Vol. 11, No. 4 ● June 2001 EARTH SYSTEM MONITOR NOAA altimetry sorts out Atlantic Ocean seafloor

A guide to Malvinas plate controversy resolved using altimetry NOAA's data and information Karen M. Marks altimetry data to form “plate reconstructions,” services Laboratory for Satellite Altimetry essentially winding plate tectonics backwards in NOAA/NESDIS time to reconstruct the geography ocean basins. INSIDE Here we show how seafloor features such as frac- According to the theory of plate tectonics, ture zones and mid-ocean spreading ridges, that the continents have drifted around the globe as are mapped in gravity derived from satellite al- 3 the shapes of the ocean basins have changed timetry, can be used to solve problems of how News briefs over time. As a result, the patterns of ocean cir- seafloor in the south Atlantic Ocean evolved. culation and climate were different in the past More than two decades ago, LaBrecque and 5 because the locations of land masses and oceans Hayes (1979) proposed that a tectonic plate (the Coastal Services basins were different. Understanding of this Malvinas) existed on the western side of the Center—Observing & “paleo-geography” is an important part of inter- Agulhas Basin (Figure 1) during the Late Creta- monitoring the coastal preting the fossil record of paleo-climate and ceous, between the times of magnetic anomalies environment paleo-ecology, and this history sets the frame- 34y and 31 (about 83 to 68 million years ago). work for discussions of current and future ocean The presence of this plate could explain why the 7 circulation and climate change. While the pri- orientation of magnetic anomaly lineations (i.e., Errata–West Florida mary purpose for NOAA’s Laboratory for Satellite past locations of spreading at times called chlorophyll Altimetry is to provide continuous monitoring chrons) in the Agulhas Basin differ significantly of sea level to detect weather and climate phe- from similar anomalies in the South Atlantic. 9 nomena active today, LSA scientists can also use However, this additional plate complicates what Integrated Taxonomic — continued on page 2 Information System

10 Forecast for 2001 hurricane activity

11 Data products and services

12 Severe weather forecasting

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U N A C IT I E R D E ST AM ATES OF ▲ Figure 1. Gray shaded-relief image of gravity anomalies computed from Geosat and ERS-1 satellite altimeter data (Sandwell and Smith, 1997) over the South Atlantic. Gravity anomaly amplitudes range between < -35 mGal (black) and > 35 mGal (white) and are ”illuminated” from the east. Features are U.S. DEPARTMENT the Agulhas rift (AR), Agulhas fracture zone (AFZ), and the Mid-Atlantic ridge (MAR). Chain-lines are OF COMMERCE Chron 34y, and white lines are Chron 33r. The white box outlines the Agulhas Basin study area. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric extinct Agulhas rift segments are offset dextrally by fracture zones trending southwest-northeast (both Administration the ridge segments and fracture zones are linear gravity anomaly lows that are centered roughly along 15˚ E. longitude). 2 EARTH SYSTEM MONITOR June 2001

NOAA Altimetry, from page 1 For a second test, we moved mag- would otherwise be a simple opening of netic anomalies 33r and 27 on the EARTH SYSTEM MONITOR the south Atlantic Ocean as South western flank of the Mid-Atlantic ridge (i.e., on the South American plate) to The Earth System Monitor (ISSN 1068- America separated from Africa along 2678) is published quarterly by the NOAA Africa using the South America-Africa the Mid-Atlantic spreading ridge. As a Environmental Information Services office. result, the existence of the Malvinas 33r and 27 finite rotation poles, respec- Past issues are available online at http:// plate, and its size, has remained contro- tively. North of the Agulhas fracture www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODCPubs/ versial. zone, these rotations bring the South We conducted simple tests that American magnetic anomalies into Questions, comments, or suggestions confirm a Late Cretaceous plate is re- alignment with their conjugates on the for articles, as well as requests for quired in the Agulhas Basin. First, we African plate (see Figure 2). South of subscriptions and changes of address, should be directed to the Editor, plotted the marine gravity field from the Agulhas fracture zone, where Roger Torstenson. NOAA’s satellite altimetry in an oblique spreading on the Agulhas rift ceased by Mercator projection (Figure 2), having — continued on page 4 The mailing address for the Earth System the South America-Africa 33r-27 stage Monitor is: pole (which describes the separation of National Oceanographic Data Center South America from NOAA/NESDIS E/OC1 Africa between 79 and SSMC3, 4th Floor 61 million years ago) 1315 East-West Highway as the projection pole. Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282 On this projection, fracture zones formed EDITOR by South America- R. Torstenson Africa motion during Telephone: 301-713-3281 ext.107 this time should be Fax: 301-713-3302 horizontal. Indeed, E-mail: [email protected] those lying north of the Agulhas fracture zone plot horizontally DISCLAIMER between magnetic Mention in the Earth System Monitor of anomalies 33r and 27, commercial companies or commercial products does not constitute an endorse- indicating they formed ment or recommendation by the National by South America- Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Africa spreading. or the U.S. Department of Commerce. However, the Agulhas Use for publicity or advertising purposes of fracture zone and frac- information published in the Earth System ture zones generated Monitor concerning proprietary products on the Agulhas rift or the tests of such products is not between anomalies 33r authorized. and 27 do not lie hori- zontally on this pro- jection. Instead, they ATMOSPH ND ER A IC ° IC A make a ~10 angle to N D A M E I the horizontal. This C N O I S ▲ Figure 2. Monthly gravity anomalies plotted using L T demonstrates they were A R

