On the Ocean

Introduction to the Ocean Observing System enterprise

Have you ever wondered how we know whether a hurricane will get stronger? Where an offshore oil spill will go? When fish might be spawning? Thousands of ocean sensors play a critical role in everything from forecasting hurricanes to helping us understand and manage living marine resources. No single group could possibly place enough sensors to monitor all coasts, bays and oceans over the space and time scales needed. Instead, academic, private and public entities work together to create ocean observing networks or systems.

A sensor being installed on a buoy that is part of the GCOOS network, photo provided by Dr. Chris Simoniello

The Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), organized by the Group on Earth Observations, is an international effort to coordinate the gathering of information about our air, water, land and biosphere. More than 100 governments and 100 international organizations are represented. The ocean component of GEOSS is the Global Ocean Observing System. Its early development was led by Texas A&M University Distinguished Professor Emeritus Dr. Worth Nowlin. One U.S. contribution to this global ocean network is the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS). IOOS has 11 Regional Associations that coordinate observations, data management and stakeholder engagement in different ocean regions across the US and Great Lakes. The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System, focused on the Gulf of Mexico from Texas to Florida, is based at TAMU-College Station.

Partners across the TAMU System, as well as a diverse group of people from federal and state government, academia, non-profit organizations, small businesses, industry, and educational institutions contribute to and guide activities of the GCOOS Regional Association.

A map of the various stations comprising the GCOOS network, taken from the GCOOS data portal.

This has been On the Ocean, a program made possible by the Department of Oceanography and a production of KAMU-FM on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station. For more information and links please go to ocean.tamu.edu and click “On the Ocean.”

Contributor and Script Author: Dr. Chris Simoniello

Editor: James M Fiorendino