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From the Director:

Hello IOOS Community,

Welcome to the first edition of the Eyes on the Ocean Newsletter for 2021! We closed out 2020 on a high note with the reauthorization of the Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act that was signed into law on Dec. 31! This law provides the foundation for coordinating observing efforts of federal agencies and regional systems. It also establishes the standards and protocols for integrating federal and non-federal data to provide users with seamless access to the most important information. Importantly, it reauthorizes the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System (IOOS) through fiscal year 2025. It also provides authority for NOAA's National Water Center. Reauthorization further strengthens the program and ensures continuation of the innovative partnership between Federal and non-Federal regional partners to collect, manage and deliver critical information about our coastal oceans and Great Lakes. Many thanks to our strong champions on the hill and those that have worked hard to get this legislation passed.

A new year also brings us a new Presidential Administration. We are excited to align IOOS priorities with both the newly reauthorized Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act and with the vision of President Biden’s White House and the Biden-Harris Administration Priorities to address science-based needs, support the economy, and provide leadership in global ocean observation initiatives. 

Best wishes,
Carl

From the U.S. IOOS Office:

  • Welcome Sheyna Wisdom! We’re happy to welcome Shenya Wisdom to the IOOS family as Executive Director of The Alaska Ocean Observing System.  Sheyna comes to AOOS most recently from Fairweather Science, and has also managed an artificial polar bear den detection study, marine ecosystem studies in the Beaufort Sea/Prudhoe Bay region funded by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and a multitude of other projects.  She steps into the shoes of Molly McCammon, who has been AOOS’s ED since its founding in 2004, as Molly moves into a Senior Advisor role.  Learn a little more about Sheyna straight from AOOS! 
  • IOOS Advisory Committee Public Meeting - February 5th, 2021: The next public meeting of the IOOS Advisory Committee will be held Friday, February 5th, 12:30pm-2pm ET. A notice of the public meeting has been published in the Federal Register. The meeting will focus on finalizing a letter with recommendations to the new administration. More information will be made available on the IOOS Advisory Committee website. 
  • Mequela Thomas Highlighted in National Ocean Service Career Profiles: What's it like to work at NOAA? Check out profiles of NOS employees showcasing a variety of specialties including our very own IOOS Environmental Compliance Coordinator Mequela Thomas. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/profiles/ 
  • U.S. IOOS Program 2020 Highlights Featured in National Ocean Service Annual Report: IOOS activities including the Inaugural U.S. IOOS and GLOS code sprint, the DOE/NOAA Ocean Observing Prize, IOOS awards for managing coastal hazards, animal telemetry making Cape Cod beaches safer, and the IOOS-ACT Workshop Series exploring the future of eDNA sampling were highlighted in the National Ocean Service FY2020 Year in Review. Read more here: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/annualreport/2020/ioos.html 
  • IOOS Financial Management Specialist Position Posted: The IOOS Office is hiring! The position will support budget execution, provide advisory committee logistics and administrative support, and travel support to RB&P and the office.  The announcements will be open for 14 days; they are set to open on 1/21/21 and close on 2/3/21.
    Job Announcement # (MAP): NOS-IOOS-2021-0001 https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/589737400
    Job Announcement # (DE): NOS-IOOS-2021-0002 https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/589737100 

Observation Subsystem and Sensor Technologies:

