May 2025

The Eyes on the Ocean™ Newsletter is an informal way of keeping you up-to-date on U.S. IOOS® activities.

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IOOS Regional Associations SCCOOS and CeNCOOS have been monitoring the ongoing harmful algal bloom event occurring off the California coast, and sharing data and information. This graphic, taken from their April HAB Update poster, visualizes data on domoic acid, pseudo-nitzschia, and marine mammal strandings in the area since December. Having sustained observing assets and data management in place allows us to aggregate and analyze information on events like this HAB from the earliest detected signs, sharing that critical information with animal rescue/response organizations, decision-makers, researchers, and the public.

This is a time of change for our program. Last month, we said goodbye to longtime IOOSians Carl Gouldman, Director, and Derrick Snowden, Operations Division Chief, as they departed NOAA. At the same time, we’re welcoming Dr. Jeff Payne to the team. He will be dual-hatting as Acting IOOS Director in addition to his permanent role as Director of the Office for Coastal Management.

We want to call your attention to some timely resources coming from the California Regional Associations, SCCOOS and CeNCOOS, related to the ongoing harmful algal bloom occurring off the California coast. Since the first signs were detected in February, SCCOOS and CeNCOOS have been sharing data and information through their data portals (see especially the CalHABMAP Dashboard) and the California HAB Bulletin, developing flyers and informational posters, and continuing to gather and disseminate vital observations that support HAB monitoring. We’ve included some of their resources below, and you can visit their websites (SCCOOS | CeNCOOS) for more.

Last but not least, Capitol Hill Ocean Week is next month! This is a great opportunity for scientists, policymakers, students, community leaders, and more to discuss new ideas and innovative solutions to ocean and Great Lakes issues. Free and open to the public, CHOW is taking place on June 3 and 4 in the Ronald Reagan Building in downtown Washington, DC and virtually. Registration is open!

From the
IOOS Office

  • Welcome Dr. Emily Landeen! Emily will be providing observing systems coordination support with hurricane gliders and HF Radar. She has previously supported NOAA in implementing solutions that integrate science, technology, and policy. Her IOOS support has included the 2019 Underwater Glider User Group Workshop, the 2020 IOOS/OAR Coordination Workshops, the 2021 Community Modeling Workshop, and the 2021 Integrating Ocean Observations to Improve NOAA’s Hurricane Intensity Forecasts workshop.

     

  • 2025 Annual DMAC Meeting: From April 29 to May 1, IOOS hosted a hybrid DMAC meeting, welcoming more than 180 in-person and virtual partners from the Regional Associations, NOAA, and other Federal agencies. The daily schedule included presentations and concurrent breakout sessions on DMAC topics of interest, including a day dedicated to data management aspects of the IRA Topic Area 2 projects in the IOOS Regional Associations. The agenda and presentations from this year’s event can be found at https://ioos.noaa.gov/project/dmac/.

