The mandate to establish a Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) was formally articulated and ratified in 1992 at the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro. Specifically, Agenda 21 calls for the establishment of a global ocean observing system that will enable effective management of the marine environment and sustainable utilization of its natural resources.

1. The mandate to establish a
Global Ocean Observing System
(GOOS) was formally articulated
and ratified in 1992 at the UN
Conference on Environment and
Development (UNCED) in Rio de
Janeiro. Specifically, Agenda 21
calls for the establishment of a
global ocean observing system
that will enable effective
management of the marine
environment and sustainable
utilization of its natural
resources.
IOCARIBE-GOOS
The GOOS Regional
Alliance for the IOCARIBE
Region
Doug Wilson
IOCARIBE-GOOS Project Coordinator

2. GOOS is a permanent global system for
observations, modelling and analysis of
marine and ocean variables to support
operational ocean services worldwide.
GOOS provides accurate descriptions of the present state of the oceans,
including living resources; continuous forecasts of the future conditions of
the sea for as far ahead as possible, and the basis for forecasts of climate
change.
GOOS is a system of programmes, each of which is working on different and
complementary aspects of establishing an operational ocean observation
capability for all of the world's nations. UN sponsorship and UNESCO
assemblies assure that international cooperation is always the first priority of
the Global Ocean Observing System.
GOOS is the oceanographic component of GEOSS, the Global Earth
Observing System of Systems .

3. A Global Coastal Network is to be developed
through the establishment and networking of
GOOS Regional Alliances, National GOOS
programs, and existing global programs
-Implementation plan for Coastal Module of GOOS

4. IOCARIBE-GOOS was established in 1999 at
IOCARIBE VI, led by an ad hoc Group of
Experts. The first task of the group was to
produce a Strategic Plan (The Case for
IOCARIBE-GOOS, GOOS Report No. 115,
UNESCO, 2002). IOCARIBE-GOOS was
accepted as a GOOS Regional Alliance by I-
GOOS in 2003.
“To serve the marine data and
information needs of humanity for the
efficient, safe, rational and responsible
use and protection of the marine
environment, and for climate prediction
and coastal management, especially in
matters requiring information beyond
that which individual national
observation systems can efficiently
provide, and which enable smaller and
less-developed nations to participate
and gain benefit…”

5. IOCARIBE-GOOS IMPLEMENTATION:
GOOS principles
GOOS is designed to:
Monitor, understand and predict weather and climate
Describe and forecast the state of the ocean, including living resources
Improve management of marine and coastal ecosystems and resources
Mitigate damage from natural hazards and pollution
Protect life and property on coasts and at sea
Enable scientific research
Note other RAs have slightly modified – US for example are restated as
Weather and Climate
Marine Operations
Coastal Ecosystems
Sustainable Resources
Natural Hazards
Public Health

6. GOOS principles
GOOS is an End to End, User-driven
system with three primary Sub-systems:
Observations
Data Management and Communications (incl. Dissemination
and Access)
Models and Analysis
And three cross-cutting Sub-systems
Governance and Management
Research and Development
Training and Education
Emphasizes Open exchange of Data and Information

7. Original GOOS Core Variables
Temperature Salinity
Water Level Currents
Surface Waves Surface Winds
Ocean Color Dissolved Oxygen
pH pCO2
Heat Flux Bottom Character
Pathogens Bathymetry
Ice Distribution Contaminants
Stream Flow Dissolved Nutrients
Optical Properties Total Suspended Matter
Fish Species* Fish Abundance*
Zooplankton Species* Zooplankton Abundance*
Phytoplankton Species*
Colored Dissolved Organic Matter

8. IOC GOOS Today – New Structure and
Strategy based on OCEANOBS 09
Framework for Ocean Observing
Essential Ocean Variables
to be determined
as well as ECVs, EBEVs
Coastal GOOS Strategy based on
Phenomena of Interest
Coastal Eutrophication and Hypoxia
Human Exposure to Waterborne
Pathogens
Harmful Algal Blooms
Habitat Loss & Modification
Vulnerability to Coastal Flooding
Ocean Acidification
Food Security

9. The Committee agreed that GOOS
could play a significant role in advising
on coastal observations, by providing
expertise on a framework for developing
integrated observation systems to address specific issues,
promoting standards and best practice for measurements to
make them intercomparable, sharing experiences and comparing
designs, and promoting data sharing, integration and
interoperability. GOOS could also provide an umbrella for the
development of regional pilot projects. But GOOS centrally could
not plan in detail coastal observations in all regions, which need
to be based on regional and national priorities. It should focus
energy on promoting the intercomparability and availability of
coastal observations, and could build on the inventory of
GRA contributions to GOOS.

