# Presentation: 100155

## OCEANOLOGY 2004

- VICE ADMIRAL CONRAD C. LAUTENBACHER, JR., U.S. NAVY (RET.)
- Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
- March 16, 2004

- Stewardship of the Oceans and Coastal Zone through Coastal and Ocean Observing Systems

**Notes:**
Good morning.  
Thank you for inviting me to this year’s conference. I am delighted to talk with you about strategies critical to stewardship of our oceans and coastal zones.  
Thank you, Professor Graham Shimmield. Congratulations on serving as chair of this year’s conference and exhibition.  I welcome the chance to join you at this very important forum.
As Administrator of NOAA, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the principle ocean agency in the U.S., I am happy to share information about our international, regional, and local work. 
NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet America’s social, economic and environmental needs. 
We work to monitor and understand oceans, coasts, fisheries, and weather. NOAA develops forecasts and warnings, and disseminates that information for the benefit of the public. 
Each day NOAA services touch at least $3 trillion of America’s economy.  That’s about 30% of my country’s GDP. 

## STEWARDSHIP OF OUR OCEANS AND COASTAL ZONE

- NOAA’s current and historical focus is Ocean and Coastal Stewardship
- More recently; U.S. Coastal Zone Management Act, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Act, and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act

**Notes:**
NOAA traces its lineages to stewardship of the ocean and coastal zone as far back as:

1807, President Jefferson created the Survey of the Coast – the United States oldest scientific organization - with the mandate of charting the coast to ensure the safe commerce and transportation.
1871, the U.S. Commission on Fish and Fisheries was created because and I quote, “the most valuable food fishes of the coast and the lakes of the United States are rapidly diminishing in number, to the public injury, and so as materially to affect the interests of trade and commerce.” – a very forward thinking realization for the late 1800s.
Both these agencies evolved into parts of NOAA as it exists today

More recently NOAA had lead the effort of overseeing and implementing stewardship policy including:
  Coastal Zone Management Act that now encompasses 34 states and territories with over 95,000 miles of shoreline.
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act  the primary law dealing with fisheries resources and fishing activities in Federal waters
 National Marine Sanctuaries Act for the purpose of designating those areas of the marine environment that are deemed of national significance due to their conservation, recreational, ecological or esthetic values. Currently, 13 sanctuaries have been designated  - with one pending - the Northwest Hawaiian Islands.

Our experience has told us you need more that regulatory responsibilities and management oversight – you need science and the ability to apply it to make informed decisions.

Sound science is the basis of all of our work at NOAA, and my management vision is to move NOAA into the 21st century in the same interrelated manner as the environment we observe, forecast and protect. 
And to focus NOAA on using science to gain value. 

## INCREASING PRESSURES/INCREASING CHALLENGES 

- Observing Earth’s systems = Understand whole Earth
- U.S. coastal areas are 38% of the population in 19% of entire land area
- By 2015, coastal population expected to increase by 28M people
- Population increase could cause increased vulnerability to natural disasters (floods and hurricanes)
- Need for clean water and plentiful food will grow
- Concerns are global–not limited to U.S.

**Notes:**
Given accelerating ocean, coastal and other challenges, we must understand the interrelationships among our planet’s systems if we are to ever truly understand our every-changing world. 
As you know, ocean and coastal resources are under increasing pressure from population growth and development.
In the U.S., coastal areas host over 38% of the population within just 19% of the nation’s land area. By 2015, coastal population is expected to increase by 28 million people.
This population increase and shift to the coastal zone could cause increased vulnerability to natural disasters, such as floods and hurricanes. The need for clean water and plentiful food will also grow.
These concerns are global – they are not just limited to the United States. 

## Part of larger Earth Observing System
Integrated approach to taking Earth’s pulse wherever it beats
Major part consists of a Integrated Ocean Observations System (IOOS)
One System to integrate thousands of technological pieces
Will address some of uncertainty associated with climate science
Added value by providing better 
weather forecasting
agricultural planning
disaster preparedness and mitigation
prediction of infectious disease outbreaks 

- Integrated approach to taking Earth’s pulse wherever it beats
- Major part consists of a Integrated Ocean Observations System (IOOS)
- One System to integrate thousands of technological pieces
- Will address some of uncertainty associated with climate science
- Added value by providing better
- weather forecasting
- agricultural planning
- disaster preparedness and mitigation
- prediction of infectious disease outbreaks

- COMPREHENSIVE, INTEGRATED, AND SUSTAINED OCEAN AND COASTAL OBSERVING SYSTEM

**Notes:**
I believe that understanding our Earth, and addressing the challenges, requires a global Earth Observation System, an integrated approach to talking Earth’s pulse wherever it beats – which is all over the globe. 

