The Central Gulf of Mexico Ocean Observing System (CenGOOS)

HR: 1330h
AN: OS43A-03 [Abstracts]
TI: The Central Gulf of Mexico Ocean Observing System (CenGOOS)
AU: * Howden, S D
EM: stephan.howden@usm.edu
AF: The University of Southern Mississippi, Department of Marine Science 1020 Balch Blvd, Stennis Space Center, MA 39529 United States
AU: Asper, V
EM: vernon.asper@usm.edu
AF: The University of Southern Mississippi, Department of Marine Science 1020 Balch Blvd, Stennis Space Center, MA 39529 United States
AU: Lohrenz, S
EM: steven.lohrenz@usm.edu
AF: The University of Southern Mississippi, Department of Marine Science 1020 Balch Blvd, Stennis Space Center, MA 39529 United States
AU: Roman, D
EM: donald.roman@usm.edu
AF: The University of Southern Mississippi, Department of Marine Science 1020 Balch Blvd, Stennis Space Center, MA 39529 United States
AB: The University of Southern Mississippi has established a coastal ocean observing system in the north-central Gulf of Mexico, where there is a dearth of real-time oceanographic observations on the continental shelf. The development of the Central Gulf of Mexico Ocean Observing System (CenGOOS) follows overall guidelines for the Integrated Ocean Observing System as articulated by Ocean.US, and draft regional guidelines set forth by the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System Regional Association (GCOOS-RA). The present system consists of a 3-m discus buoy measuring both meteorological and oceanographic parameters that are telemetered to the USM Department of Marine Science every three hours via Globalstar satellite communications. Data are served via a web site (www.cengoos.org). The near-term development of the system will include:

Further integration with the coastal and near coastal observatories in the region
Deployment of a two station, long range, high frequency radar system for mapping surface currents in the Mississippi Bight
Deployment of additional instrumented moorings in the Mississippi Bight
Development of a data assimilative nowcast/forecast numerical model of the region
Regional database of high resolution multibeam and side-scan sonar data

The initial plan for development of CenGOOS was formulated based on input solicited from identified stakeholders, regional priorities identified through opinion surveys conducted by the GCOOS-RA, and guidance from both Ocean.US and GCOOS-RA. An overview of our accomplishments, and vision for the future will be presented. This will include the hardware infrastructure, data management and communications plans and implementation, and other activities to integrate CenGOOS with the other observing systems in the Gulf of Mexico.
UR: http://cengoos.org
DE: 4219 Continental shelf processes
DE: 4294 Instruments and techniques
DE: 4299 General or miscellaneous
DE: 4546 Nearshore processes
DE: 4845 Nutrients and nutrient cycling
SC: Ocean Sciences [OS]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly