Caribbean Regional Association (CaRA)Inaugural Session and First General Assembly

December 4th, 2007Caribe Hilton Hotel, San Juan P.R.

Caribbean Regional Association (CaRA):Past, Present and Future

PI’s: J. Morell (UPRM), J. Corredor (UPRM), R. Watlington (UVI)Steering Committee & Associated Experts: J. Capella (CaRA), A. Mercado (CRC-PR), D. Wilson N. Idrisi (UVI), C. Von Hillebrandt (PRSN-UPRM) S. Strippling (NOAA-NWS), R. Chaparro (PR Sea Grant)Associates: J. Rodriguez, Administrative assistant

F. Torres, Legal counselA. Molinares, Facilitator

Global Ocean Climate Component

GOOS/GCOS

Resolution

Low

High

CCal Carib

MAB

GLsNE

SEGoMexS

Cal

HIsl

NW

GoA

Coastal OceanComponent

NationalBackbone

IOOS

September 20, 2004: U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century, “Ocean policy decisions should be based on the best available understanding of the natural, social, and economic processes that affect ocean and coastal environments.

December 17, 2004: President: U.S. Ocean Action Plan including the development and integration U.S. Ocean Observing Efforts into the Global Earth Observing System of System.

The Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) is a system of systems that …continuously provides quality controlled data and information on current and future states of the oceans and Great Lakes……at rates required by decision makers to address seven societal goals.

Regional Coastal Ocean Observing Systems (RCOOS)To be designed and implemented by RAs

NOAA CSC funded 11 Regional Associations with the following seven societal goals:

• Improve predictions of climate change and weather and their effects on coastal communities and the nation

• Improve the safety and efficiency of maritime operations

• Mitigate the effects of natural hazards more effectively

• Improve national and homeland security

• Reduce public health risks

• Protect and restore healthy coastal ecosystems more effectively

• Enable the sustained use of ocean and coastal resources

INFORM STAKEHOLDERS OF THE RCOOS OPPORTUNITY (http://cara.uprm.edu)

IDENTIFY USERS AND NEEDS FOR COASTAL OCEAN DATA AND PRODUCTS

•Meeting with state and federal agencies, academics, maritime industry etc.

•Interviews and polls (CIEL and Sea Grant recreational and tourism sectors)

•Documentation (Harbor Assessments USCG)

INITIAL CaRA ACTIVITIES

Identified prioritaryobservational and forecast needs

– Coastal winds

– Coastal waves

– Coastal currents +6 Sea level stations PR-Seismic Network

– Coastal inundation

– Water quality (pathogens, visibility, sediments & pollutant plumes)

– Bathymetry (navigation, inundation and wave models)

– Temperature & salinity (climate change, riverine input)

– Benthic habitats

Identify existing data and products and enhance their availability one stop shopping at http://caricoos.org

NASA/JPL's SeaWinds Scatterometer - QuikSCATNaval Research Laboratory

Ocean Dynamics and Prediction

SST NOAA CoastWatch

on going projects:

•ocean color imagery(with IMARS-USF)

•WRF-wind forecasts •(with DMS/S. Strippling NWS-SJ)

•sub-regional graphical forecastproducts for recreational areas(with PR Tourism Co.)

Proposed

CarICOOS implementation proposal, optimal deployment

of observational assets (i.e. GOMOOS buoys off N & S

coasts), regional coverage through modeling for nowcast

and forecasts :

•coastal winds (NWS, WeatherFlow Inc.)

•coastal waves ( J. Ortiz, U. Norte)

Coastal Wave, WW-III/SWAN

Coastal winds

GOMOOS coastal buoy

Proposed

•CarICOOS implementation proposal (observations and forecast):

•offshore currents (N. Idrissi-UVI, L. Cherubin-RSMAS)

•coastal currents (Dave Hill,- Penn State)

•storm surge-inundation (A. Mercado-CRC-PR, Penn State )

•water quality (remote sensing, J. Trinanes NOAA CoastWatch)

TAILORED DATA PRODUCTS AND DELIVERY STRATEGIES

TO BE DEVELOPED IN CONSULTATION WITH USERS !

Proposed•Department of Homeland Security: HF radio (CODAR) with STEVENS IT, RUTGERS, RSMAS

real time coastal waves and surface currents (S&R, poll. Dispersion)

•Autonomous underwater glider observations

Storm glider Integrated Operation Center with

Scott Glenn-Rutgers Coastal Ocean Observing Lab

We face pressing needs for regional marine information

Your participation in CaRA is essential for the development of a

Caribbean Integrated Coastal Ocean Observing System – CarICOOS

Thanks for participating

Questions?