Linking Ocean Observing Tools and Capabilities to. Debra Hernandez SECOORA Executive Director

Transcription

1 Linking Ocean Observing Tools and Capabilities to Offshore Energy Data Needs Debra Hernandez SECOORA Executive Director

2 Presentation Outline Background on ICOOS Act of 2009 IOOS and NFRA Who and what is SECOORA? Priorities/Themes iti Case Study: NC Coastal Wind Study Data Management Framework BioHab Prototype CMSP Efforts in other Regions

3 INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN OBSERVATION SYSTEM ACT OF 2009 Subtitle C of HR 146 Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 SEC PURPOSES. The purposes of this subtitle are to-- (1) establish a national integrated System of ocean, coastal, observing systems, comprised of Federal and non-federal components coordinated at the regional level by a network of regional information coordination entities, and that includes in situ, remote, and other coastal and ocean observation, technologies, and data management and communication systems, and is designed to address regional and national needs for ocean information, to gather specific data on key coastal, ocean, and to ensure timely and sustained dissemination and availability of these data to

4 SEC PURPOSES. The purposes of this subtitle are to-- (A) support national defense, marine commerce, navigation safety, weather, climate, and marine forecasting, energy siting and production, economic development, ecosystem-based marine, coastal, resource management, public safety, and public outreach training and education; (B) promote greater public awareness and stewardship of the Nation's ocean, coastal resources; and (C) enable advances in scientific understanding to support the sustainable use, conservation, management, and understanding of healthy ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources;

5 SEC DEFINITIONS. REGIONAL INFORMATION COORDINATION ENTITIES- (A)IN GENERAL- The term `regional information coordination entity' means an organizational body that t is certified or established by contract t or memorandum by the lead Federal agency designated in section 12304(c)(3) of this subtitle [NOAA] and coordinates State, Federal, local, and private interests at a regional level with the responsibility of engaging the private and public sectors in designing, operating, and improving regional coastal and ocean observing systems in order to ensure the provision of data and information that meet the needs of user groups from the respective regions. (B) CERTAIN INCLUDED ASSOCIATIONS- The term `regional information (B) CERTAIN INCLUDED ASSOCIATIONS- The term regional information coordination entity' includes regional associations described in the System Plan.

6 NFRA and IOOS IOOS Regional Component A network of 11 regional coastal a ocean observing systems that meet national and regional needs for local ocean observations, data management, and modeling Funded by NOAA as part of National Integrated Ocean Observing System Authorizing legislation signed into law in March - ICOOS Act of 2009

7 About SECOORA Membership-Based, Non-Profit Organization Stakeholder driven Vision: Provide the most reliable marine data and information protection of people and property, a healthy marine economy, and sustainable natural coastal and ocean resources

8 Geographic Scope Southeastern marine and estuarine systems SECOORA's Observing Subsystem State and federal waters off the 4 southeastern states (includes all of Florida)

9 Who are our Members? Over 40 representatives from academia, industry, government agencies, and NGOs Why become a member? Provide input into data and information products Leverage organization s monitoring/observation activities Participate in collaborative opportunities and networking Set regional priorities Access to coastal and ocean related educational products and materials

10 Defining Priorities: Strategic Priorities Document Defines initial priorities Evolving Document Audience: SECOORA members regional stakeholders potential members decision-makers, including elected officials

11 Themes Focus areas Fisheries Water Quality Coastal Hazards Marine Operations (Offshore energy) Climate Change

12 Fisheries and Water Quality Fisheries Management: Developing methods to link fisheries assessment and oceanographic data to improve fisheries management decisions Water Quality Management Supporting extension of marine/enterococcus predictive models to the region, which uses a variety of modeling techniques and ocean observing variables (wind, weather, current, salinity, it etc.) Models being used in support of issuing beach swimming advisories Gag is the most common grouper in the SECOORA region. Managing fisheries is a priority issue SECOORA members are using coastal and ocean observing data to address. Photo: NOAA Photo Library/OAR/National Undersea Research Program (NURP)/UNCW

13 Case Study: Marine Operations SECOORA Member Example: Coastal Wind Energy Study Requested by the North Carolina General Assembly University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill designated to conduct the study Study area Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds Offshore over waters less than 30 meters in depth (wind to 50 meters in height)

14 Study Components (from legislation) Wind resource evaluation Ecological impacts, synergies, use conflicts Foundation concepts Geologic Geoogcframework Utility transmission infrastructure Utility-related statutory and regulatory barriers Legal framework, issues, and policy concerns Carbon reduction Preliminary economic analysis

15 Synthesis - Marine Spatial Planning Information from the individual groups was integrated into a geographic information system Emphasis was placed on identifying severe constraints likely to preclude any wind energy development Areas identified as no-build (e.g. too shallow, reserved for use by the military) and areas identified as having high ecological impact or low suitability for foundation construction were eliminated Each constraint equally weighted and an equal degree of certainty as to their extents assumed Provides a conservative and introductory look at what areas remain viable for wind power development.

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17 Bringing it All Together SECOORA s Data Management consists of a network of scientists and data management experts Core capabilities Data Provider Needs Assessment Data Capture & Integration Services Data Management Services Data and Information Delivery Technical and Product Development Support Program Documentation

18 Data Management Hubs National Backbone MACOORA DM Nodes: USF/FWRI UNC-CH USC Coordinating Node GCOOS Info Provider Node

19 BioHab This image depicts the SECOORA observing inventory along with select marine species locations. In the Results panel you see the description of a buoy off Fripp Island SC (The red pushpin on the map) along with a link to the asset page.

20 Getting the Word Out SECOORA News & Alerts sent to ~ 600 people Website and Data Access

21 What are other Regions Doing? CenCOOS contributed ocean observations and spatial planning tools to the California MarineMap NERACOOS worked with Northeast Regional Ocean Council to do a regional visualization of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island marine spatial plans NANOOS has participated in several Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning Workshops in the last year with their partners at The Nature Conservancy and the West Coast Governor s Alliance. Several NANOOS partners are involved in wave energy (Oregon) and tidal energy (Washington).

22 Acknowledgements Dwayne Porter, USC Harvey Seim, UNC Chapel Hill Kathleen O Keife, FL FWC FWRI Madilyn Fletcher, USC Josie Quintrell, NFRA NOAA IOOS Office

23 Contact Information Debra Hernandez Executive Director SECOORA