OOI Community Status Update

Dear OOI Community,

We want to share an update on the operating status of the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) for the current project year. The FY2026 federal appropriations process remains ongoing. Earlier this winter we worked with NSF and the array Principal Investigators to implement an adjusted operating plan, documented through an Annual Work Plan Addendum, that preserves key scientific capability within available funding.

Since its inception, the OOI has been a sustained ocean observing facility designed to provide long term, open access measurements and infrastructure for the research community. Now in its second decade, the OOI has grown into an important community resource that supports discovery, advances research, facilitates technology development, and fosters collaboration across the ocean community. Our priority is to protect the integrity of the long-term data record and ensure continued access to core observing capabilities during this period of fiscal constraint.

Under the updated operating plan, OOI will maintain core capabilities and community access to observations:

• Continued delivery and distribution of data from all active instruments, including real time data where available, along with the full historical data record maintained by the Data Center.
• Continued operation of the Regional Cabled Array to provide persistent seafloor access with a maintenance cruise scheduled for the summer of 2026.
• Continued operation of the Pioneer Mid Atlantic Bight Array with two service cruises in the late spring and fall of 2026 with refurbished infrastructure.
• Continued subsurface observations at Station Papa, with servicing and sampling schedules adjusted to extend asset lifetime while maintaining the time series. This will include continued collaboration with NOAA/PMEL and their surface buoy.
• Continued observations at the Irminger Sea Array, with a limited maintenance cruise in spring to early summer of 2026, and sampling schedules adjusted to extend asset lifetime while maintaining the time series.
• Limited Endurance Array capability, including retention and maintenance of a surface mooring on the Oregon shelf and targeted glider operations to preserve cross shelf observations. Short maintenance cruises are scheduled for last spring and fall of 2026.
• Targeted glider and AUV missions where they provide the highest scientific return.
• Continued investment in Data Services, including Data Explorer improvements, data processing tools and research ready data sets.
• Ongoing permitting, reporting, and cybersecurity compliance activities.

These priorities reflect choices to safeguard time series continuity and community data services while operating within constrained resources.

As a result of the constrained budget, some activities are reduced in cadence or scope relative to prior years. These adjustments are designed to extend asset life and preserve scientific value while minimizing long-term impacts to the observing system. We recognize this may affect studies that depend on dense sampling, rapid turnaround field operations, certain regional coverage, near real-time data, cross-shelf observations, and sustained time series. We are working closely with NSF and the implementing organizations to manage these impacts strategically and maintain flexibility should funding conditions continue to improve.

Even within these constraints, OOI remains fully operational as a national observing facility. Our focus is continuity, reliability, and service to the community.

In closing, we encourage you to partner with us in demonstrating the value and impact of OOI by including it in your proposals, publications, presentations, and conversations with colleagues. Your engagement is vital to demonstrate the scientific impact and wide-ranging applications enabled by the OOI, underscoring its importance as a resource for the oceanographic community.

For any questions related to the OOI, please reach out to the Leadership Team at ooi@whoi.edu.

Sincerely,

The OOI Team

Disclaimer: Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.