  • Surface Current Mapping: (IOOS Surface Currents Program Manager, Brian Zelenke, brian.zelenke@noaa.gov):
    • HFR Community and Wind Turbine Interference Mitigation:In addition to answering questions submitted by the oceanographic high-frequency radar (HFR) community, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has replied with questions of their own.  A discussion of responses in the context of HFR WTRIM research & development is ongoing.  If you know someone who would like to join in this discussion to synergize oceanographic HFR and offshore wind energy operations, please contact Surface Currents Program Manager Brian Zelenke at brian.zelenke@noaa.gov. 
  • Gliders(IOOS POC LCDR Benjamin LaCour, benjamin.lacour@noaa.gov; Underwater Glider User Group (UG2) POC Bill Lingsch, bill.lingsch@noaa.gov).
    • No update. 
  • Animal Telemetry Network (ATN) (National Coordinator Bill Woodward, Bill.Woodward@noaa.gov):
    • West Coast ATN-MBON-OTN Workshop Report: The final version of the SCCOOS CeNCOOS NANOOS ATN-MBON-OTN  West Coast Workshop Report is available online (under the Documents Tab).  A great big thanks to those who contributed and participated.  Please feel free to share the report with your colleagues. 
    • The U.S Animal Telemetry Network is featured in Recent National Ocean Service Publication: “U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System U.S. Animal Telemetry Network: Expanding the Reach of Biology in Ocean Observations” was featured in an NOS internal newsletter “Wavelengths”. We’ve published the article on the IOOS website here. 
  • New Satellite Telemetry Datasets Available: The ATN DAC is pleased to announce that it has permanently archived and publically released another batch of satellite telemetry datasets (N = 12). These datasets were contributed by Dr. Erin Oleson and Dr. Marie Hill from the PIFSC Cetacean Research Program, Dr. Stacie Robinson and Dr. Charles Littnan from the PIFSC Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program, Dr. Rachael Orben and Stephanie Loredo from OSU Department of Fisheries & Wildlife and Dr. Randy Wells from the Chicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program. Contributed research was generously funded by NMFS/NOAA fisheries, BOEM and ONR.  Datasets are now freely available via DataONE or directly from the ATN Data Portal (https://portal.atn.ioos.us).
  • Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) (IOOS PO POC Gabrielle Canonico, Gabrielle.Canonico@noaa.gov):
    • Cross-MBON Virtual Meeting: Toward a National Operational MBON, February 1-2 & 9-10, 2021; 1:00-4:00 pm ET each day.  MBON projects, partners, IOOS Regional Associations and federal sponsors (NOAA, NASA, BOEM, ONR, USGS) will gather virtually to advance the development of a national, stakeholder-driven operational US MBON. MBON engagement extends beyond currently-funded projects and discussion will include the six US MBON projects, Animal Telemetry Network, Great Lakes LTER and related efforts, and Smithsonian-led MarineGEO, among other initiatives.  Discussion will focus on MBON thematic approaches: biodiversity and ecosystem function; ‘omics and eDNA, remote-sensing based MBON Seascapes; BioTrack (animal movement) and BioSound (acoustics and soundscapes). For more information or to attend, please contact gabrielle.canonico@noaa.gov. 
    • ARMS-MBON Deploys a Network for Genetic Monitoring and Early Detection of Non-indigenous Marine Species: As part of a global initiative originally developed by the Smithsonian Institute, a marine biodiversity observation network (MBON) has deployed more than 130 Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) in the vicinity of marine sanctuaries as well as industrial locations (e.g. ports, and marinas) in Europe and the polar regions. This network is supported by the EU-funded ASSEMBLE Plus project, the European Marine Biological Resource Centre (EMBRC), the Interreg program GEANS, and the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SwAM). The aim of the network is to monitor changes in hard-bottom habitats on a continental scale, provide data about the impact of climate change and human activities in these environments, and ensure that this information is globally available via the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS).  Learn more at: https://marinebon.org/pages/news_armsmbon/
    • Paper Published in Reviews in Fisheries Science & Aquaculture: Hassan Moustahfid, IOOS PO is lead author on a paper entitled “Ecological-Fishery Forecasting of Squid Stock Dynamics under Climate Variability and Change" that has been published in the journal Reviews in Fisheries Science & Aquaculture. Read the paper here.

