# Presentation: 062153

## NOAA CoastWatchOceanWatch(My Twenty Years in the Valley of Death)

*Kent H. Hughes*
*CoastWatch Program Manager*
*Satellite Oceanography Division*
*Center for Satellite Applications and Research*
*Camp Springs, MD*

- http://coastwatch.noaa.gov

## NOAA CoastWatchThe Challenge

- Deliver operational near real-time high resolution satellite data and products for the
- U. S. coastal ocean to:

- federal, state, and local governments
- marine scientists
- coastal resource managers
- educators
- public

## NOAA CoastWatchKey Events

**North Carolina Harmful Algal Bloom **1987:
- Trigger event
**Coastal Ocean Program** 1990:
- Regular funding established (research oversight)
**NOAA CoastWatch operational **1991:
- Complete national coverage established (Hawai’i)
**CoastWatch in NESDIS base budget** 1994/1995:
- Program becomes fully operational
**Freedom of Information Act** 1997:
- Full and open access
**Management**:
- NODC (‘87-‘92), OSDPD (‘92-‘00), ORA (‘00–present)
**OceanWatch: Commerce budget guidance (FY 2003): **
- Develop with existing resources ($680K)

## NOAA CoastWatchCoastWatch Geographic Coverage (2001-2002)

## National and Regional Centers

## NOAA CoastWatchProgram Baselines

- $1.4M and 1 FTE (ORA)
- Associated manpower:  20 FTEs
- 14,000 registered users (as of April 2003)
- Recreational users largest segment
- Three product types produced
- SST, ocean color, ocean surface winds
- 555K Observational generated annually (Central only)
- Five active distributed regional nodes – NOAA laboratories and offices (three Line Offices)
- Six environmental satellite systems: US, non-US, and commercial – 9 TB communicated via Internet

**Notes:**
CEMSCS POES SST
TERASCAN SST (90 products per day [11 regions * 8 passes + overlap] )
 GOES SST ( 8 products/day + 1 composite/day = 9 products x 7 Regions = 63 images per day [x 3 formats = 189] )
WINDS (48 qscat_products/day + 16 ssmi_products/day = 64 products per day)
MODIS (19 chlor_A/day + 19 chlor_B/day  = 38 products per day [+ 14 composites/day = 52 products per day])

## NOAA CoastWatchAnnual Registrations by Category

## NOAA CoastWatchUser Distribution by Regional Node

**Alaska**

**2%**

**Caribbean**

**5%**

**Great Lakes**

**3%**

**Gulf of Mexico**

**18%**

**Hawaii**

**3%**

**Northeast**

**19%**

**Southeast**

**14%**

**West Coast**

**36%**

*Regional Products*

**Notes:**
Check Dolphin names
NORTHEAST
Marine Mammal and Swordfish Turtle Bycatch for support of NMFS

GOMx / SOUTHEAST
Marine mammal research and cruise data analysis in support of NOS
(Hypoxia something?)

WEST COAST
El nino product.

HAWAII

OCEANWATCH APPLICATION OF CW DATA:
Aug 2000:  Purpose of closures – reduce incidental by catch of sea turtles.  
Area A closed year round (in red because overlaps interim closure area).  
Judge drew closure area on a map that went up to Alaska. 
Area B closed (w/ exceptions)--  Loggerhead is the driver for the closures. 
Closed with exceptions, 500(?) sets per year, 100% observer coverage of the fleet. 
Effect was shutdown of Swordfishery.  
Area C limited closure – guided by leatherback turtle takes – this region is the usual Tuna fishery.

One problem is lack of information on Leatherbacks – not much known –
tagging program now in effect and CW data is being used to describe their habitat – 

POSSIBLE APPROACH TO DEFINE TIME AND AREA CLOSURES:
Identify habitats using satellite sensors, e.g.
Areas of convergence - Wind Stress Curl (QuikSCAT and ADEOS-II)
Swordfish habitat - 18 C Isotherm (GOES and AVHRR)
Marine turtle habitat - 0.2 Chlorophyll (MODIS AM/PM)
Model anticipated longline fishery interactions
Adjust fishery closures accordingly

Because of Leatherback (lack of knowledge) it remains a possible 
approach – although it works for Loggerheads.

