Opportunities in Applied Oceanography in the California Current

Sharp, Gary D.; ,

Opportunities in Applied Oceanography in the California Current

by Gary D. Sharp, NOAA Cent for Ocean Analysis and, Prediction, Monterey, United States,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Coastal Zone '91

Abstract:

Recent developments within the US oceanographic research community and around the world have made it possible to provide ocean and atmosphere information and products in near real time from the Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center (FNOC). FNOC receives the world's highest levels of information ingest for use in near real time state of the ocean modeling. The California Current system and its regional and subregional components are coming under authorities and mandates which require fine scale ocean research and monitoring. Projects are emerging that range from environmental monitoring and clean-ups to management of Marine Sanctuaries, estuaries and bays. This provides unusual opportunities for those managing these venues to organize and coordinate needed studies. Applied oceanography and resource management efforts are best planned and carried out within cooperative contexts, rather than competitive ones, given the state of US and California funding for ocean science. Organizations of regional and multiple Agency consortia have begun, and the implementation of the NOAA Center for Ocean Analysis and Prediction at FNOC, and the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Integrated Ocean Sciences (CIRIOS) between NOAA and the Naval Postgraduate School, provide mechanisms for third parties to access the ocean and atmosphere information needed to act efficiently in research and resource management contexts, and provides a convenient information/data base management system for both access and archiving research products for use in other contexts. Mechanisms for providing coordinated research programs are evolving to cope with the 'new' California Challenges and Opportunities.

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