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 NSF's Ocean Observatories Initiative operates and maintains sophisticated instrumentation in demanding ocean locations to collect and provide data to better understand the ocean, its complexity, and how it is changing because of natural and anthropogenic processes. The OOI connects the community to a wide range of ocean platforms and sensors through its cyberinfrastructure without the need to go to sea.

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 14, 2024

POGO Fellow Reports on Shipboard Training

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workshop June 11, 2024

Hot Wash: Pioneer-Adjacent PIES Deployments

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Early Career Scientists June 10, 2024

Survey to Help First-Timers at Sea

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News June 6, 2024

A Relationship Borne of OOI  

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News May 30, 2024

Pioneer MAB Providing Turbidity from OOI Core Fluorometers

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News May 30, 2024

Ian Black: Taking Inspiration from OOI

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News May 28, 2024

Zotero Now Connected to OOI-Related Publications

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Expeditions May 24, 2024

Two OOI Expeditions in Two Oceans

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News May 22, 2024

Close-up View of An Active Hydrothermal Vent Now Easily Accessible

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News May 20, 2024

Funds Available for Using OOI and Other Long-Term Research Associated Data

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Science Highlights May 15, 2024

Widespread and Increasing Near-bottom Hypoxia in Pacific NW Coastal Ocean

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Science Highlights May 13, 2024

OOI Data Sonification

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Science Highlights May 10, 2024

QARTOD Flag Statistics Using Cloud-Based Resources and Zarr Data Formats

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News May 6, 2024

Edson Encourages Federal Agencies to Use OOI Data

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News May 6, 2024

RCA to be Offline on May 6 for Maintenance

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News April 29, 2024

Pioneer Array Operational at MAB

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News April 22, 2024

Endurance Team Overcomes All Challenges to Complete its 20th Expedition

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News April 9, 2024

And It’s a Wrap!

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News April 6, 2024

Hoses Galore Hold Moorings Together

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OOI In The News April 6, 2024

REMUS 600 at Pioneer Array Reported

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News April 3, 2024

A Post Doc Project with Ten Years of Ready-made Data

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News April 3, 2024

A Remarkable Underwater Robot

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News April 3, 2024

Historic, Continuing Collaboration

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News March 30, 2024

OOI Data Center Progress Report

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News March 29, 2024

Call for Applications for OOIFB

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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

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Upcoming Event
Jul 31 2024 - Jul 31 2024 @ 12:00 am - 12:00 am

AGU Abstract Submission Deadline

OOI Events

Sep 10 2024 - Sep 12 2024 All Day Event

Coastal Pioneer MAB Community Workshop

Sep 10 2024 - Sep 12 2024 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Underwater Glider User Group (UG2) Workshop

Sep 11 2024 - Sep 14 2024 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Eastern Pacific Ocean Conference

Sep 23 2024 - Sep 24 2024 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

US CLIVAR Workshop on Optimizing Ocean Observing Networks for Detecting the Coastal Climate Signal

Dec 09 2024 - Dec 13 2024 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

AGU Fall Meeting

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.