Global Ocean Observing System

The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) provides a glimpse of the present state of the oceans, including living resources, supports continuous forecasts of the future conditions of the sea, and furnishes the basis for climate change assessments and scenarios. The Programme coordinates global monitoring for the purpose of sustainable development of ocean resources, protection from ocean hazards and a greater understanding of climate processes. It is an expansive global system that can benefit all nations enormously, however, no one nation can maintain the system alone. By enabling global monitoring for the purpose of increasing scientific knowledge, GOOS provides critical information for all levels of governance and management. 

Independent observing systems have evolved to meet the needs of particular disciplines and end-users. As issues facing the globe today are interdisciplinary in nature, it is critical to extend the scope of observing networks to include ocean physics, biogeochemistry and biology. It is also imperative to provide coordination of these global ocean observations across three critical areas:

• Climate
• Operational services
• Ocean health

A changing climate is linked to a changing ocean. Warming climate is causing land and sea-ice loss while carbon uptake is causing ocean acidification, both at alarming rates. Accurately modelling global climate change and monitoring the impact of climate mitigation programmes requires sustained and extended observations, including those in the deep ocean.

Real-time ocean data services provide improved weather forecasts and early warning for ocean-related hazards on the coast. This enhances the safety and efficiency of all ocean industries and strengthens the global maritime economy. Societies and economies also benefit from this near-term ocean and climate information, such as El Niño forecasts, that are essential to global agriculture, water management and disaster risk reduction. GOOS observations support the development of models of human impact on ocean ecosystems in order to understand how societies can improve coastal protection, food security and tourism – activities that enhance coastal livelihoods and the blue economy. 

Sponsored by WMO, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Global Ocean Observing System contributes to the Group on Earth Observation (GEO) of Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS). Implementation of the international Programme system is done by Members through their agencies, navies and oceanographic research institutions, working together in a range of global thematic panels, observing networks and regional alliances to ensure long-term, sustained ocean observation.

The Programme follows the Framework for Ocean Observing Process, which describes a clearly defined structure that allows ocean observing providers and users to plug-in at various points in the system. It traces the path from Input (requirements) to Processes (observations), to Outputs (data and products). To maintain an ocean observing system that is fit-for-purpose, the outputs must properly address the issues that drove the original requirements. This structure has created a constant feedback loop where the requirements are always science-driven and informed by societal needs.

The Global Ocean Observing System makes use of global science, technology networks and regional alliances. In partnership with the WMO-IOC Joint Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM), the Programme coordinates the integrated implementation of unified in situ observing networks. These partnerships, focused on global-scale observations, require a comprehensive understanding of the oceans and climate. The resulting data and information products enable ocean managers to determine where future efforts are most critical.

Global networked observing systems and partnerships are an important element of the Global Ocean Observing System. A key example is the Argo Programme: An enterprise of more than 30 nations from all continents that provides continuous data allowing any country to explore the ocean environment, the Argo Programme has more than 3 000 free-drifting profiling floats that observe temperature, salinity and currents. Argo is just one example of how the Global Ocean Observing System leverages partnerships to understand and predict changes to both the atmosphere and ocean. 

The Regional Alliances are another major element of the Global Ocean Observing System. These regional groups are organized to assist Members in working together to mutually reinforce development and to share of data. Capacity development occurs through learning from and sharing best practices related to the deployment and maintenance of ocean observing systems. The ongoing improvements in system design and maintenance are resulting in the maturation, delivery and use of locally relevant data.