Data Management and Cyberinfrastructure (DMAC) Subsystem and Tools Built on IOOS data (DMAC listserv – contact Micah Wengren, DMAC System Architect, data.ioos@noaa.gov)

  • NDBC Harvesting IOOS Regional Data: On Dec. 17, NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) began harvesting the CeNCOOS and SECOORA ERDDAPs for 11 in situ stations in a major step forward for the ERDDAP project. The data from these stations is managed by Axiom Data Science. Previously, Axiom pushed these stations’ meteorological and oceanographic data to NDBC via FTP.  Now, NDBC simply harvests those variables via ERDDAP and, as before, delivers the relevant variables to the Global Telecommunication System.  This transition was the culmination of thorough testing to ensure the ERDDAP source files were compliant with the IOOS Metadata Profile, and that data were reaching NDBC without issue. The ERDDAP test team is coordinating with GCOOS next.  
  • CoralML Team Successful at NOAA GPU AI Hackathon (NVIDIA): Hassan Moustahfid successfully coordinated the NOAA GPU AI Hackathon (NVIDIA) CoralML team December 1–9, 2020 to achieve the goals/objectives of the Hackathon.  The main goal was to leverage multi-GPU NVIDIA environments with a significantly larger training NOAA datasets, and using the code from ImageCLEFCoral 2019 to evaluate performance on Nvidia hardware. The code developed/improved all in the Github site here. The team was able 1) to convert NOAA based point data into a format that can be used to train polygon-based algorithms, 2) get a working ML code that runs in multi-GPU NVIDIA. We also agreed to send an application for  2021 NOAA NVIDIA Hackathon.
  • IOOS at 2021 American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting: Micah Wengren attended AMS 2021 and presented a lightning talk on the ‘IOOS Cloud Sensor Data Ingest Project’. Tiffany Vance co-chaired a successful 37th Conference on Environmental Information Processing Technologies that included talks on Developing Cloud-Based Tools for Data Analysis, Visualization, and Archiving; Modernizing the Weather and Water Enterprise, GIS, the Internet of Things, and Quasi-Operational Products; UAS Sensing Technology Development and Its Use in Developing Weather Guidance for Manned and Unmanned Flight; and updates on AWIPS.
  • Ocean Best Practice System: In response to the UN Ocean Decade, Call for Actions, Request for Endorsement of a Decade Programme, a proposed program titled Ocean Practices for the Decade has been submitted. In addition to the OBPS Steering Group members, an extensive list of additional proposed Decade programs, institutions, organizations, NGOs, observing systems, and projects are identified as partners in the effort. OBPS wishes to share the proposal broadly in order to expand participation beyond the initial partner list. Contact any steering group member (https://www.oceanbestpractices.org/about) for further information.

Modeling and Analysis Subsystem (IOOS PO and IOOS Coastal and Ocean Modeling Testbed (COMT) POC – Tracy Fanara, Tracy.Fanara@noaa.gov):   

  • FY2021 Coastal and Ocean Modeling Testbed Project: The U.S. IOOS Program is seeking to fund projects which advance new or existing solutions that address long standing and emerging coastal modeling and forecast product development challenges. This announcement specifically funds activities needed to progress through the transitional stages from research toward full operations (such as system integration, testing, validation, and verification). Projects will be expected to participate in and advance the operation of the U.S. IOOS COMT under a community modeling environment. Funding will be targeted to models, tools or products, with demonstrated operators and end users, that are sufficiently mature for evaluation and transition to long term operations. Total estimated funding for all awards is up to $2 million per year from the U.S. IOOS Program. Multiple awards are anticipated, subject to availability of funds, in amounts up to $300,000 per year for up to three years. Full proposals due February 26, 2021 via Grants.gov. To read the full funding announcement, click here. 
  • Mark Your Calendars - Ocean Visions 2021 Summit: The next Summit will be held on the campus of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography between May 18-20, 2021. We anticipate having three satellite campuses virtually linked in Australia, South Africa, and Germany. Details to follow. The summit is being planned as "in-person" on all campuses with the ability to also participate virtually thanks to our partner the American Geophysical Union (AGU). Please save the date and sign-up for updates, we will soon release a draft Program & Agenda and share the link on social media. https://www.oceanvisions.org/summit-2021. Join the Ocean Visions Network here: https://www.oceanvisions.org/support-us  

Interagency and International Collaboration/News:

