Western Alaska Buoy Deployment and Data Streaming. Author of Report Molly McCammon, AOOS,

Transcription

1 1. PROJECT INFORMATION Title: Western Alaska Buoy Deployment and Data Streaming Report period December 31, 2012 May 27, 2015 Report submission date May 27, 2015 (rec d 27 May; rev d 27 May; resp d 27 May; repl d NA) Author of Report Molly McCammon, AOOS, mccammon@aoos.org, Principal Investigator(s), Co Principal Investigators and Recipient Organization(s): Molly McCammon, AOOS, mccammon@aoos.org, ; David Atkinson, Department of Geography, University of Victoria, datkinso@uvic.ca, ; 2. PROJECT OVERVIEW a. Briefly (4 5 sentences) describe both the research purpose and the underlying need for this research. This project leverages existing human resources, physical and computational infrastructure to collect and disseminate oceanographic observations in the Bering Sea. From instrument restoration, transport and deployment, through data streaming, recovery and dissemination, this project considers the end to end support necessary to gather, promote, and serve oceanographic data along Alaska s Western coast. Real time sea state conditions directly benefit emergency managers and local communities, particularly in dealing with small craft hazards and predicting storm surges and coastal erosion. In addition to these immediate benefits, the data produced will provide a wealth of information through which public and private planners and scientists will be able to identify long term trends, aiding in planning safe transit, coastal development, and community safety efforts. b. List the objective(s) of the project, exactly as described in your Statement of Work. Objective 1: Deploy oceanographic wave buoy (Figure 1) Buoy Redeployment includes o Procurement of a reusable acoustic anchor release o Transmission of wave height, period, and direction of impinging waves o Transmission of meteorological parameters including wind speed and direction, air temperature, and sea surface temperature Objective 2: Develop Information Products from two open water seasons of data collection: Real Time wave and weather observations published to AOOS Real Time Sensor Map and transmitted to NWS via the Global Telecommunications System Time series of wave information and historic trends Highlights and updates on the AOOS website per Education and Outreach plan

2 c. 3. PROGRESS SUMMARY a. Describe report period progress. Objective 1: Deploy oceanographic wave buoy In April of 2013, the buoy was removed from storage at Sand Point in Seattle and sent to the Axys facility in British Columbia for repairs. Captain and crew aboard the Canadian Coast Guard vessel Sir Wilfrid Laurier donated time and deck space to successfully deploy the buoy on July The buoy streamed real time wave information, including wave height, period and direction and real time sea and air temperature until it was recovered on Nov. 1 by the Norseman I and off loaded in Seward for winter storage. In July of 2014 the buoy was removed from storage at the UAF Marine storage shed in Seward and readied for deployment by David Leech. Captain and crew aboard the Westward Wind, operated by Olgoonik Fairweather, donated time and deck space to assist the buoy through successful redeployment on July 29 th The buoy was deployed 35 miles west of King Island, near its location the previous year, and continuously streamed information until it was recovered on October 8 by the Norseman II and off loaded in Nome for winter storage, thanks to time, space and resources donated by the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation. Objective 2: Develop Information Products Real time information was transmitted during both years of deployment via iridium at hourly intervals and disseminated via the AOOS real time sensor map, the interactive AOOS Arctic Portal (Figure 2) and on a low bandwidth site maintained by David Atkinson: < (Figure 3). This webpage provided, on an hourly basis, plots of wave height and direction as well as air and sea surface temperature data (Figures 4 7). The page also provided plots showing wave forecasts, generated using NOAA s operational WaveWatch data for the region and presented for locations more closely tailored to specific locations (Figure 7). All historical data is also available on the AOOS website. AOOS staff developed a one-page flyer for both years of deployment that was distributed both electronically and in hard copy to contacts in Norton Sound and elsewhere to advertise the buoy and promote its use. AOOS also developed an FTP site to transfer data directly to the National Weather Service forecast office. b. Describe results. The buoy s deployment was delayed one year due to the need for repairs. Once those were completed in 2012, the buoy was successfully deployed in both 2013 and Wave data were used to help validate NOAA s WaveWatch model. A key element of this project was providing real time data to improve local marine operations in the area. In early August 2014 a glitch occurred at the PI s lab and information was not properly translated into units and information that could be easily understood by the public. National Weather Service forecasters alerted AOOS staff to the break in transmission and, with the help of their data team, AOOS was able to code the incoming data stream for direct display through the AOOS real time sensor map, resuming the flow of information to its users. 2

