AN OCEAN OBSERVING SYSTEM FOR CLIMATE

NOWLIN WD SMITH N NEEDLER G TAYLOR PK WELLER R SCHMITT R MERLIVAT L VEZINA A ALEXIOU A MCPHADEN M WAKATSUCHI M

Wd. Nowlin et al., AN OCEAN OBSERVING SYSTEM FOR CLIMATE, Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 77(10), 1996, pp. 2243-2273

26

INGLESE

Article

Metereology & Atmospheric Sciences

Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society → ACNP

0003-0007

77

10

1996

2243 - 2273

ISI

0003-0007(1996)77:10<2243:AOOSFC>2.0.ZU;2-W

Designs and implementation are proceeding for a Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and a Global Climate Observing System (GCOS). The initi al design for the ocean component of the GCOS, which is also the clima te module of the GOOS, was completed in 1995 by the Ocean Observing Sy stem Development Panel (OOSDP). This design for an ocean observing sys tem for climate aims to provide ocean observations leading to gridded products, analyses, forecasts, indexes, assessments, and other items n eeded to detect, monitor, understand, and predict climate variations a nd change. A summary of the OOSDP report is presented here, beginning with the rationale for such a system and the series of specific goals and subgoals used to focus the design. The instruments, platforms, tra nsmission systems, or processing required to observe the climate varia bles or quantifiable aspects of the climate system to meet these subgo als are identified. These observing system elements are divided into t hree categories: 1) elements of existing operational systems, 2) those that should be added now to complete the initial observing system, or 3) elements perhaps not now readily attainable but that should be add ed to the system at the earliest feasible time. Future research and de velopment likely needed for further development of the system are also identified in the report. The elements needed for each subgoal are ra nked as to feasibility (i.e., routine, systematic, timely, and cost-ef fective characteristics) versus their impact on attaining the subgoal. Priorities among the various subgoals are presented based on the pane l's perception of where the immediate and important issues lie. This t hen provides the basis for an incremental approach to implementation, leading to a coherent conceptual design.