FSU s GCOOS Tower Observations Shawn R. Smith, Kevin Speer, Jeremy Rolph, Eric Howarth, Catherine Hancock, Justin Lewis, Kelly Hirai, Yaoliang He, and Nick Cormier GCOOS-RA Meeting 25 September 2013, Huntsville, AL
Overview Since 2007, FSU has been operating weather and ocean instruments on Air Force tower N7. Sensors collect continuous time series with real-time () data telemetered via line-of-sight radio frequency to the FSU Coastal and Marine Lab. Once ashore, data are synced to COAPS computers and displayed to the web. Full temporal resolution ocean data are stored in instrument memory and collected every 4-6 months during cruises.
Funding Observations were initially funded under the Northern Gulf Institute, but are now supported via GCOOS. $30k of support was received last year. 100% was spent on salaries, supplies, and ship time. Most technical support and some ship time is leveraged from other funds. Challenges We are bare bones--operating costs exceed GCOOS budget. Minimum 3 cruises per year @ $2000 + fuel Recalibration of existing ocean sensors estimated @ $5400 Recalibration/replacement of met sensors estimated @ $4500 Recommendation A one-time infusion of $50k is needed to replace and/or calibrate instrumentation.
Results: Data Collection Site N7 Vaisala 30m Vaisala 19m Vaisala 4m Young 30m Gill 19m Young 19m Air Temperature, Humidity Wind = Presently available in real time Young 4m Radiation (SH/LG) 19m Barometric Pr. 19m Precipitation 19m CDOM SBE 3m SBE 9m YSI/SBE 18m RDI/AWAC Downward SW & LW Atmospheric Radiation Color Dissolved Organic Matter Temperature, Salinity Temperature, Salinity, Pressure, Dissolved Oxygen Current Profile, Surface Waves Challenge Additional realtime data could be achieved, but repairs are needed to the underwater cable at 18 m. 11/19/06 04/02/08 08/15/09 12/28/10 05/11/12 09/23/13
Results: Web Access FSU web page was developed by Nick Cormier. Most recent observations are on the home page. Past 24-hr data are available. Tabular data Time series plots CSV download GCOOS pulls CSV files via web service and links them to portal.
N7 currents are used to validate model simulations and understand circulation over the West Florida Shelf. Circulation impacts larval transport of economically important fisheries species. Todd, A.C., S.L. Morey, and E.P. Chassignet (2013), Circulation dynamics and cross-shelf transport mechanisms in the Florida Big Bend, J. Mar. Res., In Review. Data are used in additional studies. Data Usage NWS forecasters in Tallahassee have used N7 observations to validate offshore forecasts. Mooring 42306 too far offshore Data not representative
Operational Status We can continue for 6-12 months, maybe longer. Data gaps are expected when sensors fail between cruises. More frequent cruises would limit gaps. We have no plans for technology upgrades. Instrument calibration/replacement = healthy system Big Challenge: Air Force towers are being decommissioned. No maintenance planned, corrosion getting worse N7 demolition schedule unknown, but may be years away Relocation to other tower or switching to mooring at site N7 possible, but costly Recommendation GCOOS could facilitate conversation between NOAA NDBC, Air Force, and FSU to relocate N7 instruments to another tower.
Concluding Thoughts N7 observing location is unique and provides GCOOS with a presence in a key coastal environment. Nearest NDBC mooring is 42306. Approximately 65 nm south of N7 No salinity or subsurface observations CMAN tower N4 (NDBC) stopped transmitting in August 2013. On the funding side, a one-time injection of $50k would make a large difference. On the people side, we are scraping by, leveraging several other sources. On the ship-time side, we have to leverage other sources to provide sufficient visits to the tower (new FSU R/V Apalachee costs $2000/day).
Questions?