N A T

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an oblique Mercator projection, with the South America- I O

not formed by South T

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Africa 33r-27 stage pole as the projection pole. Magnetic N America-Africa spreading U .S E anomalies are 33r (white circles), and 27 (squares), those . C during this time period. D R E E P M rotated from the western ridge flank are 33r (stars) and A M RT CO 27 (triangles). Black circles are fracture zone picks. MENT OF On this projection, fracture zones formed by South America-Africa motion during this period shold be U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE horizontal. An independent Malvinas plate is required Donald Evans, Secretary NOAA/NESDIS because the Agulhas fracture zone and those generated 1315 East West Highway on the Agulhas rift are not horizontal, and the South National Oceanic and Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 America-Africa 33r-27 stage rotation does not bring Atmospheric Administration E-mail: Malvinas 33r anomalies into alignment with their conju- Scott Gudes, Acting Under Secretary and Administrator [email protected] gates on the African plate. June 2001 EARTH SYSTEM MONITOR 3

Space environmental papers GCOS activities published News briefs Under the United Nations Framework Helen E. Coffey of NOAA’s National Convention on Climate Change, countries Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) had Greatest measured solar flare are required to submit detailed reports on two papers published in refereed journals A monster solar active region NOAA their Global Climate Observing System recently. She is co-author of ”Comparison AR9393 crossed the solar disk in April. It (GCOS) activities. Howard Diamond, the of Sunspot Area Data Bases,” by T. grew to an area 14 times the Earth's sur- U.S. GCOS program manager, is coordi- Baranyi, L. Gyori, A. Ludmany and H.E. face and had a complex reversed-polarity nating the preparation of this report. The Coffey, that appears in the January 2001 magnetic configuration. The complexity effort is being supported by a subgroup, issue of Monthly Notices of the Royal Astro- warned of possible large eruptions in the chaired by NCDC’s Russ Vose, addressing nomical Society, Volume 323. This paper area. On April 2, 2001, the largest solar atmospheric monitoring systems in the resulted from a proposal in Solar Influ- X-ray flare ever recorded occurred when United States. The subgroup has com- ences on Global Change that she had the region was in the northwest quadrant pleted its chapter, describing surface, written for the Debrecen Heliophysical of the Sun. Luckily, the region had upper air, and atmospheric constituent Observatory, Hungary, to reduce sunspot rotated past central meridian and most observing networks operated by the U.S. blocking data in Total Solar Irradiance effects were directed to outer space. Earth models. The second paper entitled did receive high-energy protons from this Dark Sky Reserves ”When do the geomagnetic Aa and Ap eruption. Mr. Peter Goering of the Muskoka indices disagree?” by H.E. Coffey and E.H. An earlier flare on March 31, 2001 Heritage Foundations, in Canada, recently Erwin, both of NGDC, appears in a recent was more geo-effective, causing aurora as contacted NGDC about the development issue of the Journal of Atmospheric and far south as Mexico and power system of Dark Sky Reserves. He has been head- Solar-Terrestrial Physics. The paper was disturbances in New York. Fortunately, ing an effort to have a Dark Sky Park cre- originally presented at the 1999 Interna- this storm occurred over the weekend ated in Canada. Beneficiaries include tional Union of Geodesy and Geomag- when power system use is 50% lower amateur astronomers and anyone inter- netism (IUGG) meeting in Birmingham, than during the workweek; also, air con- ested in limiting the use of electrical England. Several contacts with interested ditioning use was not a problem. During power. Their initial efforts have been suc- scientists have resulted from these pub- a previous large geomagnetic storm on cessful, as the Torrance Barrows Conser- lished papers. July 15, 2000, the U.S. had unusually mild vation and Dark Sky Reserve, 150 miles temperatures insuring lower power con- north of Toronto, was created in the past Data at Science Centers sumption. NGDC holds the solar and year. A subset of the DMSP Radiance Cali- National Climatic Data Center per- geomagnetic data archives needed for brated Nighttime Lights, developed by sonnel participated in a conference call investigating the past history of these NGDC, was used by Mr. Goering and his concerning NOAA’s exhibit to the Asso- major events. colleagues in their presentations to Cana- ciation of Science-Technology Centers dian Province and National legislative (ASTC). Founded in 1973, the ASTC, with Air Force/NGDC memorandum of groups. This year the reserve will be ex- over 550 members in 40 countries, is agreement signed panded, increasing the area five-fold. dedicated to furthering the public under- A Functional Memorandum of Agree- Additional success has become evi- standing of science. Membership includes ment (FMOA) between the National Geo- dent as many of the communities sur- not only science-technology centers and physical Data Center and the U.S. Air rounding Georgian Bay, a body of water museums, but also nature centers, aquari- Force’s 55th Space Weather Squadron at attached to Lake Huron, have made appli- ums, planetariums, zoos, botanical Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, has cations to become Dark Sky Reserves. Mr. gardens, space theaters, and natural been signed. This FMOA concerns the Goering and his colleagues are particu- history and children’s museums. This archiving of Solar Observing Optical larly excited about these areas because ’brainstorming session’ will help define Network data and Radio Solar Telescope the communities themselves have volun- the needs of the ASTC and allow NOAA’s Network data. NGDC contines as the sole tarily asked for this designation, and they vast array of scientific data to be used in a archive location for the digital and optical currently have no major problem with museum setting. worksheets of both solar and solar radio light pollution. data monitored by the USAF. Global seafloor sediment maps The USAF has a worldwide network Stratospheric ozone monitoring The National Geophysical Data of five stations that keep a 24-hour watch The National Climatic Data Center, in Center is cooperating with Dr. Chris upon the Sun to monitor for solar explo- cooperation with scientists from NOAA’s Jenkins of the Ocean Sciences Institute sions. These explosions (solar flares, coro- Climate Prediction Center, Climate Moni- (OSI), University of Sydney, Australia, on nal mass ejections, erupting prominences, toring and Diagnostic Laboratory, and an OSI project to map the global distribu- etc.) affect High Frequency communica- Aeronomy Laboratory have developed tion of seafloor sediment types. OSI has tions and navigation systems used by the and released a new web site which ties developed software to mine data in mul- USAF. The data provide a good historical together the many diverse aspects of tiple formats from several international record of solar activity and are used by stratospheric ozone monitoring and re- sources including those of NGDC to pro- the scientific community in solar-terres- search in NOAA. Access is available at duce a global, gridded database. trial research. http://www.ozonelayer.noaa.gov. 4 EARTH SYSTEM MONITOR June 2001

