Producing and Distributing Critical Data and Information
on our Oceans, Coasts and Great Lakes
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The Latest News from the Nation's Integrated Ocean Observing System Association |
JULY 2021
Quarterly Newsletter
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BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS |
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Our annual funding request to Congress was $56.5 million. This included a $500,000 increase for each regional association, $8.5m to fill critical data gaps around the country, and $7.8m for special projects, including expanding the National Harmful Algal Bloom Observing Network pilot and growing innovation in ocean technology and modeling programs.
The FY 22 President’s Budget, the details of which were released in early June, included an increase of $33.25 million over FY 21 enacted appropriations, of which $29 million would support the regional coastal observing systems operated by the 11 IOOS Regional Associations.
If enacted, the budget would support:
- $15m for Fostering Ecological Resilience Through Conservation Action
- $10m for Advancing Coastal Modeling and Prediction
- $4m for Coastal Moorings for Ecosystem Monitoring
Biden is requesting almost $7 billion for NOAA in the upcoming fiscal year, about $1.5 billion more than the previous year. The increased funds would support the agency in investing in ecological restoration and community resilience, achieving the Biden Administration’s offshore wind expansion goals, integrating equity across NOAA, investing in observational infrastructure, and measuring, predicting, and adapting to the impacts of climate change.
What happens next: Congress takes the President’s budget request into consideration, but at the end of the day, Congress holds the purse strings, and the appropriations committees have their own priorities. The House has begun consideration of their funding bills and will debate, or “mark up”, NOAA’s funding bill on July 12 and 15. The Senate Appropriations Committee is just finalizing taking input from each Senate office before they turn to writing their own funding bills. Another wrench in the system is the new Community Project Funding (or earmark) process. The House provided a list of all requests for earmarked funds, and the Senate will likely follow suit.
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INFRASTRUCTURE (BUILD BACK BLUER) |
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On Wednesday, March 31, President Biden announced his American Jobs Plan, which is the first in his two-part Build Back Better campaign. The main focus of the plan is on job creation and traditional infrastructure with a major focus on climate change mitigation and resilience.
We are working closely with our partners and champions in Congress to make sure oceans are not forgotten in any infrastructure package so that our nation can Build Back Bluer.
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Caption: Dr. Libby Jewett receiving the 2021 Caraid Award from Carl Gouldman, Director of the IOOS Program Office. |
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Dr. Libby Jewett -
2021 Caraid Award Recipient
The IOOS Association was pleased to present the 2021 Caraid Award to Dr. Libby Jewett in recognition of her outstanding contributions to observing and understanding our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes through vision, leadership, friendship, and collaboration.
Libby exemplifies the “can do” and caring attitude celebrated by this award.
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Libby took risks and showed courage in launching new ideas and forging partnerships across programs and agencies at the regional, national, and international levels. As one colleague noted: “It wasn’t so much what she did, but how she did it that brought the success.” Congratulations Libby! |
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MARACOOS Deploys HR Radar
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing Systems (MARACOOS) hosted an event on Lewes Beach in Delaware to unveil their new High Frequency Radar (HF Radar).
The event was widely attended with over 60 attendees, with diverse representation from the stakeholder community. Speakers’ remarks emphasized how ocean observing data along the Mid-Atlantic coast boosts our understanding of the coastal climate signal and protects our coastal communities.
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Caption: US Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) (right) and MARACOOS Executive Director Dr. Gerhard Kuska (left) and commemorate the launch of the new HF Radar off Lewes Beach, Delaware.
Image credit: MARACOOS
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“[MARACOOS is] making sure that our information gets to the communities so they can make the right decisions at the right time, that they are ready and responsive, and it takes these connections at the local levels to make that happen,”
-- National Weather Service Director
Dr. Louis Uccellini
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US Senator Tom Carper spoke at the event about the importance of ocean data for the region and congratulated MARACOOS on providing critical data, “In the Navy when people do extraordinary things, we say two things: Bravo, Zulu, which means good going. Bravo, Zulu, MARACOOS!”
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Caption: Gliders, like the one pictured here, “fly” through the water column to collect information that informs hurricane response; Image credit: Chad Lembke, USF CMS |
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Hurricane Season
In the Caribbean, Atlantic, and the Gulf, the IOOS regions “fly” underwater gliders to collect observations on the heat content of the ocean, which drives the intensity of hurricanes. Gliders are autonomous underwater vehicles equipped with a range of sensors that can transmit data to shore in real-time. During a hurricane, gliders can monitor conditions without putting people in hazardous conditions to create a more complete picture of what is happening in the oceans.
In partnership with OAR and NWS, the IOOS regions are expected to fly over 20 gliders in 40 missions throughout the Atlantic Basin in the coming season. These missions will collect data on all the essential ocean features that are used in models to provide forecasts and warnings.
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Smart Great Lakes
The Great Lakes contain over 20 percent of the world’s freshwater and supply drinking water to over 30 million people. With a changing climate, the region is facing several challenges including the spread of invasive species, increasing harmful algal blooms, fluctuating lake levels, and more.
The Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) is facilitating collaboration and a better understanding of the lakes through a connected information system known as the Smart Great Lakes initiative (SGLi).
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Caption: Regional Associations like GLOS are critical tools in protecting the communities dependent on the Great Lakes.
Image credit: NOAA MODIS
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The goal of SGLi is to use advances in smart technologies and communications pathways to make it easier and faster to access valuable information in a timely manner. This new system replaces the traditional approach of building single-purpose data systems and applications with an integrated system that breaks down data access barriers to enable smart and information-driven solutions.
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The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development officially kicked off on World Ocean Day on June 8, 2021. The IOOS Association will be communicating about activities as a Decade Nexus Organization. Several IOOS partners have submitted Ocean Shot proposals. For a directory of Ocean Shot proposals, click here.
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The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation held their annual Capitol Hill Ocean Week from June 8-10. It was a fantastic virtual discussion focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the ocean and Great Lakes conservation movement.
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The Ocean Conservancy released a report last month titled the Challenges and Opportunities for Ocean Data to Advance Conservation and Management. The report outlines the current landscape of ocean data, impediments to optimizing the use of available ocean data in policy, and the various approaches to improve the management, archiving, dissemination, and application of those data toward the twin goals of supporting a healthy marine ecosystem and a sustainable ocean economy.
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GLOS partners at the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research deployed a low-cost buoy to provide intel to the surf/paddling community.
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Watch here.
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NERACOOS is monitoring warming trends in the Gulf of Maine.
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Read their article here.
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Thank you to the IOOS Office for compiling this news list! |
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MEET OUR REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS |
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The IOOS Association is a nonprofit organization that supports the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (U.S. IOOS) and its mission to provide quality and timely information about our oceans, coasts and Great Lakes. The Association works with the 11 Regional Associations and 17 Federal partners to create a national network that meets the diverse needs of users across the nation and to educate the public about the system. |
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Executive Director
205 Oakledge Road
Harpswell, ME 04079
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