Regional U.S. IOOS partners are essential to building and supporting U.S.IOOS. They provide increased observations, distinctive knowledge, and critical technological abilities, and apply these towards the development of products to meet regional and local needs.

Regional Associations

U.S. IOOS is comprised of eleven regional associations (RAs), which guide development of and stakeholder input to regional observing activities. The RAs serve the nation's coastal communities, including the Great Lakes, the Caribbean and the Pacific Islands and territories. 

"We are tied to the Ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch - we are going back from whence we came."
- John F. Kennedy

Alaska - AOOS

The Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) is the U.S. IOOS regional association for Alaska.

Great Lakes - GLOS

The Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) is the U.S. IOOS regional association for the Great Lakes.

Northeast Atlantic - NERACOOS

NERACOOS spans coastal waters from the Canadian Maritime Provinces to the New York Bight.

Pacific Northwest - NANOOS

NANOOS is the Regional Association in the Pacific Northwest for the States of Washington and Oregon.

Central and Northern California - CeNCOOS

CeNCOOS is our regional observing association for the California/Oregon border south to Point Conception

Mid-Atlantic - MARACOOS

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Association for Coastal Ocean Observing System (MARACOOS) spans the coastal states from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras.

Southeast - SECOORA

The Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA) is the U.S. IOOS regional association for the Southeast U.S.

Pacific Islands - PacIOOS

PacIOOS is our regional observing association in the Pacific region, from the Hawaiian islands to Micronesia

Southern California - SCCOOS

SCCOOS is our Regional Association that provides coverage in California from Point Conception south to the Mexico Border

Gulf of America - GCOOS

The Gulf of America Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) is the U.S. IOOS regional association for the Gulf of America

Caribbean - CARICOOS

The Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System (CARICOOS) is the regional association for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.