The Eyes on the Ocean™ Newsletter

An informal way of keeping you up-to-date on U.S. IOOS activities.

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This image shows the suite of observing assets capturing data from the ocean and atmosphere during the passage of Hurricane Erin while it was a Category 3 storm on August 17. It shows the numerous partnerships that collectively work to improve hurricane forecasts, including the IOOS Regional Associations and their academic members; the U.S. Navy; and NOAA Research (AOML, GOMO, PMEL), National Ocean Service (U.S. IOOS), National Weather Service (NHC, NDBC), and Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (Uncrewed Systems Operations Center). During this event, NOAA Hurricane Hunters were able to deploy dropsondes targeted to the locations of underwater gliders to capture uniquely linked profiles of the ocean and atmosphere. (You can see glider tracks near active storms on the IOOS Model Viewer.) All of these data are essential for forecasting the intensity of the storm and are valuable for scientific research. The complementary suite of assets help to provide a full picture of the ocean and atmospheric conditions as the storm passes by. This image was created by Edo Mazza (UW CICOES/PMEL) and Lev Looney (U Miami CIMAS/AOML).

Have you heard about the Ocean Enterprise Study? At IOOS, we recognize the value of all those businesses out there that are facilitating observations and turning those observations into usable products, tools, and services for the benefit of everyone. This sector is a linchpin in not only the Blue Economy, but also the economy as a whole, providing critical data for weather and marine forecasts, shipping, defense, aquaculture, travel and tourism and so much more. Since 2015, we’ve been taking stock of this sector at five year intervals, evaluating its size and scope through information gathered from Ocean Enterprise business community. We’re happy to share that the 2025 survey is open, and we’d love to hear from you. While we’ve reached out to businesses who have participated before, this is a constantly growing sector and we want to reach as many businesses as we can. You can find out more about the study, access the survey, and find prior surveys on our website.

And while we’re on the Ocean Enterprise, will we see you at the Oceans 25 conference later this month in Chicago? Regional Association GLOS is part of the local organizing committee! Our office will be there, participating in the townhall “Advancing the Ocean Enterprise Toward Driving Societal and Economic Benefits.” Moderated by Zack Baize, IOOS Ocean Enterprise Program Manager, and Hans Van Sumeren, Senior Director for the Marine Technology Society’s Ocean Enterprise Initiative, this panel discussion will look at the potential of public-private partnerships and discuss barriers and new opportunities in the exciting and dynamic sector. We hope to see you there!

