# Presentation: 588015

## Scott Rayder
Chief of Staff
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
November 7, 2007

- Chief of Staff
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- November 7, 2007

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA’s Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

- Consortium for Ocean Leadership Forum on Ocean Research Infrastructure

**Notes:**
Host of event: Consortium for Ocean Leadership
Panel Members:
Daniel Walker, Office of Science and Technology Policy
TBA, Office of Management and Budget
Julie Morris, National Science Foundation
Michael Freilich, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
RADM Timothy McGee, U.S. Navy

Thank you for inviting me to speak on this federal panel discussing the challenges of supporting ocean research infrastructure needs.  Specifically, I will talk to you about the many challenges ... and opportunities that NOAA faces in supporting ocean research infrastructure.  

## Outline

- NOAA’s Funding Trends
- NOAA’s Commitment to Research
- Infrastructure Requirements & Challenges
- Satellites
- Aircraft
- Unmanned vehicles
- Vessels
- Small Boats
- Buoys and Sensors
- Facilities
- IOOS
- Support from the Ocean Community

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

## “Research underpins NOAA’s science-based mission... understanding and predicting changes in the Earth’s environment involves a continually evolving process of discovery, observation, and analysis...”	—NOAA’s 5 Year Research Plan

- “Research underpins NOAA’s science-based mission... understanding and predicting changes in the Earth’s environment involves a continually evolving process of discovery, observation, and analysis...”	—NOAA’s 5 Year Research Plan

- NOAA’s Commitment to Research

- ... infrastructure underpins NOAA’s ability to conduct research!

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

**Notes:**
Conducting research and integrating data and information are fundamental elements of NOAA’s science-based mission.  This is key to NOAA understanding and predicting changes in the Earth’s environment.

NOAA is committed to supporting the providing the best science available to inform decision making to better advance society’s economic and environmental goals.

NOAA also realizes that to be able to actually conduct the research and monitoring, you must invest and maintain the infrastructure to support it. For NOAA this means our:
Satellites
Aircraft
Unmanned vehicles
Vessels
Small Boats
Buoys and Sensors
Facilities, and
 IOOS – a program that is trying to coordinate and integrate all our ocean data observing systems under one program.

## NOAA Funding Trends

- *In FY’03, the House did not report or pass an SJC appropriations bill. The House-Introduced bill total is used here.

- *

- ($ in Billions)

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

**Notes:**
For the past 3 years NOAA has been funded at $3.9 billion.
The President's FY 08 request for NOAA totaled $3.8 billion.
FY'08 House CJS Full Committee Mark
  Provides a total of $3.950 million, an increase of $135 million or 3.5% over the FY 08 President's Budget 
  The House fully funds the President's Request for climate observations and research, satellite acquisition, and weather warnings and forecasts. 
  The House included an additional $73.3 million in funding for global climate change efforts, fully funding the President's requested increases and providing increased funds as well. 
  The Mark provides the necessary funding for facility modernization projects such as the Pacific Regional Center and the Weather and Climate Prediction Center. 
  The Mark also provided full funding for NOAA's Program Support account, which includes our Aviation and Marine operations as well as vital operational support services. 
  The House also provided $23 million in funding to replace climate sensors on NPOESS.
However:  The Mark proposed $14.2 million in reductions to NOAA Fisheries, which may delay implementation of NOAA's Aquaculture initiative and other critical fisheries research initiatives. 
FY'08 Senate CJS Full Committee Mark
  Provides a total of $4.215 million, an increase of $497.5 million or 10.4% over the FY 2008 President's Budget. 
  The Senate fully supported the proposed initiatives for the President's Ocean Action Plan, including improvements in fisheries and coastal management. 
  The Senate also fully supported the President's requested increases for climate observations and research as well as weather warnings and forecasts. 
  The Mark also provides the necessary funding for a number facility modernization projects in NOAA including the Pacific Regional Center, Weather and Climate Prediction Center, and the La Jolla Fisheries Facility. 
However:   
The mark proposed reductions to the GOES-R satellite, which will impact NOAA's ability to deliver this critical weather satellite on time and could lead to gap in continuity for GOES. 
The Mark also proposed reductions to NOAA's Program Support Account, which will impact NOAA's ability to provide basic administrative logistical support to our field offices.

## Budget, Legislative Actions FY 2007 Constant Dollars

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

**Notes:**
For 3 years NOAA has been funded at $3.9 billion (request keeps rising, but enacted budget does not). 

The FY07 CR has presented some challenges for our operating plan.  For example, with grant-making, which is nearly one third of NOAA’s budget:
in the 1st Q of FY07 we issued 19 awards for $15M
that is 80% less awards, at nearly half the dollar value when compared with the 1st Q of FY06 (100 awards for $28M), because we are unable to exercise our full discretionary spending authority.
This means will are likely to have to do roughly 85-90% of the funded grants workload in the last 6 months of the fiscal year, which affects our customers and our people.

## NOAA’s Satellite Assets

- GEOS
- 3 GOES satellites (E. and W. North America and 1 over South America)
- POES
- 5 satellites (primary, secondary and backup). NOAA also gets data from 2 DOD DMSP satellites.
- Partners
- NOAA receives satellite data from other countries (i.e., ESA, Japan)

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

**Notes:**
NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite and Environmental Data Service (NESDIS) provides timely access to global environmental data and information services from satellites and other sources in support of the larger NOAA mission. 

NOAA operates two satellite constellations: 
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)
GOES 8 & GOES 9- Decommissioned
GOES 10 – South America
GOES 11 – Operational West
GOES 12 –Operational East
GOES 13 – In space (storage)
GOES O (14) & GOES P(15) - fixed price contract to Boeing
GOES are NOAA’s weather sentinel – they constantly monitor the Western Hemisphere.  They are used for tracking hurricanes and severe storms.  The help with flash flood forecasting.  The monitor sea surface temperature for fisheries and climate research and provide us information on winds for aviation forecasting.  GOES also provide solar imagery and other space weather information to better understand how conditions in space can affect us here on Earth.

Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite (POES)
METOP–A AM Primary
NOAA 11 Decommissioned 16 June 2004
NOAA 12 Decommissioned 10 Aug. 2007
NOAA 14 Decommissioned 23 May 2007
NOAA 15 AM Secondary
NOAA 16 PM Secondary
NOAA 17 AM Backup
NOAA 18 PM Primary

NOAA operates both the civil polar-orbiting system, called POES, and from two Air Force’s polar-orbiting weather satellites, called DMSP for defense military satellite program.  NOAA uses data operationally from two POES as well as a polar-orbiting satellite operated by our European counterparts as the main constellation. 
POES data is the key information used in long-term, global weather forecast and modeling.  There global capability helps with detection of significant environmental events such as fires and volcanic eruptions.  Many of the key climate measurements, such as ozone measurement, come from POES.  These satellites also provide us global ocean observations, such as sea surface temperature.

Satellite Operations and Data Centers:
NOAA- NESDIS also operates its satellites from the Satellite Operations Facility in Suitland, MD, and from the NOAA Command and Data Acquisition Station in Wallops, VA and Fairbanks, AK
NOAA’s contribution to civil operational space-based Earth observations is significant – but is only one component of the global civil space community.  The major players in civil operational space-based Earth observations are Europe/EUMETSAT, Japan, Russia, India and the US.  To truly reap the benefits of Earth observations it is important to work together with other nations to integrate civil space- based observations – together with global in-situ observations.

