4
advancement of science. Ocean observing systems, on the other hand, while
invariably useful to science, are primarily dedicated to serving stakeholder needs.
Stakeholders in the commercial, conservation, recreational, regulatory, security, and
scientific fields increasingly rely on observing system data products, nowcasts, and
forecasts for operational planning and execution. Such packaged data products are
now supplied by government-supported integrated coastal ocean observing systems
(such as those forming part of the United States Integrated Ocean Observing System
IOOS) as well as by commercial enterprises. These developments have brought us
to the dawn of an era of truly operational autonomous ocean observing.
This book is focused on the practice of operational coastal ocean observing providing data and data products useful to the stakeholder. The book describes the wide
available range of electromechanical, electrochemical, electro-optical, and electroacoustic sensor systems at the heart of current field-deployable ocean observing
instruments. Their principles of operation, precision, and accuracy are discussed in
detail as well as their power requirements and associated electronics. Observing
platforms bearing these instruments cover a diverse spatial range from satellites in
orbit, to surface vessels or buoys afloat, to submerged vehicles, and to subsurface
and ocean bottom emplacements. Autonomous profiling buoys are now capable of
characterizing water column properties from the surface to great depths. Shorebased platforms also provide meteorological data and the novel capability of HF
radar surface current mapping for coastal ocean observing. Active and passive electromagnetic sensing instruments aboard satellites in terrestrial orbit provide wide
ranging synoptic views of ocean surface and subsurface features. Observing platforms ranging from the traditional to the most recently developed are described as
are the challenges of integrating instrument suits to individual platforms.
Operating and maintaining a coastal ocean observing network is subject to the
challenges posed to operating electronic instruments and platforms in remote environments where electrical power is unavailable and equipment is subject to harsh
conditions. The book describes currently available provisions for reliable power
supplies and for protection from seawater pressure, corrosion, and biofouling, provisions which are essential to operational ocean observing.
Large volumes of data are generated by distributed networks of observing platforms constituting an observing system. Depending on the platform, observations
from one to several instruments, together with metadata such as time stamps, geolocation, and depth must be integrated into a standardized data packet for transmission to one or more data assembly centers. Electronic data is digitized, filtered, and
processed into discrete data packages prior to transmission. Data are then either
made available in a few currently accepted data formats or integrated into valueadded data visualization products. The book describes the processes involved in
data conditioning, quality assurance, and quality control procedures as well as
accepted data formats and representative data products.
Data from remote observing sites must be transmitted to the operator. Data
telemetry can make use of cables to shore. Data from subsurface emplacements
must be transmitted to the sea surface via acoustic means due to the opacity of
1 Introduction to Coastal Ocean Observing
advancement of science. Ocean observing systems, on the other hand, while
invariably useful to science, are primarily dedicated to serving stakeholder needs.
Stakeholders in the commercial, conservation, recreational, regulatory, security, and
scientific fields increasingly rely on observing system data products, nowcasts, and
forecasts for operational planning and execution. Such packaged data products are
now supplied by government-supported integrated coastal ocean observing systems
(such as those forming part of the United States Integrated Ocean Observing System
IOOS) as well as by commercial enterprises. These developments have brought us
to the dawn of an era of truly operational autonomous ocean observing.
This book is focused on the practice of operational coastal ocean observing providing data and data products useful to the stakeholder. The book describes the wide
available range of electromechanical, electrochemical, electro-optical, and electroacoustic sensor systems at the heart of current field-deployable ocean observing
instruments. Their principles of operation, precision, and accuracy are discussed in
detail as well as their power requirements and associated electronics. Observing
platforms bearing these instruments cover a diverse spatial range from satellites in
orbit, to surface vessels or buoys afloat, to submerged vehicles, and to subsurface
and ocean bottom emplacements. Autonomous profiling buoys are now capable of
characterizing water column properties from the surface to great depths. Shorebased platforms also provide meteorological data and the novel capability of HF
radar surface current mapping for coastal ocean observing. Active and passive electromagnetic sensing instruments aboard satellites in terrestrial orbit provide wide
ranging synoptic views of ocean surface and subsurface features. Observing platforms ranging from the traditional to the most recently developed are described as
are the challenges of integrating instrument suits to individual platforms.
Operating and maintaining a coastal ocean observing network is subject to the
challenges posed to operating electronic instruments and platforms in remote environments where electrical power is unavailable and equipment is subject to harsh
conditions. The book describes currently available provisions for reliable power
supplies and for protection from seawater pressure, corrosion, and biofouling, provisions which are essential to operational ocean observing.
Large volumes of data are generated by distributed networks of observing platforms constituting an observing system. Depending on the platform, observations
from one to several instruments, together with metadata such as time stamps, geolocation, and depth must be integrated into a standardized data packet for transmission to one or more data assembly centers. Electronic data is digitized, filtered, and
processed into discrete data packages prior to transmission. Data are then either
made available in a few currently accepted data formats or integrated into valueadded data visualization products. The book describes the processes involved in
data conditioning, quality assurance, and quality control procedures as well as
accepted data formats and representative data products.
Data from remote observing sites must be transmitted to the operator. Data
telemetry can make use of cables to shore. Data from subsurface emplacements
must be transmitted to the sea surface via acoustic means due to the opacity of
1 Introduction to Coastal Ocean Observing