DRAFT,  v2.5 2 Table of Contents 0. Preamble………………………………………………………………………………  3 I. General principles..................................................................................................... 3 I.1 Combining a systems approach with focus on specific applications   .......................................... 4 I.2 A coastal ocean observation and prediction system for the Southeastern United States ......... 5 I.3 Applications  .................................................................................................................................  5 I.4 The Role of Experiments in RCOOS Development .................................................................. 4 I.5 RCOOS as information aggregator/distributor ......................................................................... 6 I.6 Extension and Education and feedback process   ......................................................................... 6 I.7 Prioritization………………………………………………………………………...6 II. Building the System................................................................................................. 8 II.1 Phase I (to August 2005):  ........................................................................................................... 8 II.2 Phase II (to August 2007):  .......................................................................................................... 9 II.3 Phase III (2007-2012)  .................................................................................................................  9 III. Components of the regional information system ...................................................    10 III.1 Physical state estimation .......................................................................................................... 10 III.2 Biogeochemical and ecological processes. .............................................................................. 13 III.3 Socio-economic applications ...................................................................................................  14 Appendix 1 - Design.................................................................................................... 25 1.1 Oceanography of SE .................................................................................................................. 25 1.2 Implications for system layout  .................................................................................................. 29 1.3 History of Observing in the Southeast– initial conditions for SEACOOS ............................ 29 1.4 Coupling of the Coastal Ocean to the Earth Observing System ............................................. 32 1.5 Key elements..............................................................................................................................  32 1.6 Growth of the system to include the near-shore coastal zone   .................................................. 33 1.7 Evolving scales of interest/responsibility  .................................................................................. 33 Appendix 2 - Roles...................................................................................................... 33 2.1 Roles within the evolving Regional Association  ...................................................................... 33 2.2 Definitions of research, pilot, and pre-operational projects and operational systems ............ 34 2.3 Sectors ........................................................................................................................................  34 Appendix 3 - Development process .............................................................................. 35 Appendix 4 - Priorities............................................................................................... 36 4.1 Prioritization ..............................................................................................................................  36 4.2 User groups ................................................................................................................................  38 4.3 Link to national backbone and other RCOOS ....................................................................... 38    0. Preamble At the time of writing of this document support for and development of ocean observing systems  in the United States is uncertain:   The US Commission on Ocean Policy final report has been released but as yet there has been no response from the Administration;