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The U.S. Global Ocean Observing System |
The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) is an international program with the primary goal of providing practical benefits to society. The main elements are the sustained collection of ocean observations and the timely distribution of those data and derived products, including analyses, forecasts, and assessments. Additional elements are the development and transfer of technology and building capabilities. The system design is scientifically based and subject to continuing review.
The international structure of GOOS consists of many diverse elements and is intimately linked with other observing systems. These relationships and individual structures may be viewed in the International GOOS Activity Structure diagram.
The U.S. GOOS effort consists of a growing number of activities in data collection and management, hindcasts, estimations, forecasts, assessments, warnings, and advice. An indication may be obtained by considering the international GOOS Observing System Elements.
Advice for the planning, implementation, and coordination of U.S. GOOS is provided by a U.S. GOOS Steering Committee composed of representatives from academia, industry, government, and environmental organizations. A U.S. GOOS Office, with one branch for global-scale observations (directed by Dr. Worth D. Nowlin, Jr. at Texas A&M University) and another branch for coastal GOOS (directed by Dr. Thomas Malone at Horn Point Environmental Laboratory at the University of Maryland), to promote planning and coordination for collection and sharing of data and products across programmatic, institutional, and national boundaries. On a global scale, the U.S. provides significant levels of support for the international development of GOOS, including design, coordination, and capacity building.
A generic PowerPoint, created by Tom Malone, describing the status and plans of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) is available. A second generic PowerPoint, created by Worth Nowlin, is also available.
In October 2004, the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) completed the Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC. The full document as well as just the executive summary are available for download.
At U.S. GSC-XI, the Committee developed a document giving a list of suggested generic activities that could be carried out by developing regional observing systems prior to their having a certified RA, business plan and substantive funds for expansion. That document included examples of such activities already being undertaken by developing systems. We feel that this document might provide additional incentive to some of the nascent RAs to move forward even without new monies.
To assist in communications regarding the U.S. sustained and Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) those involved in the development and operation of IOOS are encouraged to publish articles describing advances in plans, successes of the system, or planned new products and services in bulletins or professional journals. Among those journals that you may wish to consider for such articles are the following:
To avoid duplication of effort, please inform Susan Martin (srmartin@tamu.edu) when you contact a publication and, again, when your article is accepted. If the anticipated publication date is known, that information would be appreciated as well. Such information will be used to improve the communication efforts related to the IOOS.
Contact: Susan R. Martin (srmartin@tamu.edu)
Updated: 21 December, 2004
URL: http://ocean.tamu.edu/GOOS/goos.html