OCEAN FEATURES ARE IMPORTANT IN PELAGIC ECOSYSTEMS AND EFH:
Vertical Thermal Topography – temperatures throughout the water column 
– Topex can assist, along with SST and XBT/TAO data.
Wave heights – fishability/catchability – primary concern with Lobster trapping.  

Wind stress curl (shape of the wind field)  proportional to Ekman Upwelling.  

SPATIAL and TEMPORAL DYNAMICS of SUBTROPICAL CONVERGENCE:

Negative value of wind stress curl – purple – areas of convergence.  
18 Degrees isotherm is where swordfish gather. 
 .2 Chl location of loggerheads.  
When chlorophyll dips below 18C, turtle catches may increase (hypothesis).  
Wind is the driver.  

MEAN Winter Convergence – NW Hawaiian chain acts as a comb

## NOAA CoastWatch

- NOAA ***C***oast***W***atch

**Notes:**
NORTHEAST
Marine Mammal and Swordfish Turtle Bycatch for support of NMFS

GOMx / SOUTHEAST
Marine mammal research and cruise data analysis in support of NOS
(Hypoxia something?)

WEST COAST
El nino product.

HAWAII

OCEANWATCH APPLICATION OF CW DATA:
Aug 2000:  Purpose of closures – reduce incidental by catch of sea turtles.  
Area A closed year round (in red because overlaps interim closure area).  
Judge drew closure area on a map that went up to Alaska. 
Area B closed (w/ exceptions)--  Loggerhead is the driver for the closures. 
Closed with exceptions, 500(?) sets per year, 100% observer coverage of the fleet. 
Effect was shutdown of Swordfishery.  
Area C limited closure – guided by leatherback turtle takes – this region is the usual Tuna fishery.

One problem is lack of information on Leatherbacks – not much known –
tagging program now in effect and CW data is being used to describe their habitat – 

POSSIBLE APPROACH TO DEFINE TIME AND AREA CLOSURES:
Identify habitats using satellite sensors, e.g.
Areas of convergence - Wind Stress Curl (QuikSCAT and ADEOS-II)
Swordfish habitat - 18 C Isotherm (GOES and AVHRR)
Marine turtle habitat - 0.2 Chlorophyll (MODIS AM/PM)
Model anticipated longline fishery interactions
Adjust fishery closures accordingly

Because of Leatherback (lack of knowledge) it remains a possible 
approach – although it works for Loggerheads.

OCEAN FEATURES ARE IMPORTANT IN PELAGIC ECOSYSTEMS AND EFH:
Vertical Thermal Topography – temperatures throughout the water column 
– Topex can assist, along with SST and XBT/TAO data.
Wave heights – fishability/catchability – primary concern with Lobster trapping.  

Wind stress curl (shape of the wind field)  proportional to Ekman Upwelling.  

SPATIAL and TEMPORAL DYNAMICS of SUBTROPICAL CONVERGENCE:

Negative value of wind stress curl – purple – areas of convergence.  
18 Degrees isotherm is where swordfish gather. 
 .2 Chl location of loggerheads.  
When chlorophyll dips below 18C, turtle catches may increase (hypothesis).  
Wind is the driver.  

MEAN Winter Convergence – NW Hawaiian chain acts as a comb

## NOAA CoastWatchProducts Used by Regional Nodes

|  | Local AVHRR Acquisition | Polar SST | GOES SST | Ocean Color | Surface Winds | Altimetry | SAR |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Hawai’i | HRPT | X | X | X | X | X |  |
| Northeast |  | X | X |  | X |  |  |
| Caribbean | HRPT | X |  | X | X | X |  |
| Great Lakes |  | X | X |  |  |  | X |
| Gulf of Mexico |  | X |  | X |  |  |  |
| Alaska | HRPT | X |  |  |  |  | X |
| West Coast | HRPT | X | X | X | X | X |  |

- NOAA **C**oast**W**atch*Products Used by Regional Nodes*

**Notes:**
Move alaska up one

## NOAA CoastWatch

- NOAA ***C***oast***W***atch

**Notes:**
NORTHEAST
Marine Mammal and Swordfish Turtle Bycatch for support of NMFS

GOMx / SOUTHEAST
Marine mammal research and cruise data analysis in support of NOS
(Hypoxia something?)

