Tide station at Chesapeake City, MD (foreground). "Air gap" sensor (not visible) on the bridge to measure clearance between the water surface and the lowest part of the bridge. Both are components of observing systems operated by NOAA's National Ocean Service.

July 30 Meeting

The United States is developing an Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) involving the cooperation and support of the federal agencies with marine mandates, and regional coastal ocean information programs (regional associations) that are composed of regional stakeholders - representatives that use, depend on, manage and study marine systems.   IOOS is being designed to satisfy user needs for coastal, ocean data and information, and will facilitate the response to and study of immediate, short term and long term ocean resource issues. The system is envisioned as a coordinated national and international network of observations, data management and communications, and data analysis and modeling that systematically acquires and disseminates data and information on past, present and future states of the oceans and coasts, including the Great Lakes. Composed of global and coastal ocean components, the coastal ocean component will be a national integrated network of federally managed "backbone" elements, regional coastal observing systems (RCOOS) and reference ("sentinel") stations, all supported by relevant research.   In addition to supporting national programs authorized by law, the system will be "regionally relevant" and will collect data and provide information that will result in tangible benefits for a broad and diverse stakeholder community.  Users will include resource managers, emergency responders, mariners, scientists, homeland security officials, and educators.

Currently, the United States has hundreds of coastal ocean observing systems that have been built for different purposes and applications.   These systems may become part of the federal national backbone, or will become RCOOS that generate tailored products and services to address specific regional and local ocean resource needs.   Integrating the federal components into a national network that is enhanced and augmented by integrated regional efforts will be more cost-effective, and provide greater national and local benefits, according to IOOS sponsors and the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy.    National IOOS guidance and technical assistance will ensure that these regional systems will continue to evolve organizationally, and involve stakeholders in the design of the regional observing system and in the evaluation of the system's performance. Stakeholder involvement is critical to the success of IOOS.

July 30, 2004 Meeting: IOOS and the Marine Navigation Services Community: Forging a Partnership to Make It Work,
Times Square Crowne Plaza, New York City

A public meeting, jointly sponsored by the National Association of Maritime Organizations and NOAA's Ocean Service, was held July 30, 2004, in New York City to engage the maritime community in the planning and decision-making processes of IOOS. This page includes links to a summary of the meeting and other related meeting information.

Agenda (pdf, 60 Kb)

Attendees (pdf, 40 Kb)

Presentations

• Developing a User Driven Integrated Ocean Observing System (Microsoft PowerPoint, 11 Mb)
  Dr. Tom Malone, Director, Ocean.us
• NOAA's Contributions to IOOS (Microsoft PowerPoint, 7 Mb)
  Mr. Mike Szabados, Director, NOAA/CO-OPS
• Recommendations for the Implementation and Operation of an IOOS (Microsoft PowerPoint, 272 Kb)
  Dr. Ken Turgeon, U.S. Ocean Policy Commission
• Alaska Regional Observing System (Microsoft PowerPoint, 10 Mb)
  Ms. Molly McCammon, Director, AOOS
• Private Sector Involvement in the Southeast and Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (Microsoft PowerPoint, 2 Mb)
  Mr. Mark Luther, University of Southern Florida
• Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System (Microsoft PowerPoint, 8 Mb)
  Mr. Phillip Bogden, Director, GoMOOS

Public Statements (pdf, 72 Kb)

Meeting Summary (pdf, 100 Kb)