Share input on future ocean observing needs

NSF seeks community input on priorities and strategies for advancing ocean observing to address critical science and societal needs. Perspectives are welcomed on impacts of NSF investments, opportunities to complement existing national and international efforts, observational gaps, current and future technologies, infrastructure maintenance and updates, metrics, and stakeholder needs. Responses can be submitted using this form through September 30.

OCB is co-hosting community dialogs on ocean observing. Upcoming sessions are: 

Thursday, September 24, 2026; 4pm ET/1pm PT
Facilitator(s): Jan Newton and Rosie Gradoville
Topical focus: NSF OOI Endurance Array and ocean observing in the Pacific Northwest
Registration

A regularly updated full schedule of virtual exchanges, associated facilitators, and registration links is available here.

List of Observing Efforts

Ocean observations mentioned in the letter:

• NSF Ocean Observatories Initiative
• GO-BGC Argo
• Cascadia Offshore Subduction Zone Observatory

NSF-supported observational programs not explicitly mentioned in the letter include:

• OSNAP (Overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic Program)
• MOCHA (Meridional Overturning Circulation and Heatflux Array)
• GO-SHIP (Global Ocean Ship-Based Hydrographic Investigations Program)
• NDSF (National Deep Submergence Facility)
• Ocean Bottom Seismometer Instrument Center (OBSIC)
• Hawaii Ocean Time-series (HOT)
• Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS)
• The Oleander Project
• US Arctic Observing Network

• SOCCOM (Southern Ocean Carbon and Climate Observations and Modeling): pilot for GO-BGC

LTERs:

• California Current Ecosystem (CCE) | UC San Diego
• Northeast U.S. Shelf (NES) | Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
• Northern Gulf of Alaska (NGA) | University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Beaufort Lagoon Ecosystems (BLE) | University of Texas at Austin
• Santa Barbara Coastal (SBC) | UC Santa Barbara
• Moorea Coral Reef (MCR) | UC Santa Barbara
• Palmer Antarctica (PAL) | Columbia University / West Antarctic Peninsula
• Georgia Coastal Ecosystems (GCE) | University of Georgia

• Florida Coastal Everglades (FCE) | Florida International University

Excluded as per the letter:

• U.S. Academic Research Fleet
• Sub-seafloor drilling capabilities
• Remote sensing measurements
• Science questions best answered through term-limited research grants