An important aspect of our proposed system is “multiple use.” Systems focused on HABs, LMRs, water quality, and inundation have both generalized requirements common to all applications and specialized requirements related to each application. Our design will specify the generalized requirements, enabling the most efficient system to meet multiple user needs.
The strategy for objective 2 Objective 3 will be achieved using the principles of systems engineering. A careful analysis of the observational requirements associated with HABs, LMRs, water quality, and inundation will be made.Various alternative mixes of platforms and sensors will be tested in a simulated fluid dynamic / ecosystem setting, and the performance of each alternative will be evaluated using criteria of 1) meeting requirements, 2) costs, and 3) sampling theoretic issues such as statistical bias and variability. This study will provide the critical analysis to design and implement the Northeast system.will consist of observing system simulation experiments (OSSEs), together with use of existing and new observations. The OSSE methodology uses model simulations as representations of reality, which are then subsampled to produce simulated data sets. The simulated data are fed into an analysis scheme which synthesizes a reconstruction of reality, and comparison of the reconstructed field with the original simulation provides a quantitative evaluation of the particular sampling and analysis strategy. This methodology provides a rational basis for selection of measurement sites, sensors, sampling schemes, and computational methods. The resulting design will include fixed and moveable platforms, advanced sensors, modern methods for numerical simulation and data assimilation, and technologies for acquisition, interpretation, and dissemination of data and data products. Iteration of the OSSE methodology will provide a systematic means for evaluation and improvement of models, which provide prediction and interpolation capabilities that are essential components of the observing system.
Objective 3 is to demonstrate representative applications of the enhanced regional system. The duration and cost of the program will be three years at approximately $2 million per year.The duration and cost of this effort will be 3 years at approximately $2 million per year.
3. Description of intended benefits and expected use by the IOOS community
Intended benefits include (1)integration and enhancement of existing assets for operational use; (2) demonstration demonstration of an end-to-end system utilizing these data streams to provide inundation, HAB and water quality analysis products and forecasts for use by government agencies charged with protecting human health and the marine environmentHABs, LMR, water quality, and inundation; and (3) development of a scientifically-based design of an enhanced future system to provide data and products for these purposes and to support stock assessment and fishery management activities by federal and state agencies charged with the stewardship of living marine resourcesthat serves the needs of multiple stakeholders (e.g. cod, lobsters, scallops and right whales).
4. Description of the partnerships to be employed
UConn, UMaine, UMass, UNH, URI, and WHOI and additional rRegional academic institutions will provide scientific expertise and observational and computational assets. GoMOOS will provide observational and data management assets, in addition to established relationships links with regional stakeholders. NMFS will provide fisheries management expertise and experience with fisheries-related observations. Additional Government partners will include USCG, NWS, NODC, EPA, and statethe US Geological Survey, NOAA offices, state governmental agencies, and selected private associations. BIO will provide observational assets and extensive experience in the adjacent Canadian waters. Commercial partnerships will be explored, and .coordination with the adjacent Middle Atlantic Regional Association (MACOORA) will occur through collaboration with UConn. An executive committee drawn from the existing NERACOOS Advisory Committee will finalize teaming arrangements and prioritize the proposed objectives and tasksoversee the proposal development.