The Full Picture

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The blue planet –

observations of the global ocean

D. James Baker, Tom Gross and

Howard S. J. Roe, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and

Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean; the GOOS writing team

e depend on the oceans more than at any time in

history, yet we know less about this watery part of

Earth – the blue planet – than we do about the surface

of the moon. The oceans have an important influence on our

climate, are a source of critical resources, are essential to global

transportation, and form the largest and mostly unexplored

ecosystem on the planet. The actual numbers reveal that the

impact of the oceans on our daily life is far reaching: the oceans

cover 71 per cent of Earth’s surface and hold 97 per cent of the

available water; 38 per cent of the world population lives in

coastal regions at risk; more than 90 per cent of goods are trans-

ported by sea; the global value of marine markets is over USD1.5

trillion, excluding fisheries; in the USA alone the current value

of fisheries is USD60 billion; and offshore oil and gas accounts

for 20 per cent of current production.

And our society is at risk from the oceans. Flooding and wave

damage from storms, tsunamis and sea-level rise can devastate life

and property in coastal regions. Even over the interior of conti-

nents, climate and weather are affected by changes in the currents

and heat content of the ocean. El Niño and La Niña, closely linked

to temperature changes in the tropical Pacific ocean, cause drought

and floods around the globe – the 1997/8 El Niño killed 2,000

people and cost USD30 billion in insured losses alone. Australian

agriculture loses USD1 billion when the seas to the north cool less

than one degree Celsius, as often happens during El Niño. Future

impacts will be even greater. As populations grow and as climate

changes, the ocean is presenting increased risks to society. Current

estimates show that improved weather and climate prediction using

better ocean information could save USD1 billion per major climate

event. A full system for ocean observing and forecasting is neces-

sary for protection and mitigation of these risks.

Managing living resources also requires understanding and predict-

ing ocean conditions. Fisheries and aquaculture are a major source of

food but over-fishing, habitat destruction, climate change, pollution

and aquaculture itself adversely impact both food species and the under-

lying ecosystem. Shifts in populations of marine life are occurring, coral

reefs are bleaching, and increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is

creating a more acid ocean with potentially catastrophic effects on ocean

life. Most marine pollution originates on land – from industry, agri-

cultural runoff, construction and habitat destruction. Warmer seawater

now carries deadly diseases such as cholera, and eutrophication of

coastal areas caused by pollution may lead to toxic algal blooms. All of

these processes must be monitored so that society can deal

with them in an informed, cost-effective and timely way.

Finally, the entire world depends upon energy taken

from the sea. The sea floor is tapped for hydrocarbon and

mineral resources. Waves, tides, offshore winds, and

ocean temperature differences are sources of renewable

energy. The global value of renewable energy is estimated

to be close to USD1 trillion by 2010. But ocean condi-

tions strongly affect our ability to harvest these resources;

offshore oil and gas operations are often disrupted by

unexpected strong ocean currents, waves and tropical

storms fueled by ocean heat which can also shut down

renewable activities.

For all of these reasons, more than two decades ago

ocean scientists, engineers and users began to plan and

build a Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) for rapid

detection and timely prediction of changes in oceanic and

coastal environments that impact our social and economic

well-being. And today many of the components of the

system are providing critical and fundamental informa-

tion for society. Just as radiosondes, barometers, and

satellites are essential for weather forecasting, the GOOS

global

in situ

system of floats and moorings and the

constellation of satellite-based instruments are proving

to be essential for a range of forecasts and warning

systems for the oceans. A fully implemented GOOS is

thus a core component of the Global Earth Observing

System of Systems (GEOSS).

The Global Ocean Observing System

The goal is to build a permanent and sustained global

system covering deep ocean basins, coasts and estuar-

ies for observations and modelling, leading to the

provision of information and services. The instruments

fly on satellites, are installed on research and commer-

cial vessels, are carried by drifting and moored systems

on and in the ocean, and are deployed on the sea floor.

The initial specifications for the open ocean component

of GOOS described a system that includes a network of

3,000 Argo profilers 1,500 drifting buoys, moored buoys

such as the array for El Niño forecasting in the tropical

Pacific, sea level stations and satellite resources, all tied

together with data archives, modelling, and products.

GEOSS C

OMPONENTS

– O

BSERVING

YSTEMS