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| Interagency Ocean Observation Committee | |
|---|---|
| Name | Interagency Ocean Observation Committee |
| Formation | 1990s |
| Type | Advisory committee |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| Region served | United States |
| Parent organization | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Interagency Ocean Observation Committee is an interagency advisory body focused on coordinating federal ocean observing efforts across agencies and departments. It serves as a forum linking federal entities such as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, United States Geological Survey, United States Navy and others to align observing priorities with programs like Integrated Ocean Observing System, Global Ocean Observing System, Argo and Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative. The committee interfaces with regional partnerships, state agencies, and international bodies including Group on Earth Observations, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, and North Pacific Marine Science Organization.
The committee provides strategic guidance to agencies such as Department of Commerce, Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency and National Institutes of Health on observing system design, data management, and technology transfer. It aligns federal observing activities with initiatives like Coastal Zone Management Act, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, Ocean Dumping Act, and multilateral efforts such as United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Arctic Council assessments. The committee fosters interoperability with programs including NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, US Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), NOAA National Weather Service, U.S. Coast Guard, and Naval Research Laboratory.
The committee emerged amid policy developments involving Ocean Research Priorities Plan, U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy recommendations, and legislation influenced by events like Deepwater Horizon oil spill and reports from National Research Council (United States). Early coordination built on work from agencies such as Office of Science and Technology Policy and panels convened by White House Office of Management and Budget and Congressional Research Service. Its genesis reflects linkages to programs including SeaWiFS, TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1, and national strategies like the National Ocean Policy.
Membership comprises senior representatives from agencies including NOAA, NSF, NASA, USGS, Department of Defense (United States), Department of Transportation (United States), and National Science and Technology Council. Governance follows chartering practices similar to Federal Advisory Committee Act structures and interagency working groups such as National Oceanographic Partnership Program. Leadership roles have been filled by officials from NOAA Ocean Exploration, Office of Naval Research, and Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. Committees and subcommittees mirror coordination mechanisms used by Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology.
The committee identifies observation priorities, advises on sensor deployment like gliders, seagliders, satellite altimetry, synthetic aperture radar, and supports standards used by Open Geospatial Consortium, ISO (International Organization for Standardization), and DataONE. It provides technical reviews for programs such as Argo, Tropical Atmosphere Ocean project, Global Drifter Program, Ship of Opportunity Program, and operational systems including Coastal Ocean Observing Systems and Integrated Ocean Observing System Regional Associations. Activities include workshops with organizations like Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and coordination with academic consortia such as Consortium of Ocean Leadership.
Initiatives advised by the committee span long-term observing networks including Global Ocean Observing System, Argo, Biogeochemical-Argo, Global Drifter Program, and regional efforts such as Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System, Northeast Coastal Ocean Forecast System, and Alaska Ocean Observing System. The committee helps integrate observing elements used in operational products like NOAA National Ocean Service hydrographic surveys, U.S. Navy Global Ocean Forecast System, and research campaigns such as Geotraces and Oceans Melting Greenland. It promotes pilot projects in autonomous systems with partners including Office of Naval Research, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy.
The committee fosters partnerships with international bodies including Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, Group on Earth Observations, World Meteorological Organization, and regional organizations like North Pacific Marine Science Organization and Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. It engages nonfederal partners such as Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, University of Washington (Seattle), University of California, San Diego, Rutgers University, Duke University, University of Miami, WHOI, MBARI, NOAA Cooperative Institutes, State coastal management agencies, regional IOOS regional associations, private sector companies in remote sensing and maritime systems, and NGOs like The Nature Conservancy and Oceana.
Funding streams supporting committee-recommended activities derive from appropriations through Department of Commerce accounts, grants from National Science Foundation, mission funding from NASA, program funds from Department of Defense (United States), and cooperative agreements with institutions such as NOAA Cooperative Institutes and National Sea Grant College Program. Resource allocation echoes mechanisms used by National Oceanographic Partnership Program and competitive solicitations through NSF Directorate for Geosciences and interagency solicitations from Office of Science and Technology Policy. Staffing and in-kind support are commonly provided by agencies including NOAA, USGS, NASA, NSF, and Department of Defense (United States).
Category:Oceanography organizations