J1.4
Developing an Integrated Ocean Observing System for Improved Mitigation of the Impacts of Coastal Hazards and Climate Change on Coastal Communities
Thomas C. Malone, Univ. of Maryland, Arlington, VA
The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) is in the early stages of development to provide data and information required to (1) improve predictions of climate change and its effects on coastal communities and the nation, (2) improve the safety and efficiency of maritime operations, (3) more effectively mitigate the impacts of natural hazards, (4) improve national and homeland security, (5) reduce public health risks, (6) more effectively protect and restore healthy coastal ecosystems, and (7) enable sustained use of living marine resources. Among the highest priorities for phased development of the IOOS is improving capabilities to predict, manage, and mitigate effects of coastal inundation caused by hurricanes, tropical storms, extra-tropical cyclones, nor'easters, and tsunamis. Based on the needs of three categories of users (real-time responders, post event re-builders, and long-term planners), high priorities for IOOS development are to (1) improve the accuracy and timeliness of forecast maps of the time-space extent of coastal inundation and (2) periodically provide accurate, high resolution, timely assessments of changes in susceptibility (vulnerability and risk) to and impacts of coastal inundation. Data requirements and advances in operational modeling capabilities to address these objectives and actions needed to achieve them are described. A key action for meeting these requirements is the development of community modeling approaches to enable more effective collaboration among research and operational Communities with the objective of improving and expanding operational modeling capabilities in support of decision making by all three categories of users. Community modeling activities should include coordinated development of observational and modeling capabilities and the development of test beds, ensemble modeling capabilities, and experiments to validate models and improve predictive skills (e.g., Observing System Simulation Experiments). .
Joint Session J1, Plenary: Coastal-Urban Interactions and Vulnerabilities in the Areas of Weather, Climate, and Air Quality
Monday, 10 September 2007, 8:45 AM-11:30 AM, Kon Tiki Ballroom
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