  • Ocean Observatories Initiative 2020 Year in Review: OOI has published their “2020: The Year in Review” highlighting accomplishments from the year including cruises and new data tools. Read more here. 
  • Should the OOI Pioneer Array be moved? If so, where? The Ocean Observatories Initiative Facilities Board and the National Science Foundation have launched a process to consider whether to move the Pioneer Array from its current location, on the New England shelf and slope south of Martha’s Vineyard, to a new site. Selection of the next OOI Pioneer Array location, or decision to maintain the Array at its current location, will be driven by community input on the important science questions that can be addressed by the Pioneer Array. The OOI community is invited to weigh in on this important decision during a two-phase sequential lab approach that will bring scientists, educators, and other stakeholders together virtually to evaluate 1) future location options for the Pioneer Array and 2) new design considerations that can enable exciting research endeavors at the chosen location. Read more here. 
  • Hydrographic Services Review Panel seeks nominees: Nominations are sought to keep an active pool of candidates. Nominations should be submitted by April 26, 2021 and will be kept to be used for future vacancies. Five vacancies for a four-year term will occur on January 1, 2022. Current members who may be eligible for a second term in 2022 must reapply. HSRP maintains a pool of candidates and advertises once a year to fulfill the HSIA requirements on membership solicitation. Read the full call here. 
  • NOAA’s National Ocean Service 2020 Annual Report Released: NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS) provides science-based solutions through collaborative partnerships to address the evolving economic, environmental, and social pressures on our ocean and coasts. In Fiscal Year 2020, NOS developed groundbreaking mapping strategies, innovative and ambitious coral reef restoration plans, and improvements to cutting-edge spatial data tools to support disaster response and recovery; these are just some of the many accomplishments that NOS is pleased to share in this report. Read the full NOS 2020 Year in Review on the NOS website.
  • NOAA Expands Red Tide Forecast in Texas and Florida: Grants from National Centers For Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) and IOOS will allow the red tide respiratory forecast to be expanded to beaches in Texas and the Florida Panhandle. The forecast tells beachgoers what red tide impacts can be expected at individual beaches before they visit. This is particularly important for people with asthma and other chronic lung problems. The forecast was developed in 2018 for Pinellas County, Florida, and currently includes more than 20 Gulf Coast beaches. The forecast is hosted by the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System. The funds will be used to expand the forecast to the Florida Panhandle and Texas beaches by recruiting more citizen science volunteers and providing them with the HABscope tool needed to process water samples for the forecast.
  • NOAA releases new visualization resources: Precision Navigation Data Gateway and Data Dashboard: NOAA’s Precision Marine Navigation (PMN) program released two new visualization resources. The first is a beta version Precision Marine Navigation Data Gateway map viewer allowing users to explore NOAA’s S-100 data services. Currently, the Data Gateway presents prototype surface current forecast guidance, but new layers will be added as they are developed. NOAA welcomes feedback on the beta version of the Data Gateway. Please submit all comments to marinenav.team@noaa.gov by March 1, 2021.
  • New ENCs Released for Shumagin Islands in Alaska: Four new NOAA electronic navigational charts (ENCs®) have been released for the Shumagin Islands, Alaska. These new charts provide more details and greater accuracy at 1:80,000 scale, replacing older charts at 1:300,000 scale. The older charts had very sparse depth and feature information and were not adequate to support safe navigation. Traffic data showed that some vessels were avoiding this area, even when it was the most efficient route. The new charts will support safe navigation in this area. Creating the new ENCs is the culmination of over a decade of hydrographic surveying work. The four ENCs include data from 37 systematic hydrographic surveys, one Trackline Geophysical Data Survey, and six lidar surveys of depths and features near shore. The new ENCs are based on the gridded layout that is replacing older ENCs digitized from paper charts. This re-scheming is in progress for Alaska and all U.S. coastal waters.
  • NGS Paper Demonstrates the Accuracy of Geoid System: In a few years, the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) will modernize the nation’s height system. Instead of measuring inland heights from a “mean sea level,” heights will be measured relative to a constant geopotential surface known as the geoid — a model of the shape of the Earth under the influence of gravity and rotation. By providing the shape of this undulating surface everywhere, the new system will allow surveyors to use GPS receivers to determine precise heights anywhere. In a new paper in the Journal of Geodesy, NGS describes a test of the geoid-based system in Colorado. The test demonstrated that the system has a relative accuracy of better than 5 centimeters in mountainous terrain — a worst case scenario for geoid determination. When combined with earlier surveys in Texas and Iowa (which showed better than 2 centimeter accuracy in smoother terrain), these results indicate the new national height system will provide more accurate elevations everywhere.
  • NOAA Tide and Tidal Current Predictions Available Online — Access Them Anytime: All NOAA tide and tidal current predictions for locations around the nation are available in electronic form online. NOAA eliminated paper publications of the annual Tide Tables and Tidal Current Tables in 2020. The change from print to online tables allows us to modernize this long-standing product by bringing it into the digital age. Online predictions are more accurate and up-to-date than what is provided in the annual printed tables. NOAA tide predictions are used by both commercial and recreational mariners for safe navigation. NOAA's Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services produce these tide tables on an annual basis. Read more here. You can get tide predictions and tidal current predictions online for U.S. coastal stations and some islands in the Pacific and Caribbean, for a time period of up to two years.
  • Expansion of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary: Building on more than three decades of scientific exploration, public input, and coordination with the sanctuary advisory council, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary is expanding from 56 to 160 square miles to protect additional important habitat in the Gulf of Mexico. The expansion will add 14 reefs and banks that provide critical habitat for recreationally and commercially important fish and other marine life. Existing sanctuary protections will extend to the expansion areas to limit the impact of bottom-disturbing activities that threaten sensitive biological resources. The new boundaries will take effect following 45 days of continuous congressional session.
  • New EMODnet Bathymetry Data Product Release - Upgraded version of the highly popular EMODnet Bathymetry Digital Terrain Model: EMODnet Bathymetry is pleased to announce the release of the latest version of the EMODnet Bathymetry Digital Terrain Model (DTM). The EMODnet DTM is already widely used in a whole range of applications, from marine science to sustainable ocean governance and blue economy activities. This new DTM version benefits from significant developments and expert inputs in 2020, including new data gathering, reprocessed data, thorough selection of the best data source and use of innovative bathymetric sensors (such as Satellite Derived Bathymetry). It allows users to visualise bathymetric features with greater detail, in addition to providing a powerful 3D visualisation functionality covering all European seas, into the Arctic and Barents Sea, and greater accuracy along European coastlines, thanks to the integration of both in water and satellite datasets. It is available free of charge for viewing and downloading, and sharing by OGC web services from the EMODnet Bathymetry portal.
  • Grants & Funding Opportunities:  