## The Future of Earth Observations: NPOESS & GOES-R

- GOES-R:
- Recently revised management and acquisition strategy to take advantage of NOAA and NASA expertise
- Addressing development challenges in the geostationary orbit

- NPOESS:
- Working with NASA to add OMPS-Limb sensor for climate observations
- Collaborating with the White House and NASA to address broader climate data needs

*Continuity of observations is top priority *

- Challenges:* *Cost, Development Time, Technology

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

**Notes:**
NOAA’s next generation civil operational Earth observation satellites will have enhanced capabilities that will support enhanced Earth observations:

Requirements – Competency
NOAA’s next generation civil operational Earth observation satellites will have enhanced capabilities that will support enhanced Earth observations:

GOES-R:
NOAA has remained committed to uninterrupted GOES satellite data since the 1970s as they are critical to our support of the American public from severe weather events. 
Historically, NOAA has used NASA to manage acquisition of its satellite programs – satellite, ground systems, and launch.  For GOES-R, NOAA originally planned to manage this program itself and issue a single prime contract for the entire GOES-R system.
Revised management & acquisition strategy: NOAA has now decided, based on our review prior to moving into the acquisition phase, to split the acquisition into two separate contracts and to partner with NASA in managing these contracts. This takes advantage of the respective expertise of NOAA and NASA. 
NOAA and NASA are working together to move toward the Acquisition and Operations Phase of the program later this year.

NPOESS:
In June 2006, DOD re-validated the national security need for NPOESS. NOAA and NASA were key partners in the DoD certification process. 
The stakeholders in NPOESS were unanimous that “No operational data gap” was top priority.  This meant that to manage cost and schedule risk – tradeoffs were made and sensors were deleted from the program. 
However, NOAA and NASA? were pleased to announce earlier this year that the OMPS-Limb climate sensor will be added to the NPOESS program.  This will help to support a continuous climate record.
NOAA and NASA are in process of jointly assessing the impact of NPOESS program changes on climate data needs.  In partnership with the White House, these issues are being addressed to ensure that the nation’s top data priorities are available for the future.

Yes, these new assets are expensive – but it is critical to society and its security have these satellites operating on a 24x7 basis to advance Earth observations.  
The enhanced data that these satellites will bring (and GOES-R will bring) will measurably improve our ability to predict, prevent and prepare for a broad range of hazards.

VIRRS Imager
For example, here is the next generation NPOESS – showing the enhanced resolution and increase in multispectral channels associated with the VIIRS instrument.
The NPOESS instrument suites will offer greatly improved spatial and temporal resolution, resulting in better information that goes to forecasters and to policymakers. This is an illustration of one improvement using MODIS data.  
VIIRS’ increase in multispectral channels will also allow us to identify specific components of the atmospheric, oceanic and terrestrial aspects of the Earth system.  These images simulate the improvement between AVHRR and VIIRS capabilities.  Vegetation, water, and clouds are all revealed in much higher resolution.

## NOAA Aircraft

- NOAA Operates 13 aircraft
- Lockheed P-3 Hurricane Hunter	(3)
- Gulfstream IV jet 	(1)
- Cessna Citation II	(1)
- DeHavilland Twin Otter	(4)
- Rockwell Shrike	(2)
- Gulfstream Jet Prop Commander	(1)
- Lake Seawolf Amphibious	(1)
- For Multi-Purposes
- Hurricane Surveillance
- HAZMAT and Damage Assessment
- Winter Storm Research
- Snow Surveys
- Marine Mammal/Sea Turtle Surveys
- Coastal Mapping & LIDAR
- Enforcement

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

**Notes:**
NOAA operates a fleet of 12 aircraft (the 13th plane a third P-3 will come online in fall 2008) to support the agency’s various missions. 

NOAA operates these aircraft to fulfill mission requirements across the agency, including:
Hurricane Surveillance
HAZMAT and Damage Assessment
Winter Storm Research
Snow Surveys
Marine Mammal Surveys
Coastal Mapping & LIDAR
Enforcement

Operating Costs: 

FY 2008 Costs: $25.79M to operate the fleet for 1,839 hours of flight time
Aircraft Costs: $12.43M
Labor/Overhead: 13.36M

Challenges:  Age and continued maintenance of aircraft
	Need for hangers and facilities to support aircraft and support personnel
	Fuel costs (keep rising)
	Training (continual needs)
	Instrument

## Unmanned Vehicles

- Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
- $3M in FY08 Presidents Budget for NOAA
- 1 vehicle owned (Manta), several partnerships with NASA (Altair)
- Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV)
- ~$700 K for FY08 targeted for coast survey
- Few vehicles (<10) owned

- Manta

- Autonomous Benthic Explorer

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

**Notes:**
Exploring and embracing new technologies that improve our observational capabilities is essential to drive the NOAA vision and mission forward.   UAS and UAV are such technologies who’s importance continue to grow everyday.   

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) +$3.0M (OAR has $3.6M allocated)
UASs provide a new means to collect data; conduct long endurance flights for weather forecasting; validate satellite measurements; monitor atmospheric composition and climate; gather critical data for input into hurricane models; and enforce regulations over National Marine Sanctuaries. 

Increased development and use of unmanned aircraft will fill critical gaps in NOAA’s Environmental monitoring and prediction capabilities.
This UAS initiative will evaluate the benefits and potential of using UAS to collect data for climate models, weather research, fisheries enforcement, and coastal zone studies.
+$3.0M is requested to accelerate research, development, and transition to operations of innovative new observational platforms and forecast tools to advance NOAA products and services.
Includes $0.3M for planning & management, $1.9M for major field tests and analysis, $0.8 M for sensors and tools development & operation 
FY06: $0M; Fy07: $0M; FY08: $3M
IPY--$308,000 will be used to provide focused application of data from UAS to be deployed from the Arctic Test Base.  Funds will also be used to purchase additional sondes for use in the Arctic to improve the density of data collected. 
Manta Test Base:  
NOAA’s is looking into many potential UAS applications at its three test bases.  •In February 2006, NOAA used the Silver Fox UAS to conduct flight operations over the HIHWNMS
• In March 2006, NOAA participated in an air quality study in the Indian Ocean led by Scripps Institution of Oceanography that used Manta UASs to observe aerosol-radiation-cloud-climate interactions.  
• October 24-25, 2006, NOAA and other federal partners (NASA, FAA, and US Forest Service) utilized UASs to study wildfires in Yosemite National Park, California.  The 20-hour flight measured temperature, ozone, water vapor, and five other trace gases.  This was the first successful long endurance UAS flight operation for scientific study in national airspace and is an example of how UAS platforms can remain aloft for many hours and fly in areas that would be dangerous for manned flights. 

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs):  
Potential Applications: Hydrographic Survey; Oceanography (Hurricane forecasting, Harmful Algal Blooms, Bioluminescence); Incident Response (Pollution Monitoring, Homeland Security, Disaster Assessment)

Operating Environment: (Deep water, Shallow water, Under Ice, Shipboard, Hand launched, Cabled observatory)

AUV Funding and Assets
Appx $4-5M since 2003
  ~$700 K for FY 08 targeted for coast survey work (integrating UAV into coastal mapping efforts)
Individual program investments (Coast Survey, Fisheries Science Centers)
 Extramural grants (National Undersea Research Program, Sea Grant)
 Leveraging (Navy, Private (MBARI))

Future Funding and Strategy
Integrating AUVs into Fleet and Program capabilities and budget planning
NOAA AUV Advisory Group coordinating budget inputs, increasing intra-agency information flow
NOAA AUV “Roadmap” under development

## NOAA Marine Operations

- JOHN N. COBB

- ALBATROSS IV

- THOMAS JEFFERSON

- NANCY FOSTER

- OREGON II

- RONALD H. BROWN

- FAIRWEATHER

- HI’IALAKAI

- MCARTHUR II

- OSCAR ELTON SETTE

- RUDE

- KA’IMIMOANA

- DELAWARE II

- OSCAR DYSON

- GORDON GUNTER

- DAVID STARR JORDAN

- RAINIER

- FERDINAND R. HASSLER

- OKEANOS EXPLORER

- HENRY BIGELOW

- MILLER FREEMAN

- FY2007: 19 vessels.  The average fleet age: 27.6 years

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

**Notes:**
NOAA Vessels are used to support all of NOAA’s goal areas and programs: Ecosystem, climate, weather and water, commerce and transportation and mission support.  The vessels are one of the primary sources of critical measurements of physical and biological oceanographic data. Ships are also need to deploy new technologies for mapping, surveying and resource assessment. 

