Posts by Amber Coogan

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has published its Draft Strategic Plan for the period 2026-2030. It describes the agency’s vision, core values, and the challenges and opportunities it seeks to address over the next five years. NSF seeks public input and will use this feedback to inform the plan’s implementation. NSF welcomes feedback from all interested parties across the science, technology, engineering and mathematics research and education communities.

Please see the associated Dear Colleague Letter (DCL): https://www.nsf.gov/od/updates/nsf-seeks-public-input-on-its-fy-2026-2030-nsf-strategic-plan.

Read the full draft NSF FY 2026–2030 Strategic Plan. Objective 1.4. Support discovery, innovation, and national security through impactful investments in research infrastructure may be of interest for the observing community.

Responses are due no later than Jan. 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

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Through the University of Washington VISIONS at-sea education program, an important part of the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Ocean Observatories Initiative Regional Cabled Array (RCA), students and educators have played an active role in sharing the science, technology, and experience of working at sea. Since 2011, participants in the VISIONS program have collaborated with the RCA team to create outreach and engagement projects that highlight their shipboard experiences, explore research questions using RCA data, and showcase the innovative ocean technologies that make sustained seafloor and water column observations possible.

These student-driven projects reflect a wide range of perspectives and creative approaches, offering a unique window into life and learning aboard research vessels while advancing public understanding of ocean science. The collection continues to grow as new cohorts of students and educators join the VISIONS program and complete their work.

Explore examples of student projects and learn more about the Regional Cabled Array by visiting the RCA website.

[caption id="attachment_37336" align="alignnone" width="2560"] Credit: A. Rose, University of Washington, V’24[/caption] Read More

OOI has released a newly refined, quality-controlled dataset documenting ten years of air-sea pCO₂ measurements from the Coastal Endurance Array off Oregon and Washington. Tracking coastal ocean acidification has been a goal for the array since operations began in 2015, and these long-term moored records now provide one of the most comprehensive views of air and surface seawater pCO₂ and supporting environmental variables available in the Pacific Northwest.

This release includes measurements collected at four mooring sites, two off central Washington and two off central Oregon, positioned across the mid-shelf and continental slope to capture both along-shelf and cross-shelf variability. These time series highlight the dominant influence of seasonal and event-scale upwelling, which can elevate near-surface pCO₂ to more than three times atmospheric levels and depress surface pH toward the aragonite saturation threshold. The record spans several notable marine heatwaves, offering insight into how warming anomalies interact with upwelling to shape coastal carbonate chemistry.

To build this dataset, OOI conducted extensive post-processing and human-in-the-loop quality control. This work involved correcting subtle sensor drifts and offsets, restoring usable data that had been removed for fixable issues, and checking the measurements against historical records, bottle samples, collocated instruments, and engineering diagnostics. All measurements were then merged onto an hourly time base to create a consistent, analysis-ready product suitable for research, modeling, and education.

In addition to pCO₂, the dataset includes sea surface temperature, salinity, wind speed, and several derived carbonate system variables, such as estimated total alkalinity, and air–sea CO₂ fluxes. These enhancements make it possible to explore marine carbonate system parameters without additional processing and allow users to evaluate physical drivers of variability.

The data are available in both NetCDF and Zarr formats for each mooring site, with updated metadata and documentation.  In the near future, we plan to expand on this dataset to include inshore pCO₂, near surface pH, and subsurface measurements.

For access to this dataset and all OOI community data products, visit the OOI collection in Zenodo.

[caption id="attachment_37284" align="alignnone" width="935"] Figure 1. Cross-comparing the mooring observations against the discrete samples and SOCAT v2025 dataset.[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_37286" align="alignnone" width="624"] Figure 2. Time series of observations at the Oregon Shelf Surface Mooring (CE02SHSM) of sea surface temperature, salinity, estimated total alkalinity, air and surface pCO2, ocean to atmosphere CO2 flux, and 10 m, normalized wind speed. Black dots and stars are discrete samples collected during mooring maintenance cruises. Dark red dots are from the SOCAT v2025 dataset. Light grey lines in the surface temperature and wind speed records are from the NDBC Stonewall Bank (46050) Mooring.[/caption]

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References:

