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An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century - California Ocean ...

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CHAPTER 26ACHIEVING A SUSTAINED,INTEGRATED OCEANOBSERVING SYSTEMCoastal and ocean observations provide critical in<strong>for</strong>mation <strong>for</strong> protecting humanlives and property from marine hazards, enhancing national and homelandsecurity, predicting global climate change, improving ocean health, and providing<strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> protection, sustainable use, and enjoyment of ocean resources. While<strong>the</strong> technology currently exists to integrate data ga<strong>the</strong>red from a variety ofsensors deployed on buoys, gliders, ships, and satellites, <strong>the</strong> implementationof a sustained, national Integrated <strong>Ocean</strong> Observation System(IOOS) is overdue and should begin immediately. Care should be takento ensure that user needs are incorporated into planning and that<strong>the</strong> data collected by <strong>the</strong> IOOS are turned into in<strong>for</strong>mation productsand <strong>for</strong>ecasts that benefit <strong>the</strong> nation. In addition, <strong>the</strong> IOOS shouldbe coordinated with o<strong>the</strong>r national and international environmentalobserving systems to enhance <strong>the</strong> nation’s Earth observingcapabilities and enable us to better understand and respond to <strong>the</strong>interactions among ocean, atmospheric, and terrestrial processes.Making <strong>the</strong> Case <strong>for</strong> an Integrated<strong>Ocean</strong> Observing SystemAbout 150 years ago, this nation set out to create a comprehensivewea<strong>the</strong>r <strong>for</strong>ecasting and warning network and today most peoplecannot imagine living without constantly updated wea<strong>the</strong>r reports.Virtually every segment of U.S. society depends on <strong>the</strong> wea<strong>the</strong>r observingnetwork. Millions of citizens check reports each day to decide how to dress,whe<strong>the</strong>r to plan outdoor activities, and to determine if <strong>the</strong>y need to prepare <strong>for</strong>severe wea<strong>the</strong>r. Commercial interests use daily and seasonal <strong>for</strong>ecasts to plan businessactivities and to safeguard employees and infrastructure. Government agencies use<strong>for</strong>ecasts to prepare <strong>for</strong> and respond to severe wea<strong>the</strong>r, issue warnings to <strong>the</strong> general public,and decide whe<strong>the</strong>r to activate emergency plans.Recognizing <strong>the</strong> enormous national benefits that have accrued from <strong>the</strong> wea<strong>the</strong>robserving network, it is time to invest in a similar observational and <strong>for</strong>ecasting capability<strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> oceans. This system would ga<strong>the</strong>r in<strong>for</strong>mation on physical, geological, chemical,and biological parameters <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> oceans and coasts, conditions that affect—and areaffected by—humans and <strong>the</strong>ir activities. The United States currently has <strong>the</strong> scientific394A N O CEAN B LUEPRINT FOR THE 21ST C ENTURY

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