Dr. William (Monty) Graham

The University of Southern Mississippi

Department of Marine Science

Stennis Space Center, MississippiMonty.Graham@usm.edu

GCOOS Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean

Observing System

• GCOOS and partners have observed and monitored the Gulf for a decade

• GCOOS long-term strategic plan for observations and monitoring

• GCOOS and plan were tested inDWH response

• Looking for collaborative opportunities to maintain andbuild on the strong foundation

Overview

TABS Buoy image Courtesy of TAMU GERG

Integrating Gulf ObservationsGCOOS Data Portal http://data.gcoos.org

GCOOS Value to DWH Oil Spill Response

IOOS Glider Fleet Response – Image from Rutgers

HFR Coverage Near DWH – Currents

Data Assimilation from GCOOS Assets

US DOC | NOAA | NOS | NOAA Office of Response & RestorationCoastal Response Research CenterEmail Comments: orr.erma@noaa.gov© 2007-2014 University of New Hampshire

Additional moorings in Eastern Gulf and at cross-shelf transects at the 10-, 50-, 100-, 200-m isobaths

Complete Gulf-wide HFR network for currents, trajectories, directing responders

ADCP or other subsurface current data of Loop Current and in Eastern Gulf(Image of existing oil and gas industry ADCPs courtesy of NOAA NDBC)

Additional profiling AUVs providing salinity-temperature-hydrocarbon data

DWH Lessons Learned – Focused Needs

GOM Observing System PlanGulfwide

HFR Network

Moorings andAUV tracks

Hypoxia and Harmful Algae

• Stakeholder Driven• Supports Ocean/Met Forecast and Predictions • Support Long-Term Restoration through ecosystem

monitoring– Expanded Water Quality– Expanded HAB Observing– Expanded Hypoxia Monitoring– Living Marine Resources (Fisheries, Marine

Mammals, Sea Turtles, Plankton, Seabirds)– Habitat Change– Integrative Monitoring for Restoration Projects

GOM Observing System Plan

SWSS Image

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WHO WILL FUND A GULF-WIDE OBSERVATION SYSTEM?

• GCOOS and partners have a long history in, and for, the Gulf of Mexico

• Need expressed during Deepwater Horizon• Maintain a long-term and evolving strategic plan

for observations and monitoring• Looking for collaborative opportunities to maintain

and build on this strong Gulf foundation• Leveraging opportunities with long-term Gulf

restoration(?)

Summary