New marine information for multiple users

The ocean influences everyone – just think of El Nino. Yet, unlike the routine monitoring of weather patterns in the atmosphere, there has been relatively little routine observing of ocean waters – including the Gulf of Maine – until now. Click here for a report on the economic benefits of ocean observing in the Gulf of Maine.

GoMOOS is a national pilot program designed to bring hourly oceanographic data from the Gulf of Maine to all those who need it, including:

• Commercial Mariners making everyday decisions that impact their safety and livelihood.
• Coastal Resource Managers seeking to maintain economically and environmentally vital resources.
• Scientists trying to understand complex ecosystems and predict climate change.
• Educators conveying the complexity and urgency of ocean science.
• Search and Rescue Teams trying to find and save lives.
• Emergency Response Teams mitigating damage from environmental disasters.
• Public Health Officials concerned about outbreaks of harmful algal blooms (such as red tide).

All these users can benefit from the up-to-date information GoMOOS provides.

A regional consortium of interests and disciplines

GoMOOS responds to user needs because users direct the organization. We are a non-profit membership organization representing all user groups.

• Our members include fishermen, scientists, resource managers, educators and business owners with an interest in the Gulf. Membership is available to any legal entity. View list of current members.
• Board of Directors (drawn from our membership)
• Scientists (from our regional research partners)
• GoMOOS staff (coordinating the system)

Buoys, radar, and satellites collect data

• In 2001, GoMOOS deployed the first 10 buoys to track information above and below the ocean surface.
  • Measurements at the surface include wind, waves, temperature, and fog. Never before have these data been gathered at so many locations throughout the Gulf. Some, such as fog, have never been monitored at all.
  • There’s bigger news below the surface, where GoMOOS provides unprecedented hourly measurements of currents, temperature, salinity, color, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and more.
• Satellites produce images showing ocean temperature, color and surface winds. Read more about the various uses of this information. These images help fill the gaps between buoys.
• CODAR (Coastal Ocean Dynamics Application Radar) is a new system of land-based stations that use radio waves to produce hourly maps of ocean currents throughout the Gulf of Maine. This cutting edge technology will come on line later this year. Stayed tuned to GoMOOS!

Models combine data to understand systems and predict events

GoMOOS has several projects to develop and test various computer models.

• Wave models predict wave height and period (the time between waves). This information can help commercial fishermen plan trips, pilots guide ships into port, and search and rescue teams plan life saving efforts.
• Circulation models predict ocean currents, temperature, and a variety of other quantities. The many applications include: more accurate search and rescue efforts, rapid response strategies for environmental disasters (such as oil spills), estimating environmental impacts on fisheries abundance, and predicting climate change.

Frontrunner in the national scene

The U.S. Congress has tasked the National Ocean Research Leadership Council, a multi-agency body (See www.nopp.org and www.ocean.us.net), to develop plans for a nationwide coastal ocean observing system. The founders of GoMOOS helped write the seminal design documents for the proposed national system. They conceived the national system as a federation of linked regional systems. GoMOOS is the working prototype for a regional system, serving regional states and provinces now, and preparing to serve the nation in the future.

Our Sponsors

The Office of Naval Research continues to support the development of GoMOOS. The Navy promotes ocean observing because of its many applications to national security. They also recognize and support the numerous and diverse public benefits made possible by observing systems such as GoMOOS.