Better regional ocean observing through cross-national cooperation: A case study from the Northeast Pacific
Date
2019
Authors
Barth, J.A.
Allen, S.E.
Dever, E.P.
Dewey, R.K.
Evans, W.
Feely, R.A.
Fisher, J.L.
Fram, J.P.
Hales, B.
Ianson, D.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Frontiers in Marine Science
Abstract
The ocean knows no political borders. Ocean processes, like summertime wind-driven
upwelling, stretch thousands of kilometers along the Northeast Pacific (NEP) coast. This
upwelling drives marine ecosystem productivity and is modulated by weather systems
and seasonal to interdecadal ocean-atmosphere variability. Major ocean currents in the
NEP transport water properties such as heat, fresh water, nutrients, dissolved oxygen,
pCO2, and pH close to the shore. The eastward North Pacific Current bifurcates offshore
in the NEP, delivering open-ocean signals south into the California Current and north
into the Gulf of Alaska. There is a large and growing number of NEP ocean observing
elements operated by government agencies, Native American Tribes, First Nations
groups, not-for-profit organizations, and private entities. Observing elements include
moored and mobile platforms, shipboard repeat cruises, as well as land-based and
estuarine stations. A wide range of multidisciplinary ocean sensors are deployed to
track, for example, upwelling, downwelling, ocean productivity, harmful algal blooms,
ocean acidification and hypoxia, seismic activity and tsunami wave propagation. Data
delivery to shore and observatory controls are done through satellite and cell phone
communication, and via seafloor cables. Remote sensing from satellites and landbased
coastal radar provide broader spatial coverage, while numerical circulation and
biogeochemical modeling complement ocean observing efforts. Models span from the deep ocean into the inland Salish Sea and estuaries. NEP ocean observing systems are
used to understand regional processes and, together with numerical models, provide
ocean forecasts. By sharing data, experiences and lessons learned, the regional ocean
observatory is better than the sum of its parts.
Description
Keywords
ocean observation, marine eco system, coastal oceanography, ocean model and observations comparison, data delivery, Ocean Networks Canada
Citation
Barth, J.A., Allen, S.E., Dever, E.P., Dewey, R.K., Evans, W., Feely, R.A., Fisher, J.L., Fram, J.P., Hales, B., Ianson, D., Jackson, J., Juniper, K., Kawka, O., Kelley, D., Klymak, J.M., Konovsky, J., Kosro, P.M., Kurapov, A., Mayorga, E., MacCready, P., Newton, J., Ian Perry, R., Risien, C.M., Robert, M., Ross, T., Kipp Shearman, R., Schumacker, J., Siedlecki, S., Trainer, V.L., Waterman, S., Wingard, C.E. (2019). Better regional ocean observing through cross-national cooperation: A case study from the Northeast Pacific, Frontiers in Marine Science, 6(MAR). http://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00093