Three gliders were in Hurricane Erin’s path: Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon Glider ‘Echo’ passed in the NE eye of Category 4 Erin; AOML/CIMAS Glider SG668 passed ~7 nautical miles from the center of Category 3 Erin; and U.S. Navy glider (deployed by CARICOOS) NG783 passed ~5 nautical miles SW of Category 3 Erin. Glider data indicated ocean cooling beneath Erin, which informed the National Hurricane Center’s intensity forecast. NOAA Hurricane Hunters released dropsondes targeting the gliders as part of a coordinated, co-located observing effort to help scientists better understand Hurricane dynamics and improve forecasts.
Two new datasets have been published to the Ocean Biodiversity Information System USA (OBIS-USA) Node’s Integrated Publishing Toolkit (IPT) from the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Observation Network project! In late July, Katrin Iken (University of Alaska, Fairbanks) published two new Arctic epifauna datasets from Fall 2023 and Fall 2024. You can find these new datasets reflected in the U.S. IOOS metrics on the GBIF dashboard and the U.S. MBON dashboard on OBIS. .
Can Sharks Help With Hurricane Predictions? In the Mid-Atlantic, researchers at the University of Delaware’s School of Marine Science and Policy are taking an innovative approach to filling critical ocean data gaps—sharks. Specifically, tagging Shortfin Mako and Blue sharks with sensors that measure conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) to turn the sharks into mobile ocean observing platforms (OOPs). The data collected by these animals will help improve hurricane intensity forecasting models across the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB). Read more.
The 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula on July 30 that sent a tsunami across the Pacific sparked renewed interest in tsunami waves. NANOOS posted links to NOAA NOS data showing the very different signatures depending on location, due to the geomorphology of the harbors and other factors. NANOOS also saw a bump of over 1000 new users of their Tsunami Evacuation app in one day! If you haven’t already, plot your evacuation route now, so you know it. (Note: the app does not generate or filter tsunami warnings, but you can use it to find your best evac route!), and catch NANOOS’ interview with KPTV!
At the NCSA Open Hackathon 2025, the OceanAI Innovators team, led by Dr. Hassan Moustahfid (IOOS), brought together experts from NOAA, GCOOS, Texas A&M, Mercator Ocean International, and OCEANUM.io. The team developed and tested an AI-driven forecasting and emulator model for predicting water levels, conducted preliminary optimization on the GPU acceleration and multi-GPU scaling. Next steps include scaling to larger datasets, such as IOOS observations, NOAA CORA-40 unstructured reanalysis, MOM6 reanalysis (via the CEFI data portal), and GLORYS12 structured products.
Wave data (height, period, and direction) are now available from two new oceanographic high-frequency radar stations in Oregon from NANOOS partner Oregon State University. The wave data from these HF-radars, and others in Northern California from CeNCOOS partner CODAR Ocean Sensors and in the Mid-Atlantic from MARACOOS partner Rutgers University, can be viewed by selecting the Overlays → Waves option on the IOOS HFR National Network’s HFRNet.
Over the past four years, the Northeast Coastal Acidification Network community has worked together to identify the most critical needs for tracking ocean and coastal acidification in the Northeast U.S. and Eastern Canada, and the final 2025 “Ocean and Coastal Acidification Monitoring Priorities” report is now available! This resource draws upon the expertise of scientists, resource managers, and stakeholders across the region. We hope it informs your work and helps to coordinate future monitoring actions.
Operational BioTrack is seeking collaborators and data contributors to support the project, which expands on previous related efforts to assess and monitor biodiversity hotspots where marine species share habitat through the integration of animal telemetry. Find out more here.
This summer, AOOS deployed its two Imaging FlowCytoBots (IFCBs) in Alaskan waters. These IFCBs are connected to the flow-through seawater system of the vessels, and sample 5mL of water at a time to take images of individual particles in the water. Their primary targets are phytoplankton, particularly species that can lead to harmful algal blooms (HABs). For more information on IFCBs and where we will be deploying them this summer, please visit the Alaska Harmful Algal Bloom Network website.
SCCOOS has deployed a recently developed Spray2 underwater glider with a pH sensor for an extended mission on line 90 of the California Underwater Glider Network. This collaboration between SIO and MBARI combines cutting edge technology in autonomous underwater vehicles and biogeochemical sensors. The objective of the mission is to occupy the inshore half of line 90 for a period of at least three months. The Spray2 underwater glider is licensed to MRV Systems, who has delivered the first of their gliders during the past year.
Scientists at University of Southern California replaced a new dome style CODAR Ocean Sensor antenna and router at the Point Fermin site located in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles. These measurements measure surface currents, ocean observations that are foundational to oil spill response and recovery, search and rescue, ecosystem management, and much more.

SCCOOS Director Clarissa Anderson was featured in California Ocean Science Trust’s Video Series: “Ask an Expert: Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Along the California Coast.” Video recording | informational flyer
This new video highlights how two PNW communities, the Quileute Tribe and the Quinault Indian Nation, are using low-cost buoys, part of the Backyard Buoys program.
NERACOOS’ new Strategic Framework outlines themes, goals, and objectives that guide their services as they look forward to continuing to support the communities, businesses, and people across the Northeast!
CARICOOS hosted renowned Sargassum expert Dr. Brian Lapointe during his recent visit to Puerto Rico. Alongside Dr. Dani Cox from Anchor Consultations LLC, he joined the CARICOOS team collecting Sargassum samples in neritic and pelagic waters, sharing insights into field methodologies.
GLOS turns the spotlight on the Straits of Mackinac. Read about the importance of this area from their perspective and the observing assets keeping an eye on the waters.
CeNCOOS has started a Voices of the Region feature, first spotlighting The Marine Mammal Center. The piece shares how ocean observing data is essential to their work.

The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) Biology and Ecosystems Panel is launching an open consultation to seek expert input on the draft specification sheets for its Biology and Ecosystems Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs).
Digital Coast’s Data Access Viewer has moved to the cloud! Mainly, the backend of the system (the behind-the-scenes infrastructure that supports data processing and storage) is now hosted in the cloud. Read more here.
A nice piece about the development of Canadian IOOS! Building a home for Canadian ocean data: The Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System.

The Eyes on the Ocean™ Newsletter

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From the Office

Observing Systems, Data, and Modeling

IOOS Enterprise

Partners

New Papers and Reports

Quick Links

The Eyes on the Ocean™ Newsletter

Quick Links

From the Office

Observing Systems, Data, and Modeling

IOOS Enterprise

Partners

New Papers and Reports

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