Challenges:
Expanding requirements (ships must be versatile and adapt to new equipment, more buoys require more ships)
Aging Ships
Extend the service life of the fleet, increase safety and reliability, and enhance capabilities
Need to develop strategy to support ongoing capital investment

FY2002: 15 ships.  The average age of the fleet was 41.0 years
FY2004: 15 ships.  The average age of the fleet was 38.0 years
FY2007: 19 ships.  The average age of the fleet is 27.6 years
FY2008: 21 ships.  The average age of the fleet is 26.8 years
FY2009: 20 ships.  The average age of the fleet is 21.8 years.

Our Fleet is also transitioning... we are commissioning vessels specifically designed to fulfill our many missions.  In the last few years, NOAA has made an investment in 4 Fishery Survey Vessels to help us get better science and information to help better sustainably manage our fisheries. NOAA is also building a new Hydrographic Survey Vessel (FERDINAND R HASSLER) to help alleviate our critical backlog of mapping coastal areas and critical ports and harbors.  

New Ships delivered since 2005:
The OSCAR DYSON (FSV1) in 2005 and the HENRY BIGELOW (FSV2) in 2006.
The PISCES (FSV3) is scheduled to be launched in late December and delivered in Summer 2008.
Keel laying this past Summer for two ships the BELL M. SHIMADA (FSV4) for a delivery date in Spring 2009 and the FERDINAND R HASSLER (NSV) for delivery in Winter 2008.
The OKEANOS EXPLORER is undergoing retrofitting and will be delivered in 2008.

FY 2010 – 2024 Fleet Recapitalization Plan
Incorporated expected useful service life of 30 years without additional capital investment; up to 50 years with a service life extension

Based on these findings – we developed a strategy to go forward with a capitol investment

The NEC voted to approve alternative 4: 
On average it would require a $90M investment each year for 15 years (on average)
This would deliver 9 new ships over 15 years 
Retains MILLER FREEMAN and DAVID STARR JORDAN capacity
Provides 225 operating days for 10 ships in requirements group
Personnel requirements never exceed max. of 21 ships, except in FY15 and FY16
Decreases the average age of the fleet to 16 years by FY2024

## NOAA Small Boat Program

| Organization | Class A
<16 ft | Class I
16-25 ft | Class II
26-39 ft | Class III
40-65 ft | SRV
65 ft-<300GT | Total |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| NWS | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| NMFS | 36 | 170 | 25 | 11 | 1 | 243 |
| NOS | 10 | 31 | 30 | 13 | 1 | 85 |
| OAR | 2 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 16 |
| NMAO | 6 | 41 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 67 |
| Total | 54 | 253 | 76 | 27 | 3 | 413 |

- Multi-Purpose Use
- Research & Monitoring
- Habitat Characterization
- Surveys and Mapping
- Education & Outreach
- Enforcement

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

**Notes:**
NOAA Small Boat Program
NOAA’s small boat fleet numbers at least 413 vessels.  NOAA defines a small boat anything that is less than 300 gross tons.  (Note: The NOAA Ship RUDE and JOHN N. COBB are less than 300 gross tons but they are not included in the Small Boat program since they are managed by NMAO.)

The Small Boat Program is relatively new within NOAA.  Last year was the first time NOAA surveyed its small vessel fleet and instituted a safety and training program for all vessels and operators.  The budget for the small boat program in FY’07 was $480K, which essentially funds a program coordinator, part time assistance, and inspections for class III and SRV vessels.  There are not dedicated funds to operate or maintain or replace the small boat fleet – this is all done from individual programs.  NOAA has identified at least 777 primary vessel operators at 93 separate locations.  

Small vessels are the “working horses” of NOAA and are used widely across NOAA to help it achieve its various missions, including: research, monitoring, habitat characterization, hydrographic surveying, mapping, enforcement, education and outreach, buoy and tide station deployment and maintenance.  They may also serve as support craft for missions on NOAA’s ships.  

Operational Costs
There are no cost estimates for the entire small vessel fleet. However, there is some operational and maintenance costs for the National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP).  They operate 45 small bots in 14 sanctuaries around the U.S. and American Samoa.  In the last 5 years, the NMSP added 11 new vessels and disposed of 14.  The NMSP spent $15.25 M acquiring vessels during this time. Operation and maintenance costs range from $25K to $140K for the larger vessels. The vessels can be classified in 5 areas: day class, response class, research class, regional class, and law enforcement.  

NOAA Uses for Small Boats:
NOS: Navigation response teams/mapping; enforcement, outreach, education, research and monitoring, damage assessment, habitat characterizations, diving platforms
NMFS: enforcement, fisheries and marine mammal surveys, habitat characterizations, diving platforms
OAR: Great Lakes, coastal and ocean research
NWS: buoy maintenance
NMAO: working skiffs; research, transport

## Buoys and Sensors

- Moored Buoys (197)
- Tsunami (34 DART buoys)
- Hurricane (12 in Caribbean/Atlantic)
- Alaska (19)
- TAO Array (55)
- MET Data Buoys (74)
- Chesapeake Bay “Interpretive buoys” (3)
- C-MAN Stations (56)
- Drifters (1000)
- ARGO Floats (3000)
- Tide Gauges (200)
- National water-level observation network (NWLON)
- PORTS® (13 systems)
- Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (7 planned)
- HF Radar
- Data available from 8 locations

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

**Notes:**
Buoys and Sensors
NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center designs, develops, operates, and maintains a network of data collecting buoys and coastal stations. 
NDBC provides hourly observations from a network of about 90 buoys and 60 Coastal Marine Automated Network (C-MAN) stations to help meet these needs. All stations measure wind speed, direction, and gust; barometric pressure; and air temperature. In addition, all buoy stations, and some C-MAN stations, measure sea surface temperature and wave height and period. Conductivity and water current are measured at selected stations. NDBCs budget has grown from $16.5M in FY 04 to over $37.2M in FY07. 
OAR operates the Drifter and ARGO float program.
All of the data from these buoys get transmitted by satellite (or in some cases via telephone or internet) to NOAA’s data processing centers.  

Physical Oceanographic Real Time Systems (PORTS®)
NOAA operates 13 Physical Oceanographic Real Time Systems (PORTS®) around the country.  They have signed agreements for seven additional PORTS®, and should be operational by the end of 2008.
PORTS® is a cost-shared partnership between a local entity and NOAA.  In a typical agreement, the local partner pays for the purchase, installation, and maintenance of sensors and other equipment.  NOAA designs the system to meet the user’s needs, then collects, QCs, and distributes PORTS data via internet and voice. The NOAA cost for the 20 operational and pending PORTS is $3.0M annually.  O&M costs provided by partners total approximately $3.5M.

