Ocean.US

The Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) is developing as a multi-scale system that incorporates two, interdependent components, a global ocean component with an emphasis on ocean-basin scale observations and a coastal component that focuses on local to Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) scales

Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) in U.S. coastal waters and IOOS Regional Associations.

(shown in the figure to the left).The coastal component consists of Regional Coastal Ocean Observing Systems (RCOOSs) nested in a National Backbone of coastal observations. From a coastal perspective, the global ocean component is critical for providing data and information on basin scale forcings (e.g., ENSO events), as well as providing the data and information necessary to run coastal models (such as storm surge models).

The National Backbone provides data and information required by federal agencies and most regions. It links global ocean and coastal ocean observations and establishes a framework for the development of RCOOSs. RCOOSs are designed, implemented, operated and improved by Regional Associations (RAs) to provide data, information and products on marine and estuarine systems deemed necessary by user groups (stakeholders) in the region. Based on these requirements, RCOOSs enhance the National Backbone by increasing the time-space resolution of measurements as well as the number of variables measured. Design principles for the IOOS are given in Part I of the First IOOS Development Plan.

The IOOS is a multi-scale system with observing subsystem elements dedicated to observations of the open ocean (Global Ocean-Climate component) and Nations coastal waters. The latter consists of a National Backbone (NB) that targets the EEZ (as defined by the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea) and Great Lakes and a network of eleven Regional Coastal Ocean Observing Systems (RCOOSs) that enhance the Backbone in the EEZ and Great Lakes and observe near-shore waters (e.g., the Territorial Sea) and semi-enclosed bodies of water (estuaries, bays, tidal wetlands, etc.) within their respective regions.

The observing system (depicted in the figure above) is designed to monitor changes on global, national and regional scales. Global scale observations are the U.S. contributions to the global ocean module of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS).National and regional scale measurements are provided by a National Backbone (NB) and Regional Coastal Ocean Observing Systems (RCOOSs), respectively. The term "subsystem" is used here to indicate necessary functions of the IOOS, not actual organizational entities. Observations on the scale of the ocean basins are needed for predicting and mitigating the effects of changes in climate, weather and natural hazards on national and regional scales. Regional contrasts in the characteristics of coastal systems and in the data and information needs of user groups require the development of a multiscale observing system linking changes occurring on global and national scales to more local changes that impact coastal communities, ecosystems and resources. Since data and information needs vary regionally, RCOOSs are critical for using observations on global and national scales to support the provision of products and services that are tuned to the needs of user groups within each region (as illustrated in the figure below). Elements of RCOOSs are currently operational, and Regional Associations (RAs) are developing to coordinate their incorporation into regionally integrated observing systems that will contribute to IOOS development as a whole.

The coastal component of the IOOS consists of a National Backbone with eleven Regional Coastal Ocean Observing Systems embedded in it. For more detailed information on individual RCOOSs click here