NOAA Altimetry, from page 2 about anomaly 27 time, we used the South America-Africa 33r-27 stage pole to rotate the 33r magnetic anomalies on the western flank (Malvinas side) of the Agulhas rift to Africa. We find this South America-Africa 33r-27 stage pole does not bring Malvinas 33r anomalies into alignment with their conjugate anomalies on the African plate. We also tested to see if errors in the South America-Africa 33r-27 stage pole could account for the misalignment of rotated Malvinas and conjugate African 33r magnetic anomalies. We find that the 95% confidence ellipses (that esti- mate an ellipse within which reason- able solutions could lie) associated with rotated Malvinas 33r anomalies (Figure 3) do not encompass 33r anomalies on the African plate. Furthermore, this stage rotation brings points into the wrong spreading corridors, that is, it moves points across fracture zones. Clearly, the South America-Africa 33r- 27 stage rotation does not fit these Agulhas Basin data. We have calculated new Malvinas-Africa 33r finite rotations (Marks and Stock, submitted) that do an excellent job aligning corresponding Malvinas and African magnetic anoma- lies. The need for a different pole to align conjugate magnetic anomalies in the Agulhas Basin means a separate plate existed there. These results confirm that a Malvinas plate is required in the ▲ Figure 3. 33r magnetic anomalies (black circles) plotted on marine gravity Agulhas Basin during the Late Creta- anomalies. Black triangles are South America 33r anomalies rotated to Africa via the ceous. Further, the fact that the major South America-Africa stage pole, and black dots with 95% confidence ellipses Agulhas fracture zone does not lie on (white) are from the Malvinas plate. This stage rotation brings points into the the horizontal on the Mercator projec- wrong spreading corridors (e.g., A has moved to A’), and the confidence ellipses do tion discussed above demonstrates that not encompass 33r anomalies on the African plate. The South America-Africa 33r- it bound the Malvinas plate on the 27 stage rotation does not fit these data in the Agulhas Basin. north. The locations of the elusive western and southern boundaries of the Malvinas plate are investigated in a References more comprehensive work (Marks and LaBrecque, J. L., and D. E. Hayes, Seafloor Stock, submitted). spreading history of the Agulhas Basin, Earth Planet. Sci. Letts., 45, 411-428, Acknowledgments 1979. This research was performed with Marks, K. M., and J. M. Stock, The Malvinas Prof. Joann Stock, California Institute plate, Marine Geophys. Res., 2001, sub of Technology. Walter Smith, NOAA mitted. Laboratory for Satellite Altimetry, pro- Sandwell, D. T., and W. H. F. Smith, Marine vided editing which improved this ar- gravity anomaly from Geosat and ERS 1 ticle. satellite altimetry, J. Geophys. Res., 102, 10,039-10,054, 1997. ■ June 2001 EARTH SYSTEM MONITOR 5

Observing and Monitoring the Coastal Environment The role of the NOAA Coastal Services Center

James Boyd science, and the public. Initially, the followed by a list of the parameters Technology Planning and Management NOAA Coastal Services Center took a measured. Following the list of param- Corporation (TPMC) contractor regional approach and looked at the eters is a contact person to obtain more NOAA Coastal Services Center networks and systems designed for information, as well as the link to the long-term monitoring of the coastal observing system’s own Web page. The ability to monitor the coastal and nearshore environment. This re- Generally, data are available in one environment is becoming more impor- search resulted in the 1998 release of form or another from a system’s own tant as expanding coastal populations U.S. Coastal Observing Systems Web page. There may be data restric- increase the potential for negative envi- (COOS), a Web page (www.csc.noaa.gov/ tions, or the availability of data may be ronmental impacts. Widespread moni- cts/coos/) featuring nearly forty systems. delayed to allow for processing, analy- toring and observing systems can This number has since doubled in size, sis, or research use. By simply providing provide information of interest to sci- with frequent additions planned for the descriptions of each system and links to entific, commercial, and recreational future. any available data, instead of hosting users, with the information, gleaned The Web page is designed as a cen- the data, the Web page avoids the pit- from uninterrupted long-term monitor- tralized information source, providing a fall of constantly maintaining and up- ing, helping people to understand and synopsis of each system listed with a dating data. Although COOS supplies a protect this environment for the future. link to more details. Each synopsis con- wealth of information on U.S. coastal Many monitoring systems already exist tains a brief description, including sys- observing systems, it was not designed in U.S. coastal waters, but improve- tem sponsors and managers, number of as a data repository or data distribution ments in coordination among inter- monitoring stations, and system goals, site. — continued on page 6 ested parties are needed. The National Oceanic and Atmo- spheric Administration’s (NOAA) Coastal Services Cen- ter is involved in a number of initiatives designed to fill this need.

