Lead institution:
Ocean Observatories Initiative – United States of America (USA)
The Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) provides sustained ocean observations and data delivery that researchers around the globe are using to identify, quantify, and ultimately assess ongoing changes in the global ocean.
Commissioned in 2016, OOI is a long-term project to collect ocean data for 25 years or more. This longevity makes it possible to measure and observe short-lived episodic events and longer-term changes in the ocean. OOI currently consists of five instrumented arrays that continually measure more than 200 different parameters. The arrays gather physical, chemical, geological, and biological data from the air-sea interface to the seafloor. These data are freely available to anyone with an Internet connection. The arrays also function as test beds for new sensor technology to help advance the state of the art in ocean observation. Endorsing OOI as a UN Ocean Decade Program will ensure these data have a global reach, providing a foundation for ocean-related policies.
Start date: 06/01/2014
End date: 30/09/2034
Lead Contact: James B. Edson (jedson@whoi.edu)