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6
Evaluation of Near-Term Priorities
SELECTION OF NEAR-TERM PRIORITIES
Near-term priorities (efforts) provide a bridge between the generalities of the themes, the focus of
the 21 priorities, and the launching of more specific actions under the umbrella of the ORPP. The
committee appreciates the necessity to focus the early research efforts where they will have the most
impact and where they can be readily implemented. Given these constraints, the priority areas selected by
the JSOST appear to be appropriate, and, although they are not as clearly tied to the 21 priorities as they
might have been, will advance the ocean research agenda. The following sections provide the
committee's general comments on the near-term priority selection process and specific comments on each
of the four near-term priority selections.
GENERAL COMMENTS
Between publication of the first draft and release of the near-term information, the title of the
section changed from near-term efforts to near-term priorities. The committee would suggest that calling
the four topics "priorities" creates confusion with the 21 priorities and that the plan would be better
served by labeling these as research efforts or research packages since they incorporate work within many
of the 21 priority areas.
The basis for the selection of the near-term priorities (this term will be used since it is the term
used in the plan) is unclear. The introduction to the near-term priority section identifies criteria, but these
criteria are not referenced in the discussion of the individual near-term priorities. For example,
partnership was introduced as a criterion, but no examples of partnership were provided. More support
for the priorities could be gained by a short explanation as to why each was selected.
There is no discussion of the linkage between the near-term priorities and the 21 priorities and six
themes. In a quick exercise, the committee attempted to map the linkages, and identified seven longer-
term priorities that might be addressed in part by the four near-term priorities. The committee's review
would indicate that a case could be made for the following linkages between short- and long-term
priorities:
Short-Term Priority Long-Term Priorities
1 5, 6, & 7
2 15, 16, & 17
3 Overarching Opportunities (observing systems)
4 14
Simple but explicit discussion of where the JSOST sees these linkages would benefit understanding and
eventual management of the program. The discussion below of meridional overturning circulation (MOC)
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variability highlights the need to explain the relationship between the selected priorities and on-going
research efforts.
The discussion indicates that these near-term priorities incorporate aspects of each of the three
"overarching opportunities" forecasting ocean processes, scientific support for ecosystem management,
and deployment of elements of the ocean observing system. While such an approach serves many of the
21 priorities, it does establish accomplishment of the "overarching opportunities" as a priority itself. It
would be useful for the plan to speak to the role of the "overarching opportunities" versus the themes and
priorities.
The near-term priorities are stated without any reference to milestones or metrics that might be
used to manage or measure progress towards meeting the objectives behind these priorities. These
milestones and/or metrics do not have to be extremely detailed, but should be sufficient to let the readers
understand that some thought has been given to measurement of progress.
It is not clear in this section whether or not these near-term priorities will be undertaken with
additional resources or whether these research areas will require drawing resources from other programs.
If these are truly new efforts rather than continuation of ongoing programs, the context for evaluating the
prioritization will be dependent on its impacts on ongoing programs that are important to progress under
the 21 longer-term priorities. For instance, will work on the MOC in the North Atlantic result in a
diminution of efforts to understand climate variability in the Pacific?
The discussions accompanying the description of the four near-term priorities, especially the last
two, are uninspiring. As noted earlier in this report, other ocean commissions (U.S. Committee on Ocean
Policy, Pew Oceans Commission, and Joint Ocean Commission Initiative) have made compelling
arguments for the need for action to move ocean science forward to support critical societal needs. A few
examples under each near-term priority would be valuable in illustrating what might have happened or
could happen if the research proposed for the priority is or had been carried out. For example, the
discussion of forecasting the response of coastal ecosystems can be tied directly to legitimate scientific
questions about Hurricane Katrina and its impacts and how better information would have informed
sounder decisions in the days preceding Katrina's arrival on the coast.
The committee understands that the objective of the ORPP is to define a 10-year research
program. The committee is concerned that the execution of the 21 priorities is a major undertaking, and
that the near-term work as described represents only a small part of the total research challenge developed
within the 21 priorities. The committee understands that support for the near-term priority selections
reflects the capability to initiate work in the selected priority areas in Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 or FY 2008,
or represents continuation or expansion of FY 2006 work. However, starting with efforts that seemingly
relate to less than half of the 21 priorities could leave too much to be accomplished in the later years. The
remaining work on the 21 priorities not captured or started in the first effort would represent a gargantuan
task, suggesting that perhaps more should be done to bring work on other priorities into the near-term. On
the other hand, if the near-term priorities represent a refocus of effort to those activities that will lead to
full implementation of the 21 priority efforts in the later years (FY 2009 and beyond), then these near-
term priority selections represent a logical path to full implementation of the ORPP. The committee
would clearly support such an approach, assuming that ongoing research efforts that are ultimately
essential to achieving the longer-term priorities are not disrupted without careful consideration.
The descriptions of the near-term priorities tend to be rather prescriptive in some areas where the
scientific community needs greater flexibility and where it might well develop the methodologies to be
followed. (An example is given in the discussion of the comparative analyses priority below.) While the
development of the overall priority list was based on some interaction with the scientific community
outside the government, it is not obvious that the near-term priorities reflect much input from this
community. There is a clear need for existing and future agency programs to mix the ideas of researchers
who are working at the edge with the challenges faced by agency science personnel.