    • Knauss Fellowship Opportunity Now Open! The notice of federal funding opportunity for the 2022 Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship is now open. The fellowship provides a one-year, paid experience for highly-qualified early career professionals to work on issues related to coastal, marine and Great Lakes science and policy in offices within the executive or legislative branch of government in Washington, D.C. Graduate students interested in marine science policy should explore the information about the fellowship as soon as possible and talk to their local Sea Grant program (or the National Sea Grant Office) at least one month prior to the February 19, 2021 deadline. Learn more about becoming a Knauss Fellow and Read the official opportunity on grants.gov.

    • FY2021 Coastal and Ocean Modeling Testbed Project: The U.S. IOOS Program is seeking to fund projects which advance new or existing solutions that address long standing and emerging coastal modeling and forecast product development challenges. This announcement specifically funds activities needed to progress through the transitional stages from research toward full operations (such as system integration, testing, validation, and verification). Projects will be expected to participate in and advance the operation of the U.S. IOOS COMT under a community modeling environment. Funding will be targeted to models, tools or products, with demonstrated operators and end users, that are sufficiently mature for evaluation and transition to long term operations. Total estimated funding for all awards is up to $2 million per year from the U.S. IOOS Program. Multiple awards are anticipated, subject to availability of funds, in amounts up to $300,000 per year for up to three years. Full proposals due February 26, 2021 via Grants.gov. To read the full funding announcement, click here. 