Who is measuring what, and where? The NOAA Coastal Ser- vices Center’s involvement in the U.S. Coastal-Global Ocean Observing System (C-GOOS) created an oppor- tunity to examine the cur- rent state of U.S. marine observing and monitoring systems. C-GOOS is an initia- tive designed to establish an observational/monitoring network to collect and dis- tribute marine and coastal data needed by government,

NOAA Coastal Services Center NOAA/NOS 234 South Hobson Avenue Charleston, S.C. 29405-2413 E-mail: [email protected] ▲ Figure 1. COOS Web page image of Alaska region. 6 EARTH SYSTEM MONITOR June 2001

Coastal Environment, from page 5 was combining the user groups and address the needs of the monitoring The COOS Web page orients the parameters measured into a single and community by bringing together tech- user with regional maps (inspired by manageable piece of information so nology users and developers. Based at the National Data Buoy Center’s Web that an analysis could be performed. the University of Maryland’s Chesa- page) of the different observing sys- Some of the surveys employed classifi- peake Biological Laboratory, ACT is a tems. The systems are labeled with cations with minimal groups and pa- state, federal, and industry partnership. numbers on the map, which corre- rameters, while others used a multitude The Center-sponsored initiative spond to the names of the systems im- of classifications. Combining the infor- includes the University of Maryland mediately below the map (Figure 1). mation from all four surveys to create Center for Environmental Science The regional map is repeated for each one generalized survey sacrificed some (UMCES), the University of South entry so the user does not have to scroll detail, but allowed the opportunity to Florida, the Skidaway Institute of back and forth to look at the map while pick out trends and differences among Oceanography, the Moss Landing Ma- reading the entry. Systems listed in- user groups. Analysis of the surveys rine Laboratory, the Monterey Bay clude federal, state, academic, and lo- individually also provided some insight Aquarium Research Institute, and the cal/regional operations. This Web page into differing needs by location and Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System is an ongoing project that continually sample size. (GOMOOS). All of these organizations adds new systems and removes or up- The analysis highlighted a few ba- will provide facilities and expertise for dates others. A full-scale update is un- sic parameters that always seem to be the demonstration, evaluation, and dertaken twice a year, but new requested; temperature, currents, verification of promising monitoring additions and minor adjustments and winds, waves, and tides are requested technologies. Coastal resource manag- enhancements are always in progress. by most users. As these parameters are ers, marine science researchers, and at the top of the list for many users, a commercial equipment manufacturers What do the users want? basic system would do well to include will be involved through a unique In addition to the COOS project, them. Any additional measurements stakeholders’ council. Training in the the NOAA Coastal Services Center also and observations depend heavily on use of new technologies and other re- undertook a study to determine how user groups, and are much more diffi- lated services will also be a part of ACT the needs of coastal data users matched cult to decide upon. The sample size operations. For more information, visit the available and proposed observing (number of surveys) for this study was the ACT Web site at www.actonline.ws/ system data streams. The objective was small, however, the results provide index.html. to examine previously conducted user some factors to keep in mind for any- Monitoring of the coastal environ- surveys to find both the common and one involved in the development or ment is important for scientific, eco- disparate needs of different groups. maintenance of coastal observing sys- nomic, and social reasons, and the With that in mind, four user surveys tems. To obtain a copy of the study, NOAA Coastal Services Center’s in- from a variety of sources were collected contact the Coastal Services Center. volvement in these projects shows its and examined. Two regional surveys commitment to a better understanding (Chesapeake Bay and Florida), one Technology developers working with of this environment. By continuing to system-specific survey (Tampa Bay technology users improve the capacity and ability to PORTS), and one multinational survey The NOAA Coastal Services Center monitor the environment, we should (EuroGOOS) comprised the sample of is also involved with another project be better equipped to maintain and user surveys. related to coastal and marine monitor- enhance the coastal zone. ■ One of the more difficult items ing. The Alliance for Coastal Technolo- tackled when analyzing these surveys gies (ACT) is a partnership designed to June 2001 EARTH SYSTEM MONITOR 7

Analysis of temporal variability in chlorophyll concentrations along the West Florida Shelf Errata to be used with the March 2001 article in this publication

