NA24NOSX012C0029

Purpose: In response to Topic Area 1 of the IOOS IRA funding opportunity, SCCOOS is requesting resources to recapitalize and modernize its observing system in service of the Southern California region with the goal of strengthening the regional provisioning of timely ocean data and information.

SCCOOS has spent the last two decades building infrastructure for ocean observing that establishes robust platforms for geophysical parameters in the areas of surface current measurements, continuous observation of the ocean’s interior with autonomous underwater vehicles, nearshore real-time measurements, and operational hydrodynamic forecasts as outlined in SCCOOS 2021-2026 strategic plan.

Extramural funding opportunities have provided SCCOOS with critical stop-gap measures for revitalizing aging infrastructure and reinvigorating the human dimension within the SCCOOS consortium.

SCCOOS endeavors to grow regional resilience and equitability -- in close collaboration with CENCOOS -- that transforms the way we monitor ecosystem dynamics, from physics to biogeochemistry to biology, while identifying new partners and populations that better represent the totality and humanity of coastal communities -- whether urban, rural, maritime and fishing, or tribal.

With IRA resources, SCCOOS will address recommendations in the White House Ocean Climate Action Plan to better meet the needs of a “climate ready nation” by investing in: 1) equitable service delivery, 2) regional coastal climate and resilience, 3) future-proofing and modernization of our observing, monitoring, and forecasting system, and 4) novel data and model synthesis in service of diverse partners.

As a valued boundary organization, SCCOOS serves an important role by working individually and collectively with its funded Principal Investigator (PI) network to establish PI project contributions to ocean service delivery.

Here, we extend that service to engendering justice, equitable, diversity, and inclusion practices in their projects, reinforcing their own role as educators with synergistic outreach activities, and encouraging their commitment to equitable services.

We aim to ensure underserved coastal communities have equitable access to ocean science resources and information by developing and implementing sustainable strategies to maintain and enhance equitable service delivery within the SCCOOS consortium.

Increased participation and engagement of historically marginalized communities in ocean science initiatives through inclusive measures that foster a sense of belonging; long-lasting equitable practices that continue to benefit coastal communities.

IRA-funded equitable service delivery objectives include meaningful outreach and engagement with a more inclusive range of people in coastal communities from tribes, coastal urban centers, and coastal rural regions; novel technical solutions and information-delivery strategies for ensuring these communities receive critical ocean information when, where, and how they need it; partnerships with organizations and initiatives dedicated to educating and inspiring youth with the goal of ensuring a diverse and inclusive future in STEM fields, particularly in Earth and ocean sciences; and integration of SCCOOS ocean data into science curricula and training courses into local-to-regional middle school-community college-undergraduate programs.

SCCOOS will invest in a true end-to-end observing system that builds national capacity in support of ecosystem prediction for marine life, the new blue economy, and a climate-ready nation to build a robust observing network with stronger ties to coastal communities and partners with a stake in ocean data for public health, ecosystem health monitoring, and ecosystem/ocean climate prediction.

To realize a resilient and future-proofed observing system, we will upgrade and expand sensors and platforms capable of monitoring multiple stressors driving ecosystem change.

Rapid detection and prediction of multi...

University Of California San Diego

18 CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION 20 HEALTHY OCEANS 21 RESILIENT COASTAL COMMUNITIES AND ECONOMIES

11.012 - Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) [DOC]

La Jolla, California 920930001 United States

Single Zip Code

NOAA-NOS-IOOS-2024-2008213