    • Notice of Matching Fund Opportunity for Hydrographic Surveys and Request for Partnership Proposals: This notice establishes selection criteria and requirements for the NOAA National Ocean Service Office of Coast Survey's (Coast Survey) Hydrographic Surveying Matching Fund opportunity pilot program (pilot program). The purpose of this notice is to encourage non-Federal entities to partner with NOAA on jointly funded hydrographic surveying and mapping and related activities of mutual interest. NOAA would match partner funds and rely on its existing contract arrangements to conduct the actual surveying and mapping activities. NOAA is requesting that interested entities submit proposals by February 26, 2021. Access the full funding opportunity here. 
    • NSF funding opportunity for Navigating the New Arctic: Navigating the New Arctic (NNA) embodies an important forward-looking response by the Foundation to profound environmental challenges in the Arctic. NNA seeks innovations in fundamental convergence research across the social, natural, environmental, computing and information sciences, and engineering that address the interactions or connections among natural and built environments and social systems, and how these connections inform our understanding of Arctic change and its local and global effects. This solicitation requests proposals that fall within one of three tracks: NNA Planning Grants, dedicated to developing convergence research questions and teams to tackle projects of larger scope in the future; NNA Research Grants, aimed to support creative projects on fundamental research that address convergent scientific and engineering challenges related to the rapidly changing Arctic; and NNA Collaboratory Grants, designed to support collaborative teams undertaking research and training initiatives on critical themes of a broad scope related to the New Arctic. Proposals due March 5, 2021 https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505594 
    • Great Lakes observations, data management, and information delivery: The Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) is pleased to share a mini-grant opportunity for one-year projects ranging from $20k-$150k (USD) that will support Great Lakes observations, data management, and information delivery. Proposals are due on March 12, 2021 and are open to both US and Canadian institutions. Please visit the GLOS mini-grant webpage https://glos.org/2021-minigrants/ for more information and to download the request for proposals, and reach out to minigrants-2021rfp@glos.org with any questions or to discuss ideas. GLOS will be maintaining a list of FAQs on the website, as well any other updates. 
    • Vembu Subramanian Ocean Scholars Award: SECOORA is continuing Vembu’s legacy by sponsoring the annual Ocean Scholars Award.  There will be two awards this year: an undergraduate and other (for graduate students and early career professionals), each in the amount of $1,250. The funds are to be used to support recipients’ participation in a virtual or in-person regional, national, or international meeting or conference. Proposals are due March 12, 2021, 5:00 PM ET.  Click here for more info. 
    • SECOORA 2021 Data Challenge: Using Buoy and Shore Station Data to Meet User Needs: The 2021 Data Challenge invites undergraduate students, graduate students, and early career professionals to develop a project that incorporates and analyzes buoy and/or shore station data using archived SECOORA data. There are two $3,500 prizes.  Proposals are due Friday March 12, 2021 at 5:00 PM ET. Click here for more. 
    • NOAA Sea Grant & Ocean Acidification Program Funding Opportunity: Shellfish Aquaculture Partnerships: The National Sea Grant Office and the NOAA Ocean Acidification Program are funding a joint competition to fund proposals that seek to establish, continue, and/or expand collaborations between researchers and the shellfish aquaculture industry. Specifically, applications to this competition should utilize new or existing research/industry partnerships to study how ocean and coastal acidification in combination with other stressors impacts shellfish aquaculture. Applications must include at least one researcher and one shellfish grower acting as co-Principal Investigators, and the proposed work must utilize a co-production of knowledge framework. Read the formal announcement on Grants.gov NOAA-OAR-SG-2021-2006704. An informational webinar will be held in November, date to be announced. Full proposals due March 16, 2021 via Grants.gov. This information is also available at https://seagrant.noaa.gov/Funding. 

