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An update on the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI): Final network design, and how to get involved

UTIG Seminars

An update on the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI):
Final network design, and how to get involved

By:

When:

Friday, March 5, 2010, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Join us for coffee beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Where:

Seminar Conference Room, 10100 Burnet Road, Bldg 196-ROC, Austin, Texas 78758

Host:

Jamie Austin, UTIG

Abstract
The goal of the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) is to lay a foundation for ocean science observations, recognizing the need for simultaneous, interdisciplinary measurements to investigate short-lived events and longer-term changes that impact ocean systems. In 2000, NSF approved the OOI Major Research Equipment & Facilities Construction (MREFC) Program, in 2004, established a project office to coordinate further OOI planning, and, in 2009, released the OOI Final Network Design (Nov 3, 2009), which identifies the requirements and the designs for each of the infrastructure components comprising the OOI observatory network. These include: global-scale observations that address planetary-scale dynamics to be made using moored open-ocean buoys that use satellite communication; a cabled observing platform providing a high-speed optical and high-power grid across a region that encompasses two plate boundaries; coastal-scale assets that will expand observations off the east and west U.S. coasts; and cyberinfrastructure that will unify information, and let researchers control sampling and jointly analyze and respond to ocean events.

To encourage involvement of the ocean science community, an OOI Science Community Meeting was held in Baltimore November 11-12, and will be held at Arizona State University April 29-30, to provide information about OOI design, sensors to be deployed, timeline for construction, and data availability and access. Examples were and will be presented showing ways in which the OOI network can be used by researchers and educators to advance a broad range of ocean science and education.


OOI network infrastructure.
OOI network infrastructure.