Water Level Stations
NOAA’s National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON) consists of 200 continuously operating water level stations along the US coast and Great Lakes region.  These stations provide basic water-level information to determine U.S. coastal marine boundaries, to create nautical charts and to support climate monitoring activities, storm surge and tsunami warning systems.
NOAA spends approximately $4M per year to operate and maintain these stations (not including federal labor costs).  
NOAA leverages the NWLON infrastructure to collect and distribute data from as many as 100 additional short and long-term water level stations funded by NOAA or partner agencies such as the USACE, Florida Department of the Environment, and Texas A&M University.  In addition, a variety of oceanographic and meteorological sensors are operating in conjunction with NOAA’s water level stations to monitor salinity, air and water temperature, wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, and relative humidity. 

High Frequency Radar
Various academic, meteorological, and oceanographic institutions and contributing partners of the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) have implemented High Frequency Radar (HF Radar) sites in their local coastal regions around the continental United States. These radar sites provide coastal-ocean surface current and wave information offshore out to 300 km. 
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has undertaken a project in association with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) and the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) to combine the data measured from these IOOS partner radar sites onto a national grid and display the surface currents graphically in the form of vectors on the NDBC website. NOAA provides information for 8 areas around the U.S. 

## NOAA IOOS

- Formed NOAA IOOS Program
- Lead and mange NOAA’s IOOS efforts; Leadership in place, now hiring other staff
- Support external collaboration with partners
- NOAA’s FY’08 Budget Request includes IOOS request
- $ 14.0 Million (Regional obs., date mgmt., sensors)
- Completed internal planning for FY10-14
- Completed a draft NOAA IOOS Strategic Plan
- Completed 5 interoperability tests to baseline data flows and conditions for 4 thematic areas.
- Implemented a merit based competition to support regional IOOS development (FY’07 & ’08)

- Sample of NOAA’s Operational Observing Capability

- NOAA Funded Sub-Regional Coastal Ocean Observing System Elements

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

**Notes:**
The FY 2008 President’s Budget requests $16.3M for the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS).   This includes $14M in new funding and a $2.3M increase for existing systems.
$11.5M to develop the regional component of IOOS; 
$2.5M for IOOS data management and communications (DMAC);
$1.0M for meteorological sensors for the National Water Level Observation Network; and 
$1.3M for operations and maintenance of oceanographic sensors (National Data Buoy Center).
The request for $11.5M will allow NOAA to award a combination of competitive grants and contracts for the 11 IOOS regions.  This will enhance the NOAA partnership network at the regional and local levels and augment federal observing capabilities to improve resolution.

Since January, we’ve formed a NOAA IOOS Program (part of our Mission Support Goal) dedicated to the administration of NOAA’s IOOS activities including collaboration with external partners (NOAA is the first federal agency to do this)
NOAA’s FY08 budget request included a line item request for IOOS – first time ($14 M -- $11.5 M for Regional Observations, and $2.5 Data Management and Coordination)
NOAA’s IOOS program completed internal planning for the FY10-14 timeframe
Completed 5 interoperability tests to baseline data flows and conditions for our four thematic focus areas. NOAA’s initial focus for the data integration framework is the integration of 5 of the 20 IOOS variables identified as “core” (temperature, salinity, sea level, surface currents, and ocean color) into four NOAA data products (hurricane intensity, coastal inundation, and harmful algal bloom models, and Integrated Ecosystem Assessments). 
Completed a draft NOAA IOOS Strategic Plan to guide our implementation activities.  This is currently in internal review and will also be externally reviewed.
NOAA’s IOOS program ran a merit based competition to support regional IOOS development and recently announced an opportunity for FY08.  Our FY07 selections should be announced soon. 
We are making real strides to form a program with a clear focus on IOOS implementation, working in partnership with our IOOS partners.

## NOAA’s Coastal and Ocean Research Facilities

**Notes:**
NOAA is a coastal and ocean science agency that conducts research and monitoring throughout the US (and many other countries).  Our coastal and ocean research facilities are located throughout the US.   (see enclosed attachment for list of sites).

## Facilities Investments

- Recently Completed
- NESDIS Satellite Operations Facility (Suitland, MD)
- NMFS Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute (Juneau, AK)
- NOS Kasitsna Bay Lab, (Seldovia, AK)
- NOS Beaufort Lab, (Beaufort, NC)) – bridge replaced
- NWS National Data Buoy Center (Stennis Space Center, MS), expansion
- NOS Dr. Nancy Foster Florida Keys Environmental Center (Key West, FL)
- On the Horizon
- NMFS Mississippi Lab Replacement (Pascagoula, MS)
- NMFS La Jolla Lab Replacement (La Jolla, CA)
- Pacific Regional Center – New Facility (Honolulu, HI)
- OMAO facilities (Pier in Seattle, Seawall in Norfolk)
- NESDIS – enhanced computing capacity and facilities

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

**Notes:**
La Jolla Facility Construction Design +$3.0M and Temporary Staff Relocation +$1.0M
The Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, CA is within 25’ of an eroding bluff and bluff-side buildings are structurally at risk
Planning is underway for the new facility, and this funding supports construction design
NOAA employees will be relocated to leased space pending construction of new facilities to ensure their safety on the job
FY06:  $0M; FY07:  $0M;  FY08:  $1M

Pacific Regional Center (PAC) +$20.3M
NOAA will strengthen its performance, improve operations and experience long-term savings by bringing its programs together into one facility.
$20.3M to continue construction of the PRC on Ford Island in Honolulu, HI 
Slated for occupancy in Summer, 2012
Enable NOAA to complete the exterior shell renovation of building #176, and replaces the Dole Street and the Kewalo Basin facilities.
FY06:  $19.7M; FY07:  $0M;  FY08:  $20.3M

NDBC Facility Expansion:  In FY06 NOAA received $26.6M for facility improvements at the NASA/Stennis Space Center (SSC), Bay St. Louis, MS. Of this $26.5M $19M was to construct new NOAA/NDBC facilities (79,000 SF) at the SSC and the balance ($6.5M) for SSC NASA facility infrastructure improvements.  NOAA/NWS has contracted with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, SE to build the new NDBC facilities 

## Ocean Community Support

- NOAA Organic Act
- National Climate Service
- GEOSS/IOOS
- Fleet
- Facilities
- Adjustments to Base (people)

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

**Notes:**
Support from the Ocean Research Community

Support a NOAA Organic Act.  NOAA is a conglomeration of holding companies with no central legislation that defines what its core mission is.  An Organic Act would help NOAA’s research and monitoring mission and ensure that congressional funds could be used for these purposes.  
Support the establishment of a National Climate Service in NOAA.  NOAA has more capacity to monitor and forecast climate than any other part of NOAA.  
Support GEOSS to ensure continued national and international support for this program through the transition into the next Administration.  Much of our data comes from sources external to the U.S. and it is critical that that the U.S. keeps GEOSS as a priority.
Support for IOOS within the U.S.  IOOS is a real test of the U.S. governments commitment to funding the integration of ocean observing research. To date, funding has been minimal.  
NOAA needs a dedicated budget line item for its vessel and small boat recapitalization program.  The NEC recently supported $90M investment each year for 15 years (on average).  This does not include small boats, UAV/UAS or planes.  
NOAA has critical facility infrastructure needs.  The Pacific From research facilities and laboratories, data collection and processing needs, NOAA has manprocessing 
Liquidation of Assets: when NOAA surpluses ships and vessels, funds should go back to NOAA to replace them instead of to the Treasury.

