An Ocean of Data: NOAA’s Roles in Marine Extreme Events and Hazards

Summary and Expectations

Response to extreme events demands the world’s best global weather models and the most robust ocean observation systems. Predicting ecosystem-wide weather and marine extremes and hazards has been enhanced by advances in ocean observations and by building cross-disciplinary partnerships between oceanographers and meteorologists. In this session, NOAA will provide an agency overview to show the integration and interconnected contributions necessary to take observations to services across the value chain, and use shared data and information to impactfully save lives in the oceans and along the coasts while sustaining and improving national and local economies. The session will include time for community discussion to help identify gaps and opportunities.

Expected Outcomes/Recommendations

• Bring in core mission stakeholders earlier on in the development of research and technology so that we are developing around needs and, in tandem, providing the necessary communication and education from the onset.
• The architecture of ocean observations are changing. Be more adaptive to changing technology and focus efforts on transitional systems while maintaining data records.
• Research to operations transitions are key in developing systems with broad reaching impacts and societal benefits, and should be a focus from the onset of research questions to support issues and needs on multiple scales.