Lisa A. Vanderbloemen1,2 Frank Muller-Karger1 Cynthia Heil1 and Gabriel Vargo1

1University of South Florida and 2Florida Marine Research Institute

We present here a correction to results presented in this publication in March 2000 (“Analysis of Temporal Variability in Chlorophyll Concentra- tions along the West Florida Shelf using Remote Sensing” by LV and FMK). This correction includes an updated analysis of SeaWiFS-derived and in situ chlorophyll-a data collected during the Florida ECOHAB program. This re-analysis addresses errors asso- ciated with the processing of the SeaWiFS data and with the derivation of regional chlorophyll-a concentration means derived from these data. Comparisons between the in situ ECOHAB data and the SeaWiFS chloro- phyll-a data reveal that the present ▲ SeaWiFS algorithm (O’Reilly et al, 2000) Figure 1. Monthly SeaWiFS chlorophyll-a versus in-situ chlorophyll data acquired tends to overestimate the mean in situ during monthly ECOHAB cruises. values throughout the year (Figure 1), not just during the first half of the year as stated in our previous note. SeaWiFS data by a factor of two inshore during this period. Signal interference Figure 2 shows that for most of the and a factor of four offshore in waters or contamination due to turbidity and ECOHAB program, the greatest dispar- deeper than 30 m (Figure 2). While the bottom reflectance in shallow waters ity between the SeaWiFS and in situ in situ results presented here are based may also be contributing to the el- data occurred at inshore stations in on monthly averages for all the evated SeaWiFS-generated chlorophyll waters shallower than 30 m. In these ECOHAB stations, current research is relative to in situ chlorophyll concen- waters, SeaWiFS data overestimated the underway to examine the in situ data trations in inshore waters. in situ observations by a factor of one to based on depth and enable additional These factors are currently the sub- two (Figure 2). The only exception to comparative analysis with the SeaWiFS ject of research at the University of this general observation occurred dur- data. South Florida. The objective is to im- ing the first week of October 1999, The disparity inshore between prove algorithms for estimating chloro- when the ECOHAB data exceeded the SeaWiFS and in situ may be due to sev- phyll concentrations from space in Remote Sensing Laboratory eral factors. As mentioned in the earlier coastal and shelf environments. Such College of Marine Science article, during October 1999 there were research will enable more accurate University of South Florida elevated counts (>5000 cells/ml) of G. identification of blooms and the future 140 7th Avenue, South breve within the ECOHAB region possi- prediction of harmful algal blooms. St. Petersbrg, FL 33701 bly contributing to the disagreement E-mail: [email protected] between the SeaWiFS and in situ results — continued on page 8 8 EARTH SYSTEM MONITOR June 2001

Chlorophyll, from page 7

▲ Figure 2. SeaWiFS chlorophyll 1997-2000 time series for inshore and offshore sub-regions versus Ecohab in-situ data.

Acknowledgement: We explicitly acknowledge the contri- butions of Dr. Gabriel Vargo and Dr. Cynthia Heil, and of all the members of their ECOHAB research group at the Uni- versity of South Florida, in generating the in situ chlorophyll-a dataset for the ECOHAB Project used in this analysis.

References O’Reilly, John E., et al. 2000. SeaWiFS Post- launch Calibration and Validation Analyses, Part 3. NASA Tech. Memo. Vol. 11. 2000- 206892. S.B. Hooker and E.R. Firestone, eds., NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 49 pp. ■ June 2001 EARTH SYSTEM MONITOR 9

The Integrated Taxonomic Information System Increasing access to, and integration of, global biodiversity data and information