12. IOCARIBE-GOOS future
While the region still lacks adequate in situ measurements,
the capabilities to collect them AND the availability of data
and products is advancing rapidly due to advances in
technology..
Individual states and Regional programs need support for:

13. • Data Collection [Observing System]
activities for various (but often
overlapping) programs and purposes
• Climate Change Monitoring and Adaptation
• Hazard Forecasting, Response , and Mitigation
• Living Resources Protection, Management, and Exploitation
• Habitat Preservation and Utilization
• Data Management, Aggregation, Integration, and
Distribution
• Information (value added, products, processed, modeled)
Management and Distribution

14. These activities are at present:
Somewhat Balkanized
Often Competitive
Poorly integrated
Often proprietary, protected, or with barriers to sharing
In addition, funding is not being directed in a manner that
encourages and supports this approach

15. Success Stories
During the Rio workshop there was an opportunity to hold an ad
hoc IOCARIBE-GOOS meeting with the national delegates from the
IOCARIBE countries. The common request from this group for
IOCARIBE-GOOS was to provide support for the activities of
National GOOS and Sustained Ocean Observations and Services
Programs, by addressing the following:
• Sharing of Best Practices
• Promoting Data Exchange
• Coordinating support from countries with more developed
operational observing and forecasting activities
• Coordinating ways to address common needs; one such
noted was the need for national Buoy and other Observing
Systems to support local services and forecasting activities

16. Needs and Recommendations
IOCARIBE-GOOS future
While the region still lacks adequate in situ measurements, the
capabilities to collect them AND the availability of data and products is
advancing rapidly due to advances in technology..
Individual states and Regional programs need support for:
• Data Collection [Observing System] activities for various (but often
overlapping) programs and purposes
• Climate Change Monitoring and Adaptation
• Hazard Forecasting, Response , and Mitigation
• Living Resources Protection, Management, and Exploitation
• Habitat Preservation and Utilization
• Data Management, Aggregation, Integration, and Distribution
• Information (value added, products, processed, modeled)
Management and Distribution

17. With reference to
• Observing Systems
• Remote Sensing
• GIS Products
• Model Outputs
IOCARIBE – GOOS could
• Coordinate
• Advise (best practices)
• Oversee (Standards,
Communication)
• Integrate
• Aggregate
• Support Application and
Product Development
• Promote
• Identify
• Distribute (Data and Product
Commons)
Needs and Recommendations

18. Needs and Recommendations
• Leverage National and existing Regional efforts
• Raise Donor and Government Awareness
• Need better organization and coordination among Programs
tasked with observations and products:
GOOS Tsunami LME GCOS JCOMM
IHO IODE UNEP WOA
• Pilot Projects – tied to integrated organizational
infrastructure

19. Observations –
IOC Sea Level

20. Real-time Satellite Products

21. Real-time Satellite Products

24. Success Stories
Asset and Product Maps
• Provided by RPS Applied Science Associates
• Used by several US IOOS Regional Associations
• Based on Publicly available data
• Customizable
Caribbean Assets Explorer
http://72.44.60.22/carib/
Caribbean CoastMap Explorer
http://map.asascience.com/CoastMap/
Userid: IOCARIBE Password:Ocean0bserving
( Ocean[ZERO]bserving )

25. Asset Maps: Caribbean CoastMap Explorer
http://map.asascience.com/CoastMap/
Userid: IOCARIBE Password:Ocean0bserving
( Ocean[ZERO]bserving )

26. Asset Maps: Caribbean Assets Explorer
http://72.44.60.22/carib/