## Questions?

## Backup Materials

## NOAA Budget Summary by Line Office

| Line Office$ are obligations(incl. mandatory) | FY2006 Enacted | FY 2007 President’s Budget | FY 2008 Net Changes | FY 2008 President’s Request | Percent Changeover ’07 PB |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| NOS | $590 | $413 | $55 | $468 | 13.3% |
| NMFS | $804 | $737 | $59 | $796 | 8.0% |
| OAR | $380 | $349 | $20 | $369 | 5.7% |
| NWS | $848 | $882 | $21 | $903 | 2.4% |
| NESDIS | $952 | $1,034 | ($56) | $978 | (5.4%) |
| PS/OMAO | $491 | $406 | $36 | $442 | 8.9% |
| Financing | ($154) | ($137) | ($4) | ($141) | — |
| Total | $3,911 | $3,684 | $131 | $3,815 | 3.4% |

- ($ in millions)

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

**Notes:**
Largest growth is in NOS, primarily to support IOOS and management of the new NW Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, as well as ocean research and coastal land conservation.
NMFS increases support Limited Access Privilege Programs for commercial fishers, implementing Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization requirements, working with partners to restore the Penobscot River to rebuild Atlantic salmon stocks, and advancing domestic aquaculture.
OAR increases support hurricane intensity research, further use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, and assessment of Atlantic ocean circulation influences on abrupt climate change.  
NWS increase includes O&M funding for weather data buoys and emergency back-up systems received in the hurricane supplemental, and support to further strengthen the U.S. Tsunami Warning Program.
NESDIS decrease is related to planned reductions in the funding for GOES and NPOESS.
Program Support increases, including that for Marine and Aviation Operations, includes funds to continue construction of the Pacific Islands Center and design the replacement laboratory for the La Jolla Fisheries facility, as well as operational costs for NOAA vessels and new P-3 aircraft.

## Ocean Action PlanFY 2008 President Budget Increases over FY 2007

| Ocean Science and Research | $60 |  | Protecting and Restoring Sensitive Marine and Coastal Areas | $38 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ocean Research Priorities Plan Implementation |  |  | Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Marine Monument | $8.0 |
| Coastal Decision Support | $5.0 |  | Penobscot River Restoration | $10.0 |
| Develop sensors for rapid toxin detection (HABs) | $5.0 |  | Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation | $15.0 |
| Ocean Circulation and Climate | $5.0 |  | Gulf of Mexico Collaboration | $5.0 |
| Comparative Analysis of Marine Ecosystems | $5.0 |  |  |  |
| Integrated Ocean Observing System |  |  | Ensuring Sustainable Use of Ocean Resources | $25 |
| IOOS-Regional Observations | $11.5 |  | Magnuson Stevens Implementation |  |
| NOAA-Data management and coordination | $2.5 |  | Reauthorization—new requirements | $6.5 |
| IOOS-Weather sensors on NWLON stations | $1.0 |  | Klamath River Recovery | $3.0 |
| IOOS-Ocean sensors on NWS buoys | $1.4 |  | Limited Access Privilege Programs (LAPPs) | $6.0 |
| Vessel Time and Equipment for Ocean Science |  |  | Observers and Training | $3.0 |
| O&M for Newer NOAA Fisheries Research Vessels | $4.6 |  | Survey and Monitoring Projects | $1.7 |
| OKEANOS EXPLORER O&M | $1.0 |  | Aquaculture | $3.0 |
| Additional support for vessel crews | $1.7 |  | Marine Mammals and Sound | $1.8 |
| Vessel Equipment and Technology Refresh | $1.0 |  |  |  |
| Autonomous Underwater Vehicles for Hydrographic Surveying | $0.7 |  | NOAA Total | $123 |
| Mapping the Extended Continental Shelf | $8.0 |  |  |  |
| Saltonstall-Kennedy Competitive Fisheries Research Grants (mandatory funds) | $3.5 |  |  |  |
| Right Whales Research | $2.0 |  |  |  |
| Ocean Health Initiative | $1.0 |  |  |  |
| International Polar Year—Marine survey in the Antarctic | $0.6 |  |  |  |

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

**Notes:**
Support the President’s U.S. Ocean Action Plan ($123 million increases)
$38 million to protect and restore marine and coastal areas, 
$25 million to ensure sustainable use of ocean resources, and 
$60 million to advance ocean science and research ($9 million of this funding supports science infrastructure and is discussed under Critical Infrastructure Investments).

There is an additional $20M for NSF/DOI to Support Implementation of Ocean Research Priorities Plan (President’s Total Investment of $143M)

## NOAA PrioritiesFY’08 Context

- NOAA PrioritiesFY’08 Context

- Sustaining Critical Operations
- Improving Weather Warnings & Forecasts
- Enhancing Climate Monitoring and Research
- Investing in Critical Facilities
- Supporting the U.S. Ocean Action Plan
- Enhancing ocean leadership & coordination
- Advancing understanding of oceans, coasts and Great Lakes
- Enhancing the use and conservation of oceans, coasts and Great Lakes
- Managing coasts and their watersheds
- Supporting maritime transportation
- Advancing international ocean science and policy

- El Niño Monitoring

- Phased Array Radar

- HENRY B. BIGELOW

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

**Notes:**
Sustainable Critical Operations ($51.5M)
People and infrastructure
Satellites and global operations

Improving Weather Warning and Forecasts ($39.4)
Tsunami buoys (final 10 DART Buoys)
Hurricane Intensity research
Hurricane buoys (15 weather buoys)
Wind profilers

Enhancing Climate Monitoring and Research 
NOAA spends a total of $240M on Climate Related Activities.  This represents an increase of $14M over our FY07 Request, and a decrease of $11M from the FY06 Enacted
National Integrated Drought Information System
Ocean Current Circulation
Climate Research Supercomputing
Water Vapor Process Research
TAO Array Refresh 

Investing in Critical Facilities
La Jolla Facility Design	$3.0
La Jolla Staff Relocation	$1.0
Pacific Regional Center	$20.3

Support the President’s U.S. Ocean Action Plan ($123 million increases)
$38 million to protect and restore marine and coastal areas, 
$25 million to ensure sustainable use of ocean resources, and 
$60 million to advance ocean science and research ($9 million of this funding supports science infrastructure and is discussed under Critical Infrastructure Investments).

## Sustaining Critical Operations

|  | Request
Amount | Program Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| O&M for New NOAA Vessels | $9.5 |    +$4.6 |
| O&M for Third P-3 | $5.5 |    +$5.5 |
| Maritime Crew & Safety Rotation | $2.5 |    +$1.7 |
| Pacific Islands Regional Office & Science Center |      $5.0 |    +$5.0 |
| Unmanned Aircraft Systems | $3.3 | +$3.3 |

***Our most productive investment, our people, are the foundation of NOAA’s services***

*People and Infrastructure*

**($ in millions)**

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

**Notes:**
O&M for New NOAA Vessels +$4.6M
$4.6M for O&M of FSV 3 and FSV 4; used to hire crew members, purchase fuel, supplies, and spare parts
FSV 3 homeported in Pascagoula, MI, with missions scheduled for Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic Ocean
FSV 4 delivered late FY 2008 and to be homeported on the West Coast
This is an incremental increase.  No vessels are slated to go offline in FY 2008; in FY09, the MILLER FREEMAN and RUDE will come offline.
FY06:  $0M; FY07:  $4.5M;  FY08:  $9.5M