The major part of this is a Comprehensive, Integrated, and Sustained Ocean and Coastal Observing System of a larger Earth Observation System.

Such a system will address some of uncertainty associated with climate science, but also impart value by providing better weather forecasting, agricultural planning, disaster preparedness and mitigation, and prediction of infectious disease outbreaks. 

## BENEFITS OF OBSERVATIONS

**Notes:**
We do not build systems because we can.  We build systems because there are social, economic, and scientific imperatives that drive them.  We build systems to:

Help reduce loss of life and property from natural disasters
Understand disease and environmental factors affecting human health
Improve capacity to achieve sustainable development, including improved    management of energy resources
Understand climate and mitigating climate change impacts
Improve understanding of global water resource management
Improve weather information and prediction
Improve management of coastal and marine ecosystems
Monitor and manage inland ecosystems, including forests
Support sustainable agriculture and combat desertification
Understand, monitor, and prevent loss of biodiversity

Beneficial implications for farmers in the developing world, for folks who make their livelihood along the coast, for governments trying to make the most of limited resources, and for the multibillion dollar insurance and food industries.

VIDEO LENGTH 34 seconds

## BENEFITS OF A IOOS THE GLOBAL COMPONENT OF IOOS 

- Improved El Niño forecasting annually benefits
- U.S. agriculture $265-$300M by altering planting decisions
- Mexican agriculture from $10 to $25M
- U.S. corn storage can approach $200M
- NW Coho salmon fishery by $250k to $1M
- Global agriculture by $450M to $550M

**Notes:**
The benefits of global scale observations, such as IOOS,  are clear.  Studies on improved El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) forecasts show: 
Farmers in the U.S. could increase agricultural output and produce benefits to the economy of $275-300 million per year by using seasonal forecasts to guide planting decisions. 
Using ENSO forecasts just for corn storage decisions could produce benefits as high as $200 million.
Information on seasonal precipitation will improve electricity production by allowing efficiency gains by switching from thermal to hydropower. 

## THE COASTAL COMPONENT OF IOOS 

- Coastal areas account for 20% of the Earth Surface
- Contain 50% of the world’s population,
- 70% of the world’s megacitites (>8 million inhabitants)
- Yield 90% of the global fisheries
- Integrated ocean observing system (IOOS) benefits
- Short-term environmental data helps the public plan recreational activities and improve search and rescue efforts
- Medium- to long-term environmental data to increase the accuracy of ship routing information and support extraction of offshore resources
- Environmental information to improve the management of fisheries and the coastal zone, water quality, beaches and public health
- Climate variability information to improve seasonal forecasts of rainfall, storm surge, hurricane probability, and long-term temperature trends
- Long-term ocean climate data to improve estimates of atmospheric climate change, sea level changes, and changes in sea ice limits

**Notes:**
Coastal areas are crucial to supporting life on our planet. They account for only 20% of Earth Surface, yet they contain 50% of the population, 70% of the worlds megacitites, and yield 90% of the global fisheries.
Obtaining and integrating ocean observations is most critical in the coastal zone, where the density and affects of human activities are most acute. 
An integrated ocean observing system (IOOS) will benefit everyone whose livelihood is linked to the nation’s coast.  Once deployed, the system will produce:
Short term environmental data to help the public plan recreational activities and improve search and rescue efforts. 
Medium- to long-term environmental data to increase the accuracy of ship routing information and support extraction of offshore resources.
Environmental information to improve the management of fisheries and the coastal zone, water quality, beaches and public health.
Climate variability information to improve seasonal forecasts of rainfall, storm surge, hurricane probability, and long-term temperature trends.
Long-term ocean climate data to improve estimates of atmospheric climate change, sea level changes, and changes in sea ice limits.  
Here in Europe - Significant progress has been made in developing a European Global Ocean Observing System .  The estimated minimum value added to the EU GNP by a prediction system is about $1.4-2.3 B per year.  Investments in IOOS should provide comparable benefits to the U.S. economy. 

## INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION 

- ARGO
- Currently, there are 1,106 operational profiling floats designed to observe the ocean’s upper layer in real time
- Global array of 3,000 expected by 2006
- Model for IOOS
- Major building block of a global Earth Observation System
- 16 participating countries

**Notes:**
The vision of a Global Earth Observation System can only be realized through International Cooperation and Collaboration.

An example of this is the ARGO program, a major building block of a global Earth Observation System.

Underscore ARGO participation: Acknowledge UK and other participating countries in the audience. (UK, Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, EU, France, Germany, India, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Korea, Russia, Spain, US)

There are now 1106 operational profiling floats designed to observe the ocean’s upper layer in real time. Along with satellites, the ARGO array will initiate the oceanic equivalent of today’s operational observing system for the global atmosphere. Combined ocean/atmosphere observing systems will collect necessary data to understand and predict phenomena that influence our global climate

Global array of 3,000 expected by 2006. 

Commend ARGO as a model for IOOS.

VIDEO LENGTH 1:45 minutes

## INTERNATIONAL EFFORTSEARTH OBSERVATION SUMMIT

- WASHINGTON, D.C.
- July 31, 2003

- 34Nations

- 20International Organizations

**Notes:**
US hosted Earth Observation Summit last July. Welcomed 34 countries and the EC and 20 organizations.  The participants at the Summit made a high-level political commitment to build a comprehensive, coordinated, global network.  Five USG Cabinet Secretaries participated.  Strong Political Will.

The international community has embraced this endeavor because there is strong support for a system of existing systems that will provide sound scientific information for decision-making.  

This process is also a strong indication of our dedication to helping the developing world in the areas of economy and health/well-being.  (Robust engagement from developing countries who see a benefit from access to the information tools to be developed from better observations). 

Other results from the Summit include:
 Issued declaration
 Agreed to develop 10-year implementation plan
 Established the Group on Earth Observations with US (NOAA) Co-Chair 

## INTERNATIONAL EFFORTSGEO

*Ad hoc* intergovernmental group on earth observations
- 44 countries and 26 international organizations
- Goal: develop 10-year plan
- 5 subgroups
- Architecture
- Capacity Building
- Data Utilization
- International Cooperation
- User Requirements and Outreach

**Notes:**
GEO was established with the primary objective to develop a 10-Year Implementation Plan.  It is co-chaired by the US, EC, Japan, and South Africa.  

The number of participants continues to grow. As of March 1, the number is 44 countries and 26 agencies.  

GEO is divided into five groups – Architecture, Capacity Building, Data Utilization, International Cooperation, and User Requirements and Outreach.

 I serve as one of four co-chairs and the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) along with:
EC – Director General Achilleas Mitsos of the Directorate General for Research 
Japan – Mr. Akio Yuki, Deputy Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) 
South Africa – Dr. Rob Adam, Director General, Department of Science and Technology

We are responsible for developing a data utilization model for the 10-year implementation plan.

## INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS GEO-3 HIGHLIGHTS

- Approved Draft Framework Document
- To be presented to Ministers at EO Summit II
- Primary focus on socio-economic benefits of observations
- Build upon existing systems
- Approved writing team for implementation plan
- Comprised of representatives of GEO Co-Chairs
- Draft Report outline by GEO-4
- Final Plan submitted to EO Summit III

**Notes:**
To date, there have been three GEO meetings.  Rather than inundate with you a blow-by-blow of each meeting, I will highlight some of the successes from the last meeting – GEO 3- which took place the last week in February in Capetown, South Africa.

Approved Draft Framework Document: To be presented to Ministers at EO Summit II. The key issue here is the primary focus of the document is the socio-economic benefits of observations and that we will build upon existing systems.

Approved Writing Team for Implementation Plan: This writing team will be comprised of representatives from the of GEO Co-Chairs (US, Japan, EC, and South Africa). They will be responsible for consulting with experts and members of subgroups for content. The Draft is due by GEO-4 and the final to be submitted to EO Summit III in Feb 2005.  An AMBITIOUS timetable.

## INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS UPCOMING MEETINGS

- GEO-4 and EO Summit II: April ’04, Tokyo
- EOS-II to approve Framework Document
- Review Progress of Implementation Plan
- GEO-5: Fall ’04, Ottawa
- Review Progress of Implementation Plan
- EO Summit III February ’05, Brussels
- Approve 10-year Implementation Plan

**Notes:**
The next meetings are as follows:

GEO-4: There will be another GEO meeting as well as the next EO Summit.  During GEO-4, work will be finalized on all the Framework Document I mentioned before, as well as a review an annotated outline of the draft Implementation plan.  The Ministers at EOS-II will be asked to approve [the Communiqué], the Framework Document, and review the annotated outline of draft implementation plan.

GEO-5: Will take place in Ottawa. The major focus will be the 10-year Implementation Plan.

EO-Summit III – The Ministers will be asked to approve the 10-year Implementation Plan.

## PARTNERSHIPS

- Involvement of Industry, Academia, and NGOs essential to success
- Industry role as developer
- Industry role as key user
- Marketable Services: Ties to Numerous Sectors
- Urban Planning
- Mining
- Transportation
- Energy
- Agriculture/Forestry Management
- Insurance
- Construction

**Notes:**
Partnerships are necessary to strengthen and enable Earth Observations System.  

Cite Southampton visit and how it is a model for academia/government/industry collaboration and partnering. (Southampton is primarily dependent on govt research $ and partners with and does research for private industry – info from their website please verify at visit).

Industry has two roles in the development of such a system – one as builder/maintainer of systems and the other as user.

Through its role as developer, Industry can be involved in Research to Operations to Data utilization.  They can help address gaps and build systems. Data management is another key area.  We need the capacity to exchange, store, and disseminate data and information on a free and open basis over the long term.

In addition to playing a role in the development of a system of systems, industry has a real opportunity to benefit from marketable services – as noted in the examples listed here.

## EXISTING INDUSTRY INITIATIVES

- Alliance For Earth Observations http://www.strategies.org/alliance
- American Meteorological Society Forum On Earth Observations http://www.ametsoc.org/atmospolicy/index.html

**Notes:**
We are aware two ongoing efforts of the private organizing themselves to address how to engage the governmental process. 

The Alliance for Earth Observations is a publicly and privately funded initiative of the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies to promote the understanding and use of land, air and sea observations for societal and economic benefit.

AMS has proposed to hold a Policy Forum on Earth Observations to facilitate a dialogue complementary to GEO about the important of observations.  Information is not yet available on the web, but it should be soon.

## INDUSTRYSUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION 

**Notes:**
It will only be through partnerships with industry that benefits from existing and new technology will support these efforts.

The video you are watching is an ongoing research and development project NOAA and industry are proposing as an advanced earth observation system called GUPS or Global Unified Profiling System.

The GUPS is designed to monitor detailed profiles of important climate parameters such as temperature and moisture (in the atmosphere) and temperature and salinity (in the ocean).

It uses a grid over the ocean, with satellites, routine UAV flights covering the grid, and ocean buoys at each grid point that takes observations of different parameters and spatial density from 35,800 km above seal level to the ocean to ocean depths of over 2 km.

 This type of data is truly unprecedented. 

This system would fill an important gap in the current global observing system, allowing big improvements in diagnosis (is global warming really occurring?)  and prediction (will the global temperature rise 2 F or 10 F in the next 100 years.) 

Its partnerships like this where industry partnering with government and academia will be realized.

VIDEO LENGTH 2:18 minutes

## ONE OCEAN
GLOBAL CHALLENGES
GLOBAL SOLUTIONS

- ONE OCEAN
- GLOBAL CHALLENGES
- GLOBAL SOLUTIONS

**Notes:**
In closing, We have “One Ocean” shared by the world’s community, and no matter what you do as an individual or organization in your involvement with our ocean, your actions influence all other actions that affect our global ocean.

 The challenges we face in our coastal and ocean areas are challenges we face together and that we need to solve together as a global community.

Through Coastal and Ocean Observations not only can we resolve some of these challenges but we can also realize societal, economic, and scientific benefits for all.

The time for all of us  – government, industry, academia, researchers, educators, the public, and others - to engage the future now and come together as colleagues of a “one ocean community.”

I thank you for your time and attention.