WEST COAST
El nino product.

HAWAII

OCEANWATCH APPLICATION OF CW DATA:
Aug 2000:  Purpose of closures – reduce incidental by catch of sea turtles.  
Area A closed year round (in red because overlaps interim closure area).  
Judge drew closure area on a map that went up to Alaska. 
Area B closed (w/ exceptions)--  Loggerhead is the driver for the closures. 
Closed with exceptions, 500(?) sets per year, 100% observer coverage of the fleet. 
Effect was shutdown of Swordfishery.  
Area C limited closure – guided by leatherback turtle takes – this region is the usual Tuna fishery.

One problem is lack of information on Leatherbacks – not much known –
tagging program now in effect and CW data is being used to describe their habitat – 

POSSIBLE APPROACH TO DEFINE TIME AND AREA CLOSURES:
Identify habitats using satellite sensors, e.g.
Areas of convergence - Wind Stress Curl (QuikSCAT and ADEOS-II)
Swordfish habitat - 18 C Isotherm (GOES and AVHRR)
Marine turtle habitat - 0.2 Chlorophyll (MODIS AM/PM)
Model anticipated longline fishery interactions
Adjust fishery closures accordingly

Because of Leatherback (lack of knowledge) it remains a possible 
approach – although it works for Loggerheads.

OCEAN FEATURES ARE IMPORTANT IN PELAGIC ECOSYSTEMS AND EFH:
Vertical Thermal Topography – temperatures throughout the water column 
– Topex can assist, along with SST and XBT/TAO data.
Wave heights – fishability/catchability – primary concern with Lobster trapping.  

Wind stress curl (shape of the wind field)  proportional to Ekman Upwelling.  

SPATIAL and TEMPORAL DYNAMICS of SUBTROPICAL CONVERGENCE:

Negative value of wind stress curl – purple – areas of convergence.  
18 Degrees isotherm is where swordfish gather. 
 .2 Chl location of loggerheads.  
When chlorophyll dips below 18C, turtle catches may increase (hypothesis).  
Wind is the driver.  

MEAN Winter Convergence – NW Hawaiian chain acts as a comb

## NOAA CoastWatch

**Notes:**
Caribbean/AOML – Hurricane Heat Potential
NCCOS/CSC/CW – HAB Bulletin
PLACEHOLDER for NWS
PLACEHOLDER for SAR ICE

## NOAA CoastWatch

**Notes:**
Caribbean/AOML – Hurricane Heat Potential
NCCOS/CSC/CW – HAB Bulletin
PLACEHOLDER for NWS
PLACEHOLDER for SAR ICE

## NOAA CoastWatchGreat Salt Lake SST Product

- GSL ingredient in lake-effect snow in Salt Lake City-hard to initialize in models
- CoastWatch SST product to be used in mesoscale model for Winter 2002 Olympic Support
- Produced using new TeraScan system (IPD).

