Sustained data for a changing ocean

The Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) is a science-driven ocean observing network that delivers real-time data from more than 900 instruments to address critical science questions regarding the world's oceans.

Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation to encourage scientific investigation, OOI data are freely available online to anyone with an Internet connection.

Our Mission

The Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), funded by the National Science Foundation, advances understanding of the ocean’s complexity by operating and maintaining cutting-edge instrumentation in some of the most challenging marine environments. Through the delivery of openly accessible, long-term oceanographic data the OOI empowers researchers, decision-makers, educators, students, and the public to better understand the inner workings of the ocean. The initiative fosters innovation by supporting new technology integration, offering infrastructure for collaborative deployments, and providing tools for education and outreach anywhere in the world.

A Visual journey

A Window into the Changing Planet is a short documentary that shows the beauty and fragility of the ocean and explains how scientists, students, and policymakers are using OOI data to determine how the ocean is changing, at what speed, and what it means for the planet.

OOI Updates

Learn about the latest OOI activities and how OOI data are changing the shape of classroom instruction and advancing ocean research.

News June 30, 2025

OOIFB Focus Group Highlights the Power of the Imaging FlowCytobot

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News June 30, 2025

Ocean Observatories Initiative: Budget Information and Impacts (FY26)

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News June 27, 2025

CC-CREW Students Tour OOI’s LOSOS Facility at WHOI

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News June 25, 2025

Enhancing Infrastructure Usability: Updates to the OOI Platforms and Nodes Page

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OOI In The News June 17, 2025

Securing and serving data that drives global research insights

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OOI In The News June 16, 2025

Coastal Weather Buoy Enhancement

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News June 13, 2025

NSF CI Compass: OOI Data Delivery User Experience

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News June 8, 2025

Why OOI Matters on World Oceans Day

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News May 28, 2025

Advancing Mooring Technology for Long-Term Ocean Observation

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OOI In The News May 24, 2025

Oceanic Biogeochemical Sensor Networks: 2025 Market Surge & Next-Gen Tech Unveiled

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OOI In The News May 20, 2025

Scientists use salinity to trace changes in the US Northeast Coastal Ocean

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News May 16, 2025

Open Access, Open Ocean: Marking 75 Years of NSF Through Sustained Ocean Observation

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OOI In The News May 9, 2025

Mile-wide underwater volcano ready to erupt off the West Coast

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OOI In The News May 2, 2025

Underwater volcano poised to erupt off OR coast, Seattle scientists say

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Science Highlights May 1, 2025

Salinification of the Cold Pool on the New England Shelf

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Science Highlights May 1, 2025

Subsurface Temperature Anomalies off Central Oregon during 2014–2021

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Science Highlights May 1, 2025

Soundscapes Spanning the Oregon Margin and 300 Miles Offshore

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News April 29, 2025

Now Available from BCO-DMO: Time Series Water Sample Data from Four OOI Arrays

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News April 25, 2025

Miniboats, Major Impact: The Legendary Returns to Sea with OOI Roots

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OOI In The News April 24, 2025

The Pacific Northwest’s most active underwater volcano is getting ready to erupt

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News April 11, 2025

Biofouling Preventatives on Surface Mooring Instrumentation

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News March 20, 2025

Prof. Jack Barth Named Principal Investigator of the Ocean Observatories Initiative Cyberinfrastructure Data Center

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News March 10, 2025

Edson Represents OOI at POGO-26 Meeting in Malaysia

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News March 7, 2025

Tagging and Tracking Large Fish Along the PNW Coast

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News February 28, 2025

Successful Underwater Surveys in the Mid-Atlantic Bight: OOI Team Deploys REMUS AUVs for Coastal Ocean Monitoring

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Latest Expeditions

Learn about the latest OOI expeditions that keep the OOI arrays continuously gathering so you have access to real-time ocean data around the clock from your laptop.

OOI Events

Mask Group 30
Upcoming Event
Jul 14 2025 - Jul 18 2025 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

2025 OOIFB Summer School on Acoustics

OOI Events

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How to participate

OOI brings data to your doorstep, without ever having to go to sea.

Opportunities exist to customize OOI data by adding instruments or platforms to the existing infrastructure, proposing additional or modified sampling, participating in cruises, borrowing OOI equipment, or simply exploring real-time data to answer scientific questions. Explore the ways you can participate in the OOI.