The Basics

This July 2007 NASA image shows the average sea surface temperatures in the Oregon Dead Zone. Cool waters circulated from deeper in the ocean tend to be high in nutrients but low in oxygen, increasing severity of the problem.

Today, many changes occurring in the oceans, from sea level rise and coastal flooding to harmful algal blooms and dead zones, have profound effects on our society.  At present, we do not fully understand the magnitude of these changes, their causes, and their consequences, which can make it difficult to adequately prepare for, manage, and adapt to future change.

NOAA and many other agencies and organizations operate satellites, tide gauges, ocean buoys, and other observing systems to collect data to monitor these changes and describe the health and condition of our oceans and Great Lakes.  However, current efforts only scratch the surface of what we need to know about our oceans and coasts to fully assess their impact on commerce and transportation, weather and climate, and ecosystems. 

In addition, because many of these existing observing systems were designed to serve a particular purpose and to collect ocean information in a specific way, they are not always delivered in compatible formats.  As a result, the data they provide are not always easy to access or use with other collected data.  Significant time and effort is required to locate available data and to make it possible to view or evaluate these data together. IOOS represents a national effort to address and improve upon these types of inefficiencies.

What is IOOS?

The Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) is a coordinated network of people and technology that work together to generate and disseminate continuous data on our coastal waters, Great Lakes, and oceans.  By collecting and bringing data together in a way that ensures the information can be used with other data sets, IOOS will make a broader suite of data available to scientists, allowing them to develop a more complete characterization of our oceans and coasts.   

IOOS is a major shift in our approach to ocean observing, drawing together many networks of disparate, Federal and non-Federal observing systems to produce data, information, and products at the scales needed to support decision making.  Once complete, IOOS will be a nationally important infrastructure enabling many different users to monitor and predict changes in coastal and ocean environments and ecosystems.  This infrastructure is critical to understand, respond, and adapt to the effects of severe weather, global-to-regional climate variability, and natural hazards. 

This satellite image of Hurricane Katrina highlights the extensive geographic impact along the Gulf Coast. Maximum winds were estimated near 125 mph to the east of the center.

Ocean observations are collected at global, national, regional, and local scales and impact many facets of our daily lives.  As an example, global-scale observations are used to predict El Nino events, sea-level rise, and climate change.  At a regional scale, IOOS data are used to complement existing observations of wind speed, barometric pressure, and other atmospheric measurements to predict the path and severity of approaching hurricanes.  At a more local scale, IOOS data are used to monitor and predict marine conditions and issue small craft advisories.  Each example represents a clear connection to the health and safety of those living near the coast.

Who Uses IOOS?

Information gathered through IOOS can help in understanding, characterizing, monitoring, and managing our oceans and coasts.  Groups who apply IOOS data include, but are not limited to:

• Ocean and coastal resource managers;
• Emergency responders, including search and rescue operations and planning for coastal storms;
• Scientists studying ocean and coastal ecosystems and phenomena;
• Policy makers at the national, state, and local levels;
• Educators seeking to convey the complexity and importance of ocean resources; and
• Members of the general public, including anyone who uses oceans for their livelihood or recreation.

What Are the Benefits of IOOS?

According to the National Ocean Economics Program, the 30 coastal U.S. states accounted for 82% of the total U.S. population and 81% of jobs in 2006. In 2004, the coastal leisure and hospitality sector alone generated $340 billion and 10 million jobs to the U.S. economy. The coastal trade, transportation, and utilities sector generated an additional $950 billion. In 2005, Hurricanes Wilma, Rita, and Katrina accounted for approximately $157 billion in damages and 1,987 deaths within coastal communities.

Many beaches around the country are regularly closed or posted by county health departments as showing elevated levels of contamination. This can severely impact coastal tourism.

Resource and emergency managers are called upon to manage these valuable coastal and ocean resources. To make informed and effective decisions, they must have ready access to needed tools and information, including ocean observations. IOOS data are required to support a wide range of critical decisions, including evacuations, beach and shellfish closures, fisheries catch limits, and the identification of safe and efficient shipping routes to transport the products we rely on each day. The impact of these daily decisions on the U.S. economy is significant, as the coastal state economy is valued at $10.3 trillion.

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