Janet R. Gomon together to develop ITIS and to develop climate change, migratory birds, polli- Integrated Taxonomic Information System a strategy for coordinating taxonomic nators, agricultural pests, and National Museum of Natural History database development, maintenance, biodiversity, can be located, summa- Smithsonian Institution and support. Founding ITIS partners rized, and analyzed. include: the U.S. Geological Survey, The ITIS partners provide leader- A key element in providing access the former National Biological Service, ship in the creation of an essential to globally distributed, multi-disciplin- the Environmental Protection Agency, component of a biodiversity ary biodiversity data sources (e,g,, sur- the Natural Resources Conservation informatics infrastructure critical to vey data, natural history collection Service, the National Oceanic and At- meeting ecosystem challenges. specimen data, literature sources, spe- mospheric Administration (National Through each partner’s commitment to cies and sequence databanks, ecosys- Oceanographic Data Center and Na- contribute and share resources, partners tem-level datasets) is implementation tional Marine Fisheries Service), and the have successfully developed and con- of a credible taxonomic information Smithsonian Institution’s National Mu- tinue to enhance ITIS, a system that no service that serves as a consistent stan- seum of Natural History. Additional one organization could finance or de- dard reference system for maintaining partners have joined and benefited velop on their own. Partners and coop- and representing dynamic biological from ITIS participation, including the erators also develop common nomenclature and taxonomy. This ser- National Park Service, Agriculture and standards, procedures, and software vice can serve as a query, cross-referenc- Agri-Food Canada, and CONABIO, that permit standardization and dis- ing, and indexing tool in support of Mexico. ITIS is also a member of Species semination of ITIS taxonomic informa- discovery, comparison, exchange, and 2000, the Global Biodiversity Informa- tion. As an example, ITIS currently is integration of a wide variety of existing tion Facility, and is a cooperating partnering in the Federal Geographic biological and ecological data accumu- database in a growing number of infor- Data Committee Biological Working lated over 250 years or more. Biological mation networks, including the Census Group’s Biological Nomenclature and names are the unifying linkage among of Marine Life’s Ocean Biogeographic Taxonomy Data Standard project (http:/ all these distributed information Information System (OBIS) and the /biology.usgs.gov/fgdc.bio/index.html). sources, serving as a primary index to National Biological Information Infra- The proposed standard will help facili- the earth’s 1.8 million known species. structure (NBII). tate discovery, comparison, exchange, Working in a unique partnership ITIS integrates a scientifically cred- and integration of any biological and/ among federal agencies, with coopera- ible and dynamic biological names or geospatial data set (or related infor- tors in the world biological systematics thesaurus with web-based tools for re- mation products) that includes scien- community of scientists, the Integrated porting, searching and indexing. It pro- tific names of species or higher Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) vides a reference standard of accepted taxonomic groups as part of its data program has developed, and continues scientific names of biological organisms structure. Common standards estab- to enhance both scientifically and tech- from all biological kingdoms (animals, lished and adopted by ITIS partners nologically, the first widely accessible plants, fungi, protists, monera), along save significant amounts of time and taxonomic information service on the with synonyms and common names money, avoid redundancy, and foster scientific names of the biota of North that have been used by workers in dif- support of a common, scientifically America and surrounding waters. The ferent organizations, geographical re- credible system. Taxonomic data stan- system is expanding to include global gions, or at different times in the past. dards also help ensure the quality of coverage of species based on partner Each scientific name is assigned a the information that ITIS member needs. An outgrowth of earlier taxo- unique identifier (the Taxonomic Serial agencies and cooperators provide and nomic code development efforts, in- Number). Author and date of scientific customers receive. cluding the extensively used NODC name, geographic region, jurisdictional, Customers of the ITIS database Taxonomic Code of the National and bibliographic information are also have grown to include numerous fed- Oceanographic Data Center, the ITIS included, along with data quality quali- eral and state agencies, academic, partnership, through a 1996 Memoran- fiers pertaining to degree of scientific private individuals, as well as inter- dum of Understanding, agreed to join review by a network of systematics ex- national users. ITIS provides taxonomic National Museum of Natural History perts serving as data stewards and coop- services to professionals and the public. Smithsonian Institution erators. Enabling cross-referencing of ITIS websites (U.S.: http://www.it 10th & Constitution Avenue, N.W. names to a standard ensures that bio- is.usda.gov; and Canada: http:// Washington, D.C. 20560-0180 logical data pertinent to invasive spe- sis.agr.ca/itis) are accessible in English E-Mail: [email protected] cies, fishery stocks, emerging diseases, and French versions, and will be avail- able in Spanish soon. ■ 10 EARTH SYSTEM MONITOR June 2001

Hurricane forecasters expect normal Atlantic activity