Observing Systems, Data, and Modeling

  • SCCOOS is monitoring an ongoing Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) causing both domoic acid and paralytic shellfish poisoning in Southern California, impacting marine mammals and seafood safety in the region. 
  • The CA Dept of Public Health has issued Shellfish Harvesting Advisories due to the risk of illness from consuming sport-harvested mussels, clams, scallops, and oysters in certain areas.
  • CeNCOOS High Frequency Radar (HFR) operator CODAR Ocean Sensors recently upgraded the radar antenna at Crissy FieldPier & Tide Gauge House, home to the oldest continually operating tidal gauge in the Western Hemisphere. It was installed in 2006 at a key location making observations across the busy Golden Gate. Data users include vessel operators, the U.S. Coast Guard, and spill responders. Interested in tracking SF Bay surface currents? Click here: https://data.caloos.org/?ls=nzeLcbHn#map
  • Oregon State University and Cal Poly Humboldt deployed an autonomous underwater glider from the R/V North Wind off Trinidad, CA, supported by NANOOS and CeNCOOS. The glider collects data to support marine operations, and research, resource management. This glider provides real-time measurements of temperature, salinity, chlorophyll, and more, helping to improve our understanding of coastal ocean conditions. Data from the glider are accessible through the NVS Glider app.
  • Louisiana State University has collected its first set of high-frequency radar sea surface current measurements, gathered from just off of Grand Isle, Louisiana. The results: strong southerly winds, leading to >1m/s sea surface currents. These data were collected as part of a test of the HF-radar network currently being put in on Louisiana’s coast. Once fully operational, these systems will provide near-real-time monitoring of the speed and direction of ocean surface currents in coastal waters, filling a critical information gap about coastal conditions. https://www.lsu.edu/cce/mediacenter/news/2023/9/hfradar.php
  • NERACOOS has installed two webcams in Camp Ellis, Maine. This partnership with the Maine Geological Survey and the National Weather Service will improve monitoring of coastal change and storm impacts, providing critical data for ongoing research and coastal management. Camera one is pointed to the north to monitor storm impacts and changes to Ferry Beach, while camera two, facing south, will monitor wave patterns around the existing jetty and waves that overtop the sea wall during storms. 
  • On April 8, the U.S. Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) Data Management and Cyberinfrastructure Working Group held their first workshop to deep-dive into data standardization for marine life observing methods. This session focused on tools and standards for sharing metadata of eDNA observations. These meetings are open to anyone who is interested. Please contact Mathew Biddle (mathew.biddle@noaa.gov) or Laura Brenskelle (laura.brenskelle@noaa.gov) to get on the working group invite.
  • The U.S. IOOS Surface Currents Program, along with the Global HF-Radar Network, participated in the 16th GOOS Observations Coordination Group (OGC-16) Meeting. Work at this 16th meeting included: identifying data and metadata to advance the IOC Data Architecture and WIS 2.0 framework; identifying major lines of work for OCG 2025–2027; and assessing development of emerging OCG networks.
  • The La Parguera MapCo2 buoy off Puerto Rico is currently being refurbished.
  • FathomVerse mobile game debuts new features to help gamers participate in ocean exploration: FathomVerse is a free mobile game that invites everyone with a smartphone or tablet to contribute to science. By playing mini-games and interacting with ocean imagery, gamers partner with researchers to identify ocean animals and train AI used for ocean exploration. The FathomVerse team improved the game to enhance engagement, foster community connections, and expand scientific contributions. Learn more: https://www.fathomverse.game/post/fathomverse2
  • MBARI new Instrumentation Integration and Testing Facility is officially OPEN! The facility further enhances capacity for ocean technology innovation and exploration. From gliders to ocean soundscaping, we are eager to see how this new lab will drive forward advancements for our program. This cutting-edge space offers new opportunities for improving our ocean data capabilities and advancing the future of marine research. Learn more about this exciting development here.
  • The R/V North Wind has just been added to the Fleet for Cal Poly Humboldt and the R/V David Packard has just arrived at MBARI. Both will be revealing new discoveries about the CeNCOOS region's biology and ecosystems.
  • New tiger sharks tagged: The Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) Shark Research Lab tagged two new tiger sharks off Kāneʻohe Bay! A 12 ft male was tagged on February 21, and a 9.8 ft male on April 3. The Hawaiʻi Tiger Shark Tracking project uses satellite tags to track shark movements and collect data like temperature and oxygen profiles. This data informs models that predict ocean circulation patterns and improve weather forecasting.
  • Mālama Maunalua Wave Buoy Deployment: The Backyard Buoys team was proud to support the deployment of a Spotter Buoy / Smart Mooring system in Maunalua Bay on the southeast shore of Oʻahu, along with support from NOAA Fisheries. This buoy collects and transmits wave and water temperature from the surface and bottom data every hour, and is part of a global network sponsored by Aqualink. You can access buoy data via the Aqualink platform or the Backyard Buoys app (iOS or Android).

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