Bakker, Dorothee C. E.; Alin, Simone R.; Aramaki, Takafumi; Barbero, Leticia; Bates, Nicholas; Gkritzalis, Thanos; Jones, Steve D.; Kozyr, Alex; Lauvset, Siv K.; Macovei, Vlad A.; Metzl, Nicolas; Munro, David R.; Nakaoka, Shin-ichiro; O’Brien, Kevin M.; Olsen, Are; Pierrot, Denis; Steinhoff, Tobias; Sullivan, Kevin F.; Sutton, Adrienne J.; Sweeney, Colm; Wada, Chisato; Wanninkhof, Rik; Akl, John; Arbilla, Lisandro A.; Azetsu-Scott, Kumiko; Battisti, Roman; Beatty, Cory M.; Becker, Meike; Benoit-Cattin, Alice; Berghoff, Carla F.; Bittig, Henry C.; Bonin, Jennifer A.; Bott, Randy; Bozzano, Roberto; Burger, Eugene F.; Brunetti, Fabio; Cantoni, Carolina; Castelli, Giuliano; Chambers, Don P.; Chierici, Melissa; Corbo, Andrea; Cronin, Margot; Cross, Jessica N.; Currie, Kim I.; Dentico, Carlotta; Emerson, Steven R.; Enochs, Ian C.; Enright, Matt P.; Enyo, Kazutaka; Ericson, Ylva; Evans, Wiley; Fay, Amanda R.; Feely, Richard A.; Fragiacomo, Elena; Fransson, Agneta; Gehrung, Martina; Giani, Michele; Glockzin, Michael; Hamnca, Siyabulela; Holodkov, Nikola; Hoppema, Mario; Ibánhez, J. Severino P.; Kadono, Koji; Kamb, Linus; Kralj, Martina; Kristensin, Tor O.; Laudicella, V. Alessandro; Lefèvre, Nathalie; Leseurre, Coraline; Lo Monaco, Claire; Maenner Jones, Stacy; Maenza, Reinaldo A.; McAuliffe, Anna M.; Mdokwana, Baxolele; Monacci, Natalie M.; Musielewicz, Sylvia; Neill, Craig; Newberger, Tim; Nojiri, Yukihiro; Ohman, Mark D.; Ólafsdóttir, Sólveig R.; Olivier, Léa; Omar, Abdirahman M.; Osborne, John; Pensieri, Sara; Petersen, Wilhelm; Plueddemann, Albert J.; Rehder, Gregor; Roden, Nicholas P.; Rutgersson, Anna; Sallée, Jean-Baptiste; Sanders, Richard; Sarpe, Dick; Schirnik, Carsten; Schlitzer, Reiner; Send, Uwe; Skjelvan, Ingunn; Sutherland, Stewart, C.; T’Jampens, Michiel; Tamsitt, Veronica; Telszewski, Maciej; Theetaert, Hannelore; Tilbrook, Bronte; Trull, Tom; Tsanwani, Mutshutshu; Van de Velde, Sebastiaan; Van Heuven, Steven M. A. C.; Veccia, Martín H.; Voynova, Yoana G.; Weller, Robert A.; Williams, Nancy L. (2025). Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas Database Version 2025 (SOCATv2025) (NCEI Accession 0304549). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/648f-fv35.

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Ocean technology is evolving rapidly, and wave energy is emerging as another promising pathway toward resilient, low-maintenance ocean observing systems. As part of that shift, 3newable LLC CEO Julie Fouquet and her team have been developing an innovative Wave Energy Converter (WEC) designed to provide reliable, small-scale power for ocean observing platforms. In parallel, they have created an ultraviolet (UV) illuminator designed to reduce biofouling on sensitive instruments.

Following a recent deployment at OOI’s Coastal Endurance Array, Fouquet sat down with us to discuss the evolution of the project, lessons learned from at-sea testing, and her vision for renewable ocean power in the years ahead.

From Concept to Ocean Deployment

The WEC project has gone through several iterations, including an early effort to test at OOI’s Pioneer New England Shelf Array. But logistical hurdles, funding constraints, and the eventual relocation of the Pioneer array prompted a pivot toward OOI’s Endurance Array, where Jonathan Fram, co-PI and Project Manager for the Endurance Array, was eager to support the UV-illumination component of the work.

That transition, initiated in 2022, set the stage for 3newable’s first field deployment in fall 2023, followed by a second deployment in spring 2025. The Endurance Array offered a flexible testbed and an engaged team ready to collaborate on mechanical integration, biofouling mitigation, and performance monitoring.

The WEC isn’t trying to compete with large-scale offshore energy systems. Instead, it’s purpose-built to deliver steady, modest power for sensors and low-draw electronics on buoys. In laboratory conditions, it can produce up to 50 watts, while real-world deployments are expected to eventually yield about 7 to 8 watts per WEC time-averaged over a year. Its fully sealed mechanical design prevents saltwater ingress, and its direct-drive electromagnetic engine allows it to operate with notably higher efficiency than many conventional designs.

Fouquet explained that the WEC uses a rack and pinion mechanism to convert buoy tilting motion into rotational power. While straightforward in concept, optimizing this system in real wave conditions demands careful tuning and specialized control algorithms. Wave-energy technologies vary widely, from large flaps and heaving-buoy systems to fully self-powered platforms, and with so many disparate approaches, nothing close to a “standard” design has emerged in the field. Given the wide range of wave-energy converter designs in the field, real-world deployments at the Endurance Array have been especially valuable in showing how the WEC’s sealed, compact approach behaves in operational conditions and where further refinements can enhance its performance.

Solving a Costly Challenge: Biofouling

One of OOI’s ongoing challenges is biofouling, which can shorten sensor deployments, degrade data quality, and drive-up servicing costs. Wide-angle emitters in the UV have been used to inhibit biofouling growth on some instruments, but they are not well-suited