Top hurricane experts from the improved ability to monitor and under- cane] Andrew caused more than $25 Commerce Department’s National Oce- stand global climate patterns are help- billion in damage in Florida,” Mayfield anic and Atmospheric Administration ing to create better long-term said. “We don’t want people to be (NOAA) today said the 2001 Atlantic forecasts,” Gudes said. caught off guard by a land-falling storm hurricane season likely will have nor- Prior to the news conference, FEMA because the hurricane outlook calls for mal levels of activity, bringing fewer Director Joe M. Allbaugh said, “As we normal storm activity.” storms than the past three years. How- look to another hurricane season with Mayfield also highlighted the dan- ever, officials advised residents in At- an ever-growing population living in gers of inland flooding. “In 1999, Hur- lantic and Gulf Coast states to be vulnerable coastal areas, our charge is ricane Floyd brought record flooding to prepared for storms, high winds and clear. FEMA stands ready to provide the East Coast. Fifty of the 56 deaths flooding throughout the season, which both the leadership and the necessary during Hurricane Floyd were a direct begins June 1. technical assistance and guidance to result of inland flooding. That kind of At a press conference at the Ronald communities as they assume responsi- threat remains with each approaching Reagan National Airport near Washing- bility for becoming more disaster resis- storm.” ton, D.C., NOAA officials said the ab- tant. Preventing the loss of life, Mayfield added, “Storm surge from sence of strong La Niña conditions this minimizing the damage to property hurricanes bring the greatest potential year will likely result in a number of from hurricanes is a responsibility that for loss of life. When an evacuation storms, but relatively fewer compared is shared by all.” order is given, residents should treat it to the last three seasons. In 2000, there Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Jack as a life or death matter.” were 14 named storms, of which eight Kelly, director of NOAA’s National Brig. Gen. Robert Duignan, deputy became hurricanes. Weather Service, said without a strong to the Chief of Air Force Reserve, said A normal Atlantic hurricane season La Niña or El Niño the key climate pat- the Air Force Reserve Command mis- typically brings eight to 11 tropical terns guiding this year’s expected activ- sion significantly narrows the coastline storms, of which five to seven reach ity are long-term patterns of tropical warning made by the National Hurri- hurricane strength, with two to three rainfall, air pressure and temperatures cane Center. “This warning saves mil- classified as major. A major hurricane of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean lions of dollars for businesses and, more packs sustained winds greater than 110 Sea. important, saves the lives of citizens mph and is classified at Category 3, or “Forecasters will monitor these located in the storm’s path.” above, on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane climate patterns, especially leading up “Studies have shown the high accu- Scale. Seasons with normal hurricane to the August - October peak period of racy data from our Air Force Reserve activity average one to two land-falling the season,” Kelly said. “One of the and NOAA aircraft have improved the hurricanes in the United States, and most valuable forecast tools is the infor- forecast accuracy by about 25 percent. one in the Caribbean. mation gathered by NOAA and U.S. Air Aircrews in these storms also have de- “Although we expect an average Force Reserve personnel who fly di- tected sudden, dangerous changes in level of activity this season, that is no rectly into these storms,” Kelly added, hurricane intensity and movement, cause to become complacent. With the while flanked by NOAA’s WP-3D, G-IV which are currently very difficult to possibility of five to seven hurricanes, and the Air Force’s WC-130-H hurri- detect by satellite alone,” added residents in hurricane prone areas can’t cane hunter/research aircraft. Duignan. “The Hurricane Hunters are afford to let their guard down,” said Max Mayfield, director of the proud to serve as a vital link in the hur- Scott Gudes, NOAA’s acting administra- weather service’s National Hurricane ricane surveillance and warning net- tor. Center in Miami, said hurricane- work, alerting vulnerable populations.” The news conference also marked spawned disasters occur even in years Hurricane Awareness Week features the start of a nationwide Hurricane with normal, or below-normal, levels of a new Web site (available at http:// Awareness Week campaign led by activity. Hurricanes Donna of 1960, www.nhc.noaa.gov) that highlights five NOAA, the Federal Emergency Manage- David and Frederic of 1979, and Elena, topics -- one for each day of the week -- ment Agency (FEMA) and storm-vulner- Gloria and Juan of 1985 are reminders vital to saving lives and property: Day 1 able states to increase preparedness and of the destruction that can occur dur- - Coastal and Marine Hazards; Day 2 - safety among residents. ing seasons with normal hurricane ac- Wind Hazards; Day 3 - Inland Flooding; Gudes pointed to continuing im- tivity, he said. Hurricane Andrew of Day 4 - The Forecast Process and; Day 5 provements in technology and research 1992, the costliest hurricane on record, - Disaster Prevention. The Atlantic hur- that enabled forecasters to produce the developed during a season of below- ricane seasons ends Nov. 30. 2001 outlook. “Better data from normal hurricane activity, Mayfield NOAA’s weather satellites, better mod- added. “[Hurricane] Donna killed 50 — Curtis Carey els, the latest supercomputers and an people in the United States, and [Hurri- (301) 713-0622 ■ June 2001 EARTH SYSTEM MONITOR 11

