Saturday, March 05, 2005

Indian Ocean Integration

Keith Alverson, of the Global Ocean Observing System of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, in his recent article in Nature, says the world should create an integrated, global system to warn of and prepare for a range of ocean-disasters, including cyclones and giant waves created by hurricanes.

In our efforts to create a coral data integration system for the Indian Ocean, we should make sure we collaborate with those who are constructing the tsunami warning system. As he says, "The best way to ensure that a tsunami warning system remains fully operational for decades to come is to embed it in broader efforts to observe the ocean."

Friday, March 04, 2005

NOAA's Tim Keeney Testifies

Resources Fisheries and Conservation Subcommittee (Chair Wayne Gilchrest, R-MD) held a March 1, 2005, hearing on the reauthorization of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (CRCA). Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere Tim Keeney, in his presentation, mentioned NOAA's efforts at integrating coral reef data:

"Partnering with other federal agencies, as well as state and territorial governments, NOAA has helped build a national integrated coral reef monitoring system. Integrated monitoring programs measure and evaluate the condition of the ecosystem over time, help assess the efficacy of management actions, and provide comparable data sets and products that can be used to adapt these measures."

Wednesday, March 02, 2005