3 Figures 8 and 9 show the hit activity on the IARC low bandwidth website. Note the strong interest when AOOS released the initial notification (evidenced by number of first time page views) and consistently high proportion of returning visits, indicating regular users making use of the data. Peaks and lulls indicate periods of greater interest coinciding with storm/severe weather periods. People did not tend to access the data during fair weather conditions. Note as well the continued use of the website after the buoy was recovered, indicating the additional value of the wave forecasts, also supported by this project. The difference between 2014 and 2013, and the variation over time, are explained by the weather more storms = more hits. I also suspect in 2014 the AOOS site was drawing more hits, and the fact that the data feed was on GTS was also likely drawing off NWS hits in particular. Figure 10 shows the geography of the hits and Figure 11 shows the Alaska communities using the site. Note that many lower 48 hits indicate villages because their internet is routed through servers in the south. It also appears that western Canadian Arctic communities are also looking at the site; they are very interested in having something similar in the eastern Beaufort, so perhaps this can serve as a model for others. This area is the western entrance to the Northwest Passage; improving safety there is important for anyone traversing the region, so hopefully this project will have helped guide the way for that region as well. Figure 12 shows the value of the AOOS website in directing users to the lowbandwidth site. c. Publications, conference papers, and presentations. A manuscript has been submitted to an American Meteorological Society peer reviewed journal, the Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology (Appendix 1). An example of use of buoy data to help validate NOAA s wave model is provided in Appendix 1 (Figure A 1). d. Education and outreach. Partners at the Alaska Sea Grant office in Nome assisted with targeted outreach to community members, including local subsistence hunters and mariners (Appendix 2). AOOS staff reported on the project s progress and findings to the Western Alaska LCC Steering Committee on June 5, The buoy was included in a presentation by Molly McCammon, AOOS Executive Director, during a Marine Navigation session at the Week of the Arctic in Nome on October 6, AOOS staff met with interested parties at the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation (NSEDC) and AK Sea Grant in Nome on October 7, 2014 to discuss transferring stewardship, regular maintenance and deployment decision making to the local community. NSEDC agreed to store, maintain and deploy the buoy, and the Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program Agent agreed to engage subsistence hunters, mariners and others in deciding when and where to deploy the buoy over the next field season. AOOS agreed to cover the annual costs of data transmission and buoy anchor and chain. e. Other products resulting from the project. The outreach initiative, referenced above, will successfully transition this pilot project into a longterm community based asset in the region. Although currently stored in Nome, ownership of the buoy resides with UAF, but discussions are underway to determine final ownership. The acoustic release purchased for this project also resides in Nome, and ownership will be transferred to the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation. f. Describe any concerns you may have about your project s progress. 3

4 The acoustic release purchased for this project was used in year two as anticipated. The only final issue is determining final ownership of the buoy and release. 4. PROGRESS STATUS Part 1: At the present time, the buoy and release are stored in a secure NSEDC facility in Nome. The buoy will be deployed locally beginning this summer Storage, stewardship and regular maintenance will be overseen by NSEDC and outreach will be coordinated between NSEDC and the local Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program Agent. This outreach development successfully transitions this pilot project into a long term community based asset in the region. AOOS will remain involved through data dissemination via the Real Time Sensor Map. AOOS has agreed to cover the annual cost of data transmission (~2K per year), plus costs of providing chain and anchors to keep this asset in the water. Part 2: Detailed report on progress made towards deliverables specified in Statement of Work Deliverable Progress (% completed) 1. Purchase equipment 100% 2. Repair buoy 100% 3. Transport and deploy the buoy 100% 4. Submit data management plan to Western Alaska LCC Staff 100% 5. Submit annual interim financial report (SF 425) and this progress report 100% 6. Collaborate with the WALCC/Service staff to create outreach brochure 100% Part 3: If possible, please attach high resolution photos and/or graphics of your work in progress. Yes, I m attaching images. No, I m not attaching images. 4

5 Figure 1: Buoy is unloaded from the Norseman II in Nome, October

6 Figure 2: AOOS story promoting the buoy and linking to high- and low-bandwidth data servers picked up by national IOOS portal in

7 Figure 3: Low-bandwidth data portal. Figure 4: Example of wave plot. This is designed to show users developing trends in wave patterns. 7

8 Figure 5: Air temperature and sea surface temperature plots over time. Figure 6: Patterns in wave direction and height over the previous three days. 8

9 Figure 7: Real-time data with an example of forecasted waves taken from NOAA's WaveWatch III model. Figure 8: Low-bandwidth website hits in Note strong interest when AOOS released the initial notification (evidenced by number of first-time page views) and consistently high proportion of returning visits, indicating regular users making use of the data. Peaks and lulls indicate periods of greater interest coinciding with storm/severe weather periods. People did not tend to access the data during fair weather conditions. Note as well continued use of website after buoy was recovered, indicating the additional value of the wave forecasts, also supported by this project. 9

10 Figure 9: Low-bandwidth website hits in Figure 10: Low-bandwidth website hits in Figure 10: Geographic location of low-bandwidth website hits. 10

11 Figure 11: List of Alaska locations accessing the low-bandwidth site. The large number of visitors from Anchorage are from NOAA and National Weather Service offices. Note communities such as Stebbins, Unalakleet, Wales, and Shishmaref. Nome entries are from the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation and NOAA s Weather Service Office there. 11

12 Figure 11: Importance of AOOS site for directing people to low-bandwidth site. 12

13 Appendix 1: Front page of manuscript being prepared for submission to peer-reviewed journal. 13

14 Figure A-1: NOAA's WaveWatch model data validated against three buoys in the Bering Sea. 14

15 Appendix 2: Outreach flyer distributed to Bering Strait communities. 15