Enabling Ocean Research in the 21st Century Implementation of a Network of Ocean Observatories (2003) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Executive Summary
Executive Summary
Pages 1-12
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 1... ...
Seafloor observatories will utilize cables or moored buoys and will provide power and two-way data communication and instrument control for a wide variety of sensors located at the sea surface, in the water column, and at or below the seafloor. The Hidden Planet NRC report concluded that: .
|
From page 2... ...
. The OOI is an outgrowth of scientific planning efforts within both the national and international ocean research community over the past decade and is motivated in part by the rapidly expanding development of computational, robotic, communications, and sensor capabilities.
|
From page 3... ...
In arriving at its findings and recommendations, the NRC Committee was to consider various reports on future ocean science research priorities, ocean observatory planning documents, recommendations from several recent workshops, and input from the ocean research community. KEY ISSUES The establishment of ocean research observatories represents a major, long-term investment on behalf of the oceanographic research community.
|
From page 4... ...
. Findings · By exploiting rapid advances in the development of computational, robotic, communications, and sensor capabilities, the NSF's OOI will provide the infrastructure to enable a new era of ocean research in the 21st century.
|
From page 5... ...
· Scientific planning to define the location, experiments, and instrument requirements of specific observatories varies significantly among the three OOI components, and additional planning is needed before the design of these systems can be finalized. · There is currently no community consensus on the appropriate balance among relocatable observatories (Pioneer Arrays)
|
From page 6... ...
, cabled observatories, and long-term moorings that best meet the largest range of specific requirements for coastal and Great Lakes research. Management of Observatory Construction, Installation, and Operation The OOI is an interdisciplinary and technologically complex program that will require central program management to provide coordinated, program-wide scientific planning and oversight; provide fiscal and contract management of observatory design, installation, maintenance and operation; establish standards and protocols for data management; and coordinate program-wide education and outreach activities.
|
From page 7... ...
The program should be managed by a community-based organization, preferably with experience in managing large oceanographic research and operational programs. · The OOI Program Office, once established, should conduct a thorough systems engineering design review of each of the three OOI components; develop a detailed implementation plan and risk assessment for each observatory system; produce detailed cost estimates for construction, installation, maintenance, and operations; have these plans reviewed by an independent panel of experts; and put in place oversight mechanisms and fiscal controls to ensure that implementation tasks are completed on time and within budget.
|
From page 8... ...
Without a commitment from NSF to augment ship and ROV capabilities to meet these needs, the scope and success of the ocean observatories program could be jeopardized and other types of ocean research requiring these assets could be negatively affected. · The offshore energy and telecommunications industries have extensive experience in the design, deployment, and maintenance of submarine cables and large, moored platforms, and have assets (ROVs, cable laying vessels, heavy-lift vessels)
|
From page 9... ...
Sensors and Instrumentation for Ocean Observatories The development, calibration, and maintenance of new sensors and instrumentation for quantifying physical, chemical, biological, and geological processes operating in the oceans will be a critical element in achieving the true interdisciplinary promise of ocean observatories. Sensors deployed at ocean observatories will need to be able to collect accurate, long-term data with infrequent servicing and may be required to function in extreme environments such as the Southern Ocean or the Arctic.
|
From page 10... ...
· A separate, well-funded observatory instrumentation program at the NSF, and contributions from other agencies with an interest in ocean research, will be required to obtain the full suite of sensors and instruments needed to fully exploit the scientific potential of the ocean observatory infrastructure. · The NSF should augment its programs in instrumentation development, support, and calibration for observatory-capable sensors, including increasing grant duration to ensure that instrumentation groups have the capability to support the needs of the OOI.
|
From page 11... ...
· Standards for data interchange, for data and metadata formats, and for archiving methods should be established for all types of ocean observatories and should be coordinated and integrated with other research-based international observatory efforts, IOOS, and COOS. Education and Public Outreach for Ocean Observatories There is a critical need to improve the science literacy of the general public and to improve the teaching of science at grade levels K-12.
|
From page 12... ...
by utilizing real-time data through the interactivity of the Internet to help students, teachers, and the general public understand the relevance and excitement of ocean research to their everyday lives. Recommendations · Education and public outreach activities for observatory science should be coordinated at the program level by a professional staff supported by funding at both the program and project level.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.