Phase 1

Maintaining long-term, continuous, ocean-data records for understanding, monitoring changes in, and modeling climate changes are essential, yet, challenging. An ad hoc committee will consider processes for identifying and characterizing the most critical, long-term ocean observations (including arrays of distributed platforms) and identify limitations of the current approaches.

When considering the various processes for selecting and characterizing high-priority, long-term ocean observations, the committee will discuss potential factors such as:

• Accuracy, precision, frequency, and spatial resolution of observations;
• Duration of observations (e.g., what criteria would be used to determine when observations should be sustained at high priority, are no longer needed for a given parameter or when an observation would be superseded by a different type of observation, for example through a new/different technology);
• Inherent value and/or tradeoffs of increasing multidisciplinary observations across a limited number of networks/platforms vs initiating additional observing systems;
• Complementarity of an observation to another set of observations (or network); and
• Current or near-future technology that could be used to develop a more cost-effective observational system.

The committee's report will identify challenges to maintaining long-term observations and suggest avenues for potential improvement. During the study, the committee will convene a workshop to gather expert opinions on the process for prioritizing long-term, ocean climate observations and discuss international approaches to selecting and sustaining ocean observations, as well as other topics important for the design of sustainable, long-term ocean observing systems.

Phase 2 Workshop:
Based on the outcome of Phase 1, a separate ad hoc steering committee (with some overlap in membership with the Phase 1 committee) will be appointed to organize a workshop to discuss potential options for aligning resources to ensure continuity and quality of critical ocean observations over the long term. This Phase 2 committee will structure the workshop to cover a range of options for expanding support, such as public-private partnerships with industry and philanthropy. Other topics could include scientific oversight, coordination of U.S. and international observing initiatives, and diversification of funding. A summary of the presentations and discussions at the workshop will be prepared by a designated rapporteur in accordance with institutional guidelines.