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COMMENTS ON SPECIFIC NEAR-TERM PRIORITIES
Forecasting the Response of Coastal Ecosystems
The substance of this near-term priority merits its inclusion. As noted above, the support for this
priority would be improved by some reference as to why it was selected and its ties to ongoing research in
this field.
Comparative Analyses
While the priority area appears to be appropriate and is a good candidate for immediate work, the
proposed approach appears to be too limited and prescriptive by specifying only comparative analysis. In
addition to comparative analysis, there is also an urgent need to improve our understanding of marine
ecosystem organization and function. Although it is important to have modeling frameworks, by
adopting "consistent modeling frameworks," the resultant research might be limited to a select group of
modeling approaches, stifle innovation, and lock agencies into a single family of models when science
dictates the consideration of multiple approaches. The research for this priority would optimally include
process studies and address restoration and management strategies.
Sensors for Marine Ecosystems
The topic appears appropriate and a good candidate for immediate action. The narrative
description of the research could provide a more compelling discussion of the need for this research and
the benefits that this research can bring to the table.
Assessing MOC Variability
While this near-term priority may be appropriate and reasonable, the description lacks discussion
of why research in this specific region is a priority and how the proposed research ties into ongoing
similar activities. Because of concerns about the description, the committee undertook a more detailed
discussion of this priority.
If understanding, assessing, and predicting U.S. climate is considered in the prioritization process,
an argument could easily be made for a focus on decadal variations in the North Pacific, which provides
"upstream" ocean influences to North American weather patterns and to west coast ecosystems. In terms
of potential impact on European weather and climate (and on Atlantic Ocean ecosystems), a rapid
decrease of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation represents a substantial hazard. According to
paleoclimate records and climate models, such a collapse has a low probability of occurrence. Because of
recent melting of ice sheets, there is heightened concern that the possibility of such a change is increasing
(NRC, 2002). Models can potentially quantify the risks, but existing models have to be improved because
there are considerable differences among them. And, any model projections have to be initialized
accurately with a comprehensive ocean state estimation. Monitoring the branches of the Atlantic MOC is
a wise thing to do in any case.
Efforts on the MOC near-term priority are already well under way. The Climate Variability and
Predictability (CLIVAR) Atlantic program focus on the MOC has resulted in considerable progress on
process studies to improve climate and ocean general circulation models, and the United Kingdom
RAPID program in partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF) has funded and deployed a
monitoring array of 22 moorings across the North Atlantic at 26.5o N.
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The MOC near-term priority links to several longer term research priorities listed under the "The
Ocean's Role in Climate," "Increasing Resilience to Natural Hazards," and "Improving Ecosystem
Health" themes, but these connections are not elucidated in the ORPP.
ADDRESSING THE STATEMENTS OF TASK
Statement of Task (6): Does the document identify the highest near-term research priorities to
address the goals and expected societal results?
The committee believes that the near-term priorities selected by the JSOST address areas that are
of major concern to society and on which substantial progress can and should be made during the next
few years. However, a clear rationale is not provided for selecting these four topics as the absolute highest
priorities; it is possible that other, equally meritorious selections could have been made. In addition, the
selected near-term priorities are not as clearly tied to the 21 priorities as they might have been.
Statement of Task (4a): Is there an appropriate balance between short-term (2-5 years) and longer-
term (5-10 years) priorities?
The discussion of the near-term priorities does not provide a clear assessment of the starting point
for determining progress towards priority accomplishment or milestones on this path, and the balance of
effort between near- and longer-term efforts is not described. These issues may be left for the
implementation strategy, but they frustrate a determination of feasibility of achieving the near-term
priorities within the 2-5 year time frame. Also, it is not clear how the time frame for the near-term
priorities meshes with the timing of the 21 priorities are they meant to be sequential or parallel efforts?
RECOMMENDATIONS
· The specific linkages of each of the near-term priorities to the 21 longer term priorities
should be identified. Identification of these linkages would more clearly identify the
relationships among priority efforts and the path that near-term research will follow over the
long-term.
· Milestones and metrics should be identified to measure accomplishment and progress. Such
an explanation would better identify the relative magnitude of the envisioned programs and
establish a basis for determination of progress.
· The near-term priorities should include a description of the relationship between what is
already being done in each area and how it will be expanded under the research plan. This
should provide significant information that will help determine the time frame for attaining each
near-term priority
· The ORPP should identify how the near-term priorities on the MOC relate to on-going
Atlantic and Pacific research efforts. This would help identify possible synergisms and
facilitate effective use of research resources. Both Atlantic and Pacific efforts are important to
understanding the ocean's role in abrupt climate change and its impacts, and further explanation
of their relationship would clarify the future path for this research area.
· Research priorities should not include text that appears to prescribe the types of research to
be used to achieve the goals. Wherever possible, the descriptions of research should provide
researchers with the opportunity to determine the best research approaches.
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· The time frames for conducting near-term and longer-term research should be clearly
defined with a discussion of the balance of effort between the two sets of priorities. A
sequential approach to these priorities within a 10 year research period would not be adequate to
address the research needs identified in the 21 longer term priorities.
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Representative terms from entire chapter:
overturning circulation