New NOAA National Data Center Arctic meteorology Primer online annual climatological product Data products NSIDC’s Arctic Climatology and The long-awaited Annual Climato- Meteorology Primer for Newcomers to logical Summary (ANCSUM) product is and services the North is available online at: now online. The new system provides http://nsidc.org/arcticmet/index.html. access to annual climatological summaries Congressional testimony on This educational site is a collection of for thousands of U.S. stations going as far Arctic Climate Change information about arctic weather and the back as 1831. ANCSUM contains an an- The NOAA Paleoclimatology Program factors that determine weather and cli- nual summary of monthly temperature at NGDC contributed PowerPoint materi- mate. The Primer was developed as part means, precipitations totals, departures als for testimony by NOAA Acting Under of the joint U.S.-Russian Environmental from normal and extremes, heating & Secretary Scott Gudes, entitled “Written Working Group’s Arctic Meteorology and cooling degree data, and a monthly tally Statement on Involvement of NOAA in Climate Atlas on CD-ROM, a product that of rain days, snow days and days within Arctic Climate Change.” The materials combines data for research and informa- selected temperature thresholds. included published analyses of past arctic tion for the general public in one pack- ANCSUMs are dynamically generated on temperatures from a variety of paleo- age. While scientists will want to order demand from NCDC’s Oracle database climatic data sources and published the full atlas on CD-ROM, students and tables. ASCII versions are available in ad- materials on the interaction of climate casual browsers will enjoy easy access to dition to a printable web form. The new variability and fisheries in Alaska. It also educational material at the new site. The system runs on the new Linux Web Farm included a new analysis of borehole tem- Primer includes a gallery of historical pho- using Java Servlets. The NNDC OnLine peratures from northwestern Canada. The tos from the Russian North Pole series of Store price is $3 per form. Subscriptions paleotemperature data indicate a strong drifting ice stations, and a glossary of are also available for $50 per station or trend that the 20th century was the meteorological terms in both English and $300 for all stations which allows access warmest century in the past 400 years for Russian. It joins other educational theme to all historical data. Subscriptions pro- most of the arctic, especially Alaska and pages from NSIDC including ”State of the vide access for one year from date of pur- Canada. The materials were being pre- Cryosphere” and ”All About Glaciers” chase. The URL for the new system is: pared by Tom Karl and others at the Na- (http://nsidc.org/glaciers/index.html). http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/servlets/ACS. tional Climatic Data Center. Contact: NSIDC Contact: NCDC Contact: NGDC Black Sea mysteries IPAB Antarctic drifting buoy The National Geophysical Data CONTACT POINTS data available Center provided the index map for an National Climatic Data Center NSIDC (National Snow and Ice Data article in the May 2001 issue of National (NCDC) Center) released the first series of Antarc- 828-271-4800 Geographic Magazine, regarding the ar- tic buoy data from the International Fax: 828-271-4876 chaeological origins of the biblical flood. Programme for Antarctic Buoys (IPAB). E-mail: Climate Services - The NGDC illustration (pp 56-57) con- The IPAB, through participating research [email protected] tains a 3D topographic-bathymetric Satellite Services - organizations in various countries, main- model, which includes 30 arc-second [email protected] tains a network of drifting buoys in the WWW: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ topography from GLOBE and 1 arc- Antarctic sea ice zone to support a better minute bathymetry from U.S. Navy National Geophysical Data Center understanding of sea ice motion, meteo- (NGDC) sources. Links to the final published ver- rology, and oceanography. The IPAB Ant- 303-497-6826 sion of the illustration are available arctic Drifting Buoy Data archive presently Fax: 303-497-6513 through the index page at: http:// spans the years 1995 to 1998, and in- E-mail: [email protected] www.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/01015/ cludes measurements of buoy position, WWW: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/ feature3/index.html. atmospheric pressure, air temperature, National Oceanographic Data Center Contact: NGDC and sea surface temperature. (NODC) 301-713-3277 Data are organized by daily and Fax: 301-713-3302 Wright brothers weather data three-hour averages; and raw, instanta- E-mail: [email protected] First Flight Centennial Center in neous, non-interpolated data values. Data WWW: http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/ Philadephia, Pennsylvania, contacted the were collected from buoys initially de- NOAAServer Data Directory National Climatic Data Center to obtain ployed in three study regions; East Ant- 301-713-0575 historical weather data on the Kitty Hawk, arctica; the Weddell Sea; and the Fax: 301-713-0819 North Carolina area for 1903. The Cen- Bellingshausen, Amundsen, and Ross E-mail: [email protected] tennial Center has collected letters and WWW: http://www.eis.noaa.gov/ Seas. Data are in ASCII text format and diaries of the Wright brothers to create a are available by ftp. Updates will become NOAA Central Library large exhibit about the ”First Flight.” The Reference Services: available as data are processed and new 301-713-2600 NCDC was able to provide the requested buoys are deployed. Fax: 301-713-4599 data for this great exhibit. Contact: NSIDC E-mail: [email protected] Contact: NCDC WWW: http://www.lib.noaa.gov/ 12 EARTH SYSTEM MONITOR June 2001 ATTN: Earth System Monitor Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282 1315 East-West Highway Publication Distribution Facility National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Penalty for Private Use $300 OFFICIAL BUSINESS Address Correction Requested NOAA storm researchers working to improve severe weather forecasts Thunderstorms with lightning, “This is a great opportunity for us hail, strong winds and tornadoes can be to stretch our forecasts toward the lim- devastating, resulting in hundreds of its of current science,” explained deaths and millions of dollars in dam- Russell Schneider, chief of the SPC’s age each year. National Oceanic and science support branch. “During the Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) experiment, forecasters are forced to researchers and forecasters in Norman, decide whether to issue watches sooner, Okla., are working toward improving sometimes before they see evidence in the tools used to predict such storms. the satellite and radar data that storms Their aim is to provide the public more have begun to form. It requires detailed time to prepare for severe thunderstorm analysis of multiple computer model events. forecasts made possible by the National NOAA researchers and forecasters Weather Service’s super computer.” are collaborating in an experiment to The next day, participants evaluate improve forecasts of when and where the output from the different models, severe storms will occur. This spring, rating them on their usefulness, and participants are evaluating several op- compare their forecasts with what actu- erational and experimental computer ally happened. “This process helps the models and algorithms used by fore- forecasters develop a better understand- casters to determine which ones pro- ing of the numerical models that pro- vide the best guidance. vide their primary source of forecast Forecasters currently use a combi- guidance,” Kain said. “And it helps nation of computer model forecasts researchers design more useful model and observational tools, such as satel- guidance products for forecasters’ spe- lites and radars, to determine when to cific needs.” issue a severe thunderstorm watch. The NSSL and SPC have worked to- experiment is designed to explore gether on several projects in the past whether the computer models have few years, since the SPC moved its op- improved enough to provide the guid- erations to Norman from Kansas City in ance forecasters need to confidently 1997. A key goal of these programs is to issue watches several hours in advance, improve forecasts of meteorological while the skies are still clear. phenomena by speeding up the transfer “We need to identify more clearly of new technology and research ideas under what circumstances and with into forecast operations. At the NSSL which models we can predict severe and SPC, this is accomplished by com- thunderstorm development with sig- bining the skills and mutual research nificant lead time and confidence,” said interests of research scientists and fore- John S. Kain, a research meteorologist casters. at NOAA’s National Severe Storms Visiting scientists also participating Laboratory (NSSL) and co-leader of the in the experiment are from NOAA’s project with Paul R. Janish, science in- Forecast Systems Laboratory, National fusion meteorologist with NOAA’s Centers for Environmental Prediction Storm Prediction Center (SPC). The Environmental Modeling Center, Na- computer models include operational tional Weather Service Norman Fore- versions developed at the NOAA Na- cast Office, Iowa State University and tional Centers for Environmental Pre- the University of Oklahoma. diction Environmental Modeling More information about the pro- Center and the NOAA Forecast Systems gram is available online: Laboratory, as well as research versions http://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/ developed at the NOAA National Severe Spring_2001. Storms Laboratory. –Keli Tarp 40 E-mail: [email protected] Phone 405-366-0451 ■