Ruddy turnstones, Tern Island, Hawaii. Photo Credit: NOAA Corps/LCDR Eric Johnson

Today (August 18) U.S. IOOS certified its regional data, observing, and modeling partner, the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) as a complete and full member of the national IOOS system. PacIOOS is one of the eleven U.S. IOOS Regional Associations, and the first U.S. IOOS partner to be certified as a Regional Information Coordination Entity (RICE) under the authority of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (ICOOS Act).

Within IOOS, RICEs are responsible for coordinating State, Federal, local, and private interests at a regional level to design and operate regional coastal and ocean observing systems that meet the needs of users.

Certification of IOOS Regional Associations is a detailed review and assessment process. Certification provides NOAA and its interagency partners a means to verify that a Regional Association’s organizational and operational practices, including data management, meet recognized and established standards set by NOAA.