Delivering the Benefits:

  • An Ecosystem Restoration, Conservation & Monitoring Projects Web App for the U.S. Caribbean: The CARICOOS Caribbean Regional Ocean Partnership initiative has developed a new Ecological Restoration, Conservation & Monitoring Projects Web Mapping Application for the Caribbean region. This tool, available in https://arcg.is/1PDabn will allow users at a glance access to current initiatives going on in the US Caribbean and is aimed to facilitate communication between anyone interested and the organizations or offices responsible for a particular project, promote collaborations and active voluntary involvement, and serve as a basis for the allocation of CARICOOS observational and forecast resources.  For more information and to access the application, click here. 
  • Expanding the Red Tide Respiratory Forecast: With a Karenia brevis red tide bloom off the coast of Southwest Florida, news that the Red Tide Respiratory Forecast is expanding to Texas and more Florida beaches is welcome. The Forecast, hosted by GCOOS, is a beach-level risk forecast activated during red tide conditions that tells beachgoers what red tide impacts are expected to be at individual beaches at different times of the day. It's especially important for those who have asthma, COPD or other chronic lung conditions and lets them know where red tide might be causing respiratory impacts so they can avoid those areas.  Read more and access the forecast here.
  • Implementation Strategy for a National Harmful Algal Bloom Observing Network (NHABON) released: NHABON is needed to integrate local, state, regional, and federal HAB observing capabilities and deliver products operationally. NHABON would integrate the regional HAB observing systems in the IOOS RAs into a single, nationwide network that provides a link to the ongoing research and technology development being done and supported by NOAA, NASA, and other federal agencies. For further information, the report may be viewed hereand The Framework for the National HAB Observing Network, including extensive details on HABs, the status of regional systems, the array of tools and technology available to provide observations, and the roles and responsibilities for the various players involved, may be viewed here. 
  • Smart IoT platform ‘Seagull’ to usher in a new era of Great Lakes understanding for all: The future of how the region collects and uses Great Lakes data is on the cusp of a change. As we face challenges, including a rapidly evolving shoreline and yearly harmful algal blooms, many people are turning to smart, connected technologies for solutions. The time is right for an upgrade to the way we understand the water around us. Read more about this GLOS initiative here. 
  • New release for AOOS Data Portals: AOOS has released version 2.13 of the Ocean Data Explorer and other AOOS regional portals. This version features improvements to time slider performance, including brush selection for timeseries charts and introduces a user time zone selector. Enhancements were made to the data download UX to allow users to queue multiple datasets for download, add datasets to a download ‘shopping cart’, and share download compilations with other users. For applicable portals, custom draw and measuring tools are available in the main portal map. Additionally, users can add annotations to the map view and print the image to a pdf for integration in presentations and reports. Click here for release notes and animations of some new features.

Congressional:

  • Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act Update: On December 31, the Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act of 2020 (S. 914) with amendments.  The bill reauthorizes the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act, creates a national water center, and extends and revises the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System.

Communications/Outreach/Education:

  • NANOOS Progress Report available:  What has NANOOS been up to and what have they observed?  Their last 6-month Progress Report was submitted to NOAA IOOS before its due date on 31 December (full version available here).

  • NANOOS holds 3rd annual Ocean Acidification Day of Action: Ocean and coastal acidification (OCA) spells trouble for shelled creatures and is changing the marine environment in significant ways. Acidification in coastal waters happens differently than in the open ocean, so NERACOOS has made an infographic to show why. You can also join the OA Information Exchange, an online community for people who are interested in or work with OCA. You don’t have to be a scientist; the site’s members are educators, policymakers, aquaculturists, students, and people who simply want to know or do more. Request an account today!
  • Tech bootcamp students learn as they build using real-time data from GLOS: Students at Grand Circus, a tech training bootcamp based in Michigan, learned to handle real-time lake data through a recent partnership with GLOS. Read more here. 
  • UNDOS Arctic Planning: Molly McCammon, Senior Advisor for the Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS), is continuing to participate in the UNDOS Arctic Action Plan Task Force and Working Groups, as part of the effort coordinated by the Danish Marine Institute to develop a version 1 Arctic Action Plan as part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science. The draft plan will be released for public comment on February 25. 

Click here to view the IOOS Association Calendar

Do you have suggestions for new things you would like to see in the Eyes on the Ocean IOOS Bi-Weekly? Contact us at: eoto@noaa.gov.

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