O&M for Third P-3 +$5.5M
Obtained from the Navy, delivery date of Sept. 07, from funding obtained in the Hurricane Supplemental.  
Will provide backup to current hurricane hunters and support vessel mission
Funding will provide 300 flight hours for NOAA’s third P-3. 
Flight hours will include fuel, travel, transportation of equipment, ground support in remote areas and dropsondes. 
FY06:  $9M; FY07:  $0M;  FY08:  $5.5M

Maritime Crew & Safety Rotation +$1.7M
$1.7M to improve crew safety & rotation on seven of NOAA’s 20 active vessels, & address the 23% attrition rate for NOAA mariners 
Provides sufficient manpower (29 new FTE) in order to safely navigate; to respond to potential emergencies (fire, accidents, etc.); and to provide adequate maintenance services on the NOAA Fleet. 
FY06:  $0M; FY07:  $0.8M;  FY08:  $2.5M

Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO) and Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) +$5M
Fully funds this regional office and recognizes recurring governmental regional mgmt and science activities
Supports 19FTE to conduct fishery management, protected species, habitat conservation, and financial management center responsibilities
Supports 14FTE to provide science and research leadership, meet financial management center responsibilities, institute a safety program, support new research
FY06:  $4.9M; FY07:  $0M;  FY08:  $5M

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) +$3.0M
Increased development and use of unmanned aircraft will fill critical gaps in NOAA’s Environmental monitoring and prediction capabilities.
This UAS initiative will evaluate the benefits and potential of using UAS to collect data for climate models, weather research, fisheries enforcement, and coastal zone studies.
+$3.0M is requested to accelerate research, development, and transition to operations of innovative new observational platforms and forecast tools to advance NOAA products and services.
Includes $0.3M for planning & management, $1.9M for major field tests and analysis, $0.8 M for sensors and tools development & operation 
FY06: $0M; Fy07: $0M; FY08: $3M

DECREASES in People & Infrastructure:
Fisheries Survey Vessels ($13.8) – Planned decrease reflecting completion of FSV4
Funds no longer needed as construction of FSV 4 will be completed
FY06:  $51.5M; FY07:  $13.8M;  FY08:  $0M
FSV Calibration ($3.5M) – Reallocation reflecting the early completion of the Bigelow/Albatross calibration
The FSV calibration is terminated because it will be completed in FY 2007.  ALBATROSS IV will be retired in FY 2008. 
FY06:  $0M; FY07:  $3.5M;  FY08:  $0M
Administration BPR ($1.5M) – Reassessment of NOAA’s funding level

## Sustaining Critical Operations

|  | Request
Amount | Program Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Satellite Ground Support | $2.6 | +$2.6 |
| POES | $114.6 | +$25 |
| IT Security Enhancements | $2.6 | +$2.6 |
| Major Decreases: |  |  |
| GOES-N | $80.4 | ($26.8) |
| GOES-R | $279.0 | ($53.4) |
| NPOESS | $331.3 | ($6.6) |

***NOAA Satellites and Information provide over 90% of the data used in today’s weather forecast models***

**($ in millions)**

*Satellite & Global Operations*

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

**Notes:**
Satellite Ground Support +$2.6M
$2.6M provides:
Critical and sustained science improvement, calibration, validation, and quality control of data received from MetOp-A IASI (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer) and ASCAT (Advanced Scatterometer).
Contract support for calibration and validation of this new data.  Activities funded under the request will result in operational web sites with the latest calibration coefficients, tracking of data stream statistical properties, product validation on a daily and running average basis and other quantities that will make the data immediately useful for numerical weather prediction and other users.
FY06:  $0M; FY07:  $0M;  FY08:  $2.6M
POES +$25M
$25M Funds N Prime storage and rebuild balance.  Consists of:
$36M to plan for a cost efficient production schedule for the N Prime rebuild 
Planning Launch Date is delayed until Q2 FY 2009
$9.3M to restore FY 2005 funding which was redirected to N 
$7.3M:  Integration and testing of the MetOp-B satellite, and the installation and maintenance of NOAA-provided instruments on MetOp-C (the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A) and the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR/3))
($27.6M):  planned profile decrease
FY06:  $101.3M; FY07:  $89.9M;  FY08:  $114.9M
IT Security Enhancements +$2.6M
Needed to address security shortfalls identified in Accreditation process to ensure integrity and security of data products provided to NWS, FEMA, FAA and DOD

MAJOR DECREASES: Total Decreases of $88.8M in Satellites & Global Observations
GOES-N ($26.8M) – Planned decrease due to completion of GOES-I, launch of GOES-N
Continues the development, procurement, and launch of the next series of three GOES satellites – the GOES-N series. 
No funding for GOES–I. 
FY 2008 GOES-N funding will be used for:
Spacecraft/launching (GOES-O);
NASA technical management;
The government program office and GOES-N contribution to NESDIS leadership;
Product development; and
Ground systems and backup
FY06:  $116M; FY07:  $107.2M;  FY08:  $80.4M

GOES-R ($53.4M) – Planned decrease due to decreased program requirements and launch date slippage to Dec. 2014
Will complete architecture studies, technology development, design, fabrication, integration and testing, and end-to-end system integration to maintain GOES continuity;  Planned launch availability of FY 2015 
FY 2008 GOES-R funding will be used for: 
Systems integration; 
Instruments contracts
The government program office. 
FY06:  $219.3M; FY07:  $332.4M;  FY08:  $279M
NPOESS ($6.6M) – Planned decrease due to N-Prime launch delay due to Nunn-McCurdy process
Restructured program required under the Nunn-McCurdy process 
Continues development and acquisition phase of program 
Support mission readiness of antenna systems at high latitude mission recovery sites 
Deliver instruments planned to be flown on NPP 
FY06:  $316.6M; FY07:  $337.9M;  FY08:  $331.3M
NPOESS Data Exploitation ($2.0M) - Planned decrease consistent with delay of NPOESS Prep Project to FY09

## Supporting the U.S. Ocean Action Plan

| 

 | Request Amount | Program Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Integrated Ocean Observing System | $16.4 | +$16.4 |
| Hurricane Hazards & Watershed Influences | $5.0 | +$5.0 |
| Sensors for Marine Ecosystems | $5.0 | +$5.0 |
| Ocean Health Initiative | $1.0 | +$1.0 |
| Extended Continental Shelf Mapping | $8.0 | +$8.0 |

***The potential economic benefits from new investments in US regional coastal ocean observing systems range from $500 million to $1 billion annually***