**Notes:**
The Problem:
From Prof. Jim Steenburgh, University of Utah: 
For the past several years, we've been running a mesoscale model over the Intermountain West.  The modeling system will be upgraded to 4-km grid spacing this summer and will be used by the forecast team for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.  One of our biggest modeling challenges has been properly initializing 
the temperature of the Great Salt Lake (GSL).  We expect this challenge to grow as we continue to increase model resolution. The GSL produces substantial lake-effect snowstorms several times a year.  Such storms have produced more than 3 feet of snow in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area.  Because the GSL is very shallow (average depth of only 4.8 m), it warms very rapidly.  Lake-effect storms have been observed from September - May. Most of the lake is very remote and obtaining reliable in situ lake-temperature observations has been extremely difficult.  We have installed real-time lake-temperature sensors at two locations, and will be installing a moored buoy this summer.  If problems crop up with this equipment, which is not uncommon, it can take weeks to arrange for a visit and repair.  At times, we cannot access the sensors since they are located on small islands in sensitive bird-nesting areas.  What we would like to do is to utilize remotely sensed lake-temperature observations, along with available in situ observations, to initialize lake temperature in our model forecasts.  If your group could provide them, we would download the most recent gridded lake-temperature analyses available and incorporate them into our real-time modeling system.  We would likely do some validation work and run some model tests to see how to best incorporate the data.  NCEP also has a need for improved lake-temperature observations from the 
GSL since they will be running the Eta model at 8 km resolution this fall.  This modeling system will also be used for Olympic weather prediction.  
Finally, we are also interested in building an archive that will allow us to learn more about the temperature structure and cycle of the GSL.  Such an archive would be useful for both meteorological, environmental, and biological studies of the GSL.

About the Image
Again from Prof. Steenburgh: “I had an opportunity to download and use your software {CDAT} to examine the most recent GSL data file obtained with clear skies.  Very nice!  Your software is quite easy to use.  I've appended an image, which was taken around 1000 UTC 19 Aug (3 am LST), since it contains some interesting features.  Note that the scale is set so that everything < 20 C is black.  First, note the contrast in lake temperature between the north and south arm of the lake.  An earthen causeway (blue line) prevents mixing between the two arms.  The AVHRR-derived SST's in the south arm were within 1 C of what our in situ sampler had at this time. Also of interest are two fires near the southern and eastern sides of  the image.  The Santaquin fire started Saturday night and burned 10,000 acres in 24 h (if the news reports I heard are correct).  Finally, the relatively high "SST's" over the Salt Flats are interesting.  This is a very unique ecosystem.  Sometimes the salt flats are covered by water that is only a couple of inches deep.  However, even if they are dry, they have a different thermal inertia than the surrounding desert and are typically much warmer at night and in the early morning.  This is probably why there are higher brightness temperatures in this region.”

Imagery produced using TeraScan system purchased through IPD (John Sapper).  GSL product produced by Peter Hollemans, SES Inc.

## OceanWatchFirst steps

- FY 2003 request ($680K increase within Sustained Healthy Coasts) for:
- science support
- three regional demonstrations, and
- systems development / expanded operations.
- Department of Commerce FY 2003 directed – “No increase is provided for the OceanWatch program. The small amount needed for this activity should be provided for out of existing base funds.”

## OceanWatchNext steps

**Attempted several small steps forward to define and execute *****O*****cean*****W*****atch**:
- Restrict to two limited demonstrations (Pacific Grove and Hawai’i)
- Solicit collaboration with multiple national and international partners (new data sources, techniques development, broadened applications, etc.)
- Investments in a native NOAA capability for broadened NOAA role in operational ocean remote sensing

## OceanWatchThe latest steps

**April 2006:  NOAA Transition Board directs development of plans for dozens of  research to operations projects (FY 2010)**
**Ocean Remote Sensing / *****O*****cean*****W*****atch briefed to uppers levels as CEO contribution**
**NOAA groups being established and plans being developed for summer submission**
***O*****cean*****W*****atch will rely on groups in NOAA to:**
- Coordinate access to best available ocean remote sensing science (SST, Ocean Color, Surface Winds, and Altimetry)
- Rely on “other” r2o groups for science development and investment
- Organize  sustainable operational and research facilities supporting above, and
- Organize and execute sustainable national and international operational  ocean remote sensing demonstrations

## NOAA CoastWatchOceanWatch

*Kent H. Hughes*
*CoastWatch Program Manager*
*Satellite Oceanography Division*
*Center for Satellite Applications and Research*
*Camp Springs, MD*