- Supporting the U.S. Ocean Action Plan

**($ in millions)**

*Ocean Science and Research*

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

**Notes:**
Integrated Ocean Observing System 
Includes +$2.5M for Data Management and Communications 
Interoperable data enables new products & decision support tools, improved storm surge models & hazard warning systems
Enables NOAA to integrate 11 out of 20 core variables collected from NOAA observing platforms interoperable by 2012 (first 3 by FY08, first 5 by FY09)
FY06:  $7.4M; FY07:  $0M;  FY08:  $2.5M
Includes +$11.5M for IOOS Regional Observations 
Supports development of regional component of IOOS through competitive grants and contracts to 11 IOOS regions 
Includes +$1.35M for Ocean Sensors O&M
$12M provided ($8 in FY05, $4M in FY06) for ocean sensors to be added to existing NWS marine observational equipment.  Over the 2 years, 98 sites were upgraded.
$1.0M for field service and maintenance (includes ship support); $0.3M to maintain spare equipment; and $50K for shore-side operation/infrastructure support earmark
Includes +$1.0M for Met Sensors on Tide Stations (National Water Level Observing Network-NWLON) 
Upgrade 45 (of 187) NWLON stations with real-time meteorological sensors, leveraging an existing infrastructure asset
Data provides real-time conditions, and can improve the accuracy of NWS forecasts for storm surge, wind speed and wave heights
FY06:  $27.1M; FY07:  $25M;  FY08:  $26.6M
Ocean Research Priorities Plan Implementation
Hurricane Hazards & Watershed Influences +$5.0M
Supports development of decision support tools to help policy makers and managers anticipate and prepare for extreme weather 
Includes $1.675M for acquisition, integration, and assimilation of monitoring and mapping data, $1.835M for community inundation and ecosystem modeling, and $1.49M for building a geospatial framework and digital elevation models in pilot areas
Sensors for Marine Ecosystems +$5M
$1.5M supports development of new ‘in-situ’ biosensor technologies for rapid detection of pathogens in marine ecosystems such as harmful algal blooms and their toxins
$1.5M develops, evaluates, and validates micro arrays and other genomic tools and supporting bioinformatics infrastructure to elucidate effects of multiple environmental stressors on key marine organisms
$1.0M develops necessary genomic libraries and associated information to allow DNA-based identification of a range of marine organisms
$1.0M Improves video plankton recorders and related technology
Ocean Health Initiative +$1.0M
Closure of beaches & shellfish beds pose economic & health risks.  Marine derived toxins alone cause 60K illness/year globally.
Congressional and OAP Priority, 4 key areas:  E. coli, HABs, chemical pollutants, marine pharmaceuticals.
$0.5 M to conduct and coordinate research, education, and data management at NOAA’s OHH Centers at the Hollings Marine Laboratory (Charleston, SC), Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (Ann Arbor, MI), and Northwest Fisheries Science Center (Seattle, WA).
$0.5 M to develop a cadre of scientists skilled in working at the interface of ocean and biomedical and public health disciplines.
FY06:  $4.9M; FY07:  $0M;  FY08:  $1M
U.S. Extended Continental Shelf Mapping +$8.0M
Support for ocean exploration expeditions to collect data on the seabed and sub seafloor to redefine the extended U.S. Continental Shelf
FY06: $0M; FY07: $0M; FY08 $8.0M (includes 4.6M budget realignment for OKEANOS EXPLORER)

## Supporting the U.S. Ocean Action Plan

| 

 | Request
Amount | Program Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument | $8.0 | +$8.0 |
| Penobscot River Restoration | $10.0 | +$10.0 |
| Gulf of Mexico Regional Alliance | $5.0 | +$5.0 |

***“...******a landmark achievement for conservation, protection, and enhancement of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands...”***
***U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez – June 15, 2006 on designation of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument***

- Supporting the U.S. Ocean Action Plan

**($ in millions)**

*Protecting and Restoring Marine & Coastal Areas*

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

**Notes:**
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument +$8.0M
Monument established by Presidential Proclamation on June 15, 2006; largest area dedicated to conservation in the U.S. covering nearly 140,000 square miles
$2.5M for Management & Administration; 
$1.9M for vessel tracking and enforcement; 
$1.0M for Visitors and Education; 
$1.4M for establishment of field operations capacity at Midway Atoll; 
$0.9M for Ecosystem Characterization and Monitoring, and 
$0.2M for Marine Debris removal

Penobscot River Restoration +$10M
Restores riverine habitat in Maine’s largest watershed to rebuild 11 anadromous fish stocks including Atlantic Salmon.
Provides NOAA expertise (pre-and post-removal studies, engineering & environmental analysis, restoration planning & monitoring) and significant federal cost-share toward the purchase of 3 hydropower dams on the Penobscot slated for removal (2 dams) and fish bypass (1 dam).
Unprecedented opportunity to evaluate ecological, economic and cultural implications of large-scale, ecosystem level restoration.
Opens nearly 1000 miles of historic fish habitat while maintaining current hydropower production at 95% 
FY06: $0M; FY07: $0M; FY08: $10.0M

PHOTO detail:  Veazie Dam, the seaward most dam on the Penobscot slated for removal

Gulf of Mexico Regional Alliance +$5.0M
Gulf of Mexico Alliance established in response to Ocean Action Plan to advance coastal resource priorities in the five Gulf States
NOAA and EPA co-chair a Federal Workgroup to coordinate federal support from 13 agencies to ensure focused collaboration
11 targeted short-term actions outlined through Governor’s Action Plan for Healthy and Resilient Coasts
NOAA funding will provide competitive grants to state and local agencies to accomplish regional priorities identified in the Plan.

## Supporting the U.S. Ocean Action Plan

| 

 | Request
Amount | Program Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Magnuson-Stevens Act Reauthorization Implementation | $6.5 | +$6.5 |
| Aquaculture Program | $4.1 | +$3.0 |
| Limited Access Privilege Programs | $6.0 | +$6.0 |

***Coastal and marine waters generate over $63B annually in goods and services***

- Supporting the U.S. Ocean Action Plan

**($ in millions)**

*Ensuring Sustainable Use of Ocean Resources*

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

**Notes:**
Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act Implementation +$6.5M
MSA Reauthorization sets firm deadline to end over fishing in America by 2011 for all federally managed fish stocks, increases the use of market-based incentives to replenish stocks, strengthens enforcement of America’s fishing laws, and provides new tools to improve cooperative conservation efforts through on-the-ground restoration of fish habitat at the community level
International Fisheries ($1.5M) to build a multilateral process over the next two years to implement a strategy for monitoring illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing and bycatch, thereby reducing these activities. 
Recreational Fishery Data Collection ($3.5M) to improve the precision of recreational fishery catch monitoring surveys and speed integration of state/federal fisheries information into regional/national networks; thereby making it more accessible to stock assessment scientists, fishery managers, and the public. 
Ending Overfishing ($1.0M) to improve the independent peer-review process of data required to set annual catch limits, and to increase stipends to the Councils' Scientific and Technical Committees. 
Pacific Whiting ($0.5M) to establish joint committees on management and scientific review and increase enforcement, and to work with Canadian counterparts to establish an Advisory Panel, Joint Management and Technical Committees, and the Scientific Review Group as required in the Pacific Whiting Treaty. 

Aquaculture Program +$3.0M
Annual seafood trade deficit is nearly $8B, with 40% of imported seafood coming from aquaculture
$3.0M to develop the regulatory program called for in the Administration’s National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2005; hires an Aquaculture Scientist & Aquaculture Coordinator to develop regulations and standards for permit approval & monitoring
FY06:  $1.0M; FY07:  $1.0M;  FY08:  $3.0M

Limited Access Privilege Programs +$6.0M
$6.0M to develop, implement and operate Limited Access Privilege programs. 
In FY08, Gulf of Mexico red snapper and Atlantic Tilefish LAPPs will be operational
Supports development and implementation of a DAP for west coast groundfish fishery
Funding hires statisticians, technical information specialists & fisheries mgmt specialists
This will bring the total number of fully operational LAPPs to 12, on track to meet Ocean Action Plan goal of 16 by 2010 
Currently operational LAPPS:  Surf Clam/Ocean Quahog; Georges Bank Cod Hook Sector; Pacific Halibut & Sablefish; Western Alaska Community Development Quota; Bering Sea Pollock Cooperatives; Bering Sea King and Tanner crab; Pacific Sablefish Permit Stacking Program; Wreckfish.  
Currently Being Implemented:  Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper IFQ; Central Gulf of AK Rockfish Pilot Program
FY06:  $122.4M; FY07:  $131.6M;  FY08:  $151.0M (as part of the Fisheries Research and Management Program)
FY06:  $0M; FY07 $0M; FY08 $6.0M (LAPPs portion of Fisheries Research and Management Program line)

## Improving Weather Warnings & Forecasts

| 
 | Request
Amount | Program Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Strengthen Tsunami Program | $23.2 | +$1.7 |
| Hurricane Intensity Research | $2.0 | +$2.0 |
| Hurricane Data Buoys O&M | $4.4 | +$3.0 |
| Wind Profiler Conversion | $9.8 | +$3.5 |

***NOAA’s forecasts, warnings & associated emergency responses result in a $3 billion savings in a typical hurricane season***

**D**

**H**

- Improving Weather Warnings & Forecasts

**($ in millions)**

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

**Notes:**
Strengthen Tsunami: DART Buoys & TWEAK (Tsunami Warning & Environmental Observations – AK)
The June, 2006 GAO Report on U.S. Tsunami preparedness offered 6 recommendations for NOAA.  With this request of $23.2M, NOAA will address ALL remaining open recommendations:
NOAA has already addressed recommendations 1 and 3; the FY08 request of $23.2M allows 3 of the 4 remaining to be completed by the end of CY07.  The final recommendation is planned for completion in March, 2008 when the final 10 DART buoys are scheduled to be deployed.  
$1.7M to complete deployment of the DART Buoy Network, including:
Deploying the final 10 DART buoys for a total of 39
Completion of 6 additional inundation forecast models for a total of 29 (out of 75 total)
Completion of 5 additional TsunamiReady communities for a total of 47 (out of 260 total)
$1M to operate and maintain the expanded U.S. Tsunami Detection and Warning System installed FY 2004-07.
Partially funds recurring Congressional earmark of $2M.
Primary source of data for seismic and sea level monitoring in the Alaska region
FY06:  $6M; FY07:  $20.4M;  FY08:  $23.1M
Hurricane Intensity Research +$2.0M
Filling key gaps in existing observations of hurricane processes that affect intensity changes.
Analyzing and integrating existing observations (including measurements from airborne Doppler radar and from satellites) with the new observations to understand the factors that drive hurricane intensity.
Improve the societal value of hurricane intensity research by focusing on those measures (e.g., peak wind speed, the breadth of the region of high winds, etc.) that best convey critical information to users in ways that can be accurately interpreted 
Will allow better forecasting on changes in hurricane intensity that will ultimately save lives
FY06: $0M
Hurricane Buoy O&M +$3.0M
O&M needed for 15 weather buoys (7 under FY05 supp., 8 under FY06 supp)
$170K  to provide field service and maintenance 
$2.1M for ship costs (as buoys are farther from shore, ship time is a higher cost)
$250K  to provide shore-side operation/infrastructure support 
$470K  to provide and maintain spare equipment/buoy to support field maintenance strategy 
FY06:  $0M; FY07:  $1.4M;  FY08:  $4.4M
NOAA Wind Profiler +$3.5M ($1.7M in ORF; $1.8M in PAC)
Provides for the O&M of 34 out of 37 Profiler sites while needing to put in place the infrastructure for operations and maintenance of the frequency replacement
$0.8M to establish a monitoring center in Kansas City, colocated with the NRC
$0.55M to develop maintenance training course; $0.22M to test equipment for field electronic technicians
Funds the replacement of transmitters (for 3 NPN sites) that interfere with Search and Rescue Satellites (STARSAT) and to conduct tech refresh of the 20 year-old network, with a 3-year, $18M, one-time investment
Provides Conversion Costs (Antennas $0.41M, Transmitters $0.30M, Parts $0.59M, Project Expenses $0.06M)
FY06:  $2.9M; FY07:  $6.3M;  FY08:  $9.8M

## Climate Monitoring & Research

|  | Request
Amount | Program Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| National Integrated Drought Information System | $4.4 | +$4.4 |
| Ocean Current Circulation | $5.0 | +$5.0 |
| Climate Research Supercomputing | $1.0 | +$1.0 |
| Water Vapor Process Research | $0.9 | +$0.9 |
| TAO Array Refresh | $4.2 | +$1.1 |

***America is on the verge of technological breakthroughs that will.... help us to confront the serious challenge of global climate change.*** ***President George W. Bush - 2007 State of the Union Address***

- ($ in millions)

- The Challenges of Supporting NOAA's Ocean Research Infrastructure Needs

**Notes:**
NOAA spends a total of $240M on Climate Related Activities
This represents an increase of $14M over our FY07 Request, and a decrease of $11M from the FY06 Enacted
Drought Prediction, Warning & Monitoring
Research to Ops +$1.1M
Funds will develop and transition research advances in drought monitoring and prediction into enhanced NOAA climate forecasts and application products.
$0.61M to initiate a number of transition projects through competitive grants (eg. water resource management, agricultural applications, and wild fire risk outlooks)
$0.25M to support a visiting scientist program at NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Prediction for testing and transitioning models, data sets, and analysis
$0.2M to provide management and contractors for scientific, technical and logistic support for transition activities
FY06:  $0M; FY07:  $0M;  FY08:  $1.1M
Drought Warning & Monitoring +$3.3M
$2.15M to establish internet access to a “drought early warning system” capable of providing accurate, timely, and integrated information describing drought conditions.
Funding for IT hardware, software, NIDIS Operational Center Help Desk:  $1.15M to install reference quality soil moisture and temperature sensors at each of the 114 USCRN stations across the contiguous 48 states during the period FY 08-12, at a rate of 23 sites per year
FY06:  $0M; FY07:  $0M;  FY08:  $1.8M
Assessing Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) Variability +$5.0M
Supports Ocean Research Priorities Plan implementation
$2.5 M to conduct research on the origins, dynamics,& structure of MOC variability & trends:  conduct research on the potential for climate & process thresholds & feedback which might accelerate changes
$1.75 M to develop ocean data assimilation, targeted model parameterization & capability for observing system design experiments.
$0.75M to conduct simulation studies of impacts of NOC changes on extreme events & global climate (joint w/CCSP).
FY06: $0M; FY07: $0M; FY08: $5.0M
Research Supercomputing for Assessing Abrupt Climate Change +$1.0
A better predictive understanding of the impacts of climate variability and change on extreme events like hurricanes and regional droughts is needed to enhance predictive capabilities
5 key problem areas for enhanced  understanding include Atlantic hurricane activity, prolonged drought in the west, accelerated sea level rise, Atlantic ocean circulation, and Arctic ice
Solutions to problem areas require expansions and extensions of computational resources to fully utilize existing scientific expertise
FY06: $0M; FY07: $0M; FY08: $1.0M
Water Vapor Process Research +$0.9M
$0.5M to develop key instrumentation to measure water vapor in-situ & with varying altitude
Maintain and operate reference water stations that obtain water vapor vertical profiles using sondes for long-term trends.
$0.38M to develop and improve models designed to provide a predictive understanding of the physical processes affecting water vapor concentration in the lower atmosphere.
FY06: $0M; Fy07: $0M; FY08: $0.9M
TAO Array Refresh +$1.1M
Funds needed to replace obsolete components of the Nation’s foremost climate observing system (9 buoys and 8 spars); 
$578K  for subsurface sensor arrays for temperature and salinity observations at up to 11 depths ; $255K  CPU/data logger and modem for more reliable real-time data access; $34K  Compass to provide earth-referenced coordinates for wind velocity measurements; $51K  Iridium Communications to provide improved real-time reporting necessary to calibrate the Climate Forecast System; $63K  Sensor interfaces; $119K  Enclosures/connectors
Total funding required to replace obsolete components for the 55 buoys is $6.6M, and will be accomplished over a six year period beginning in FY08
FY06:  $0M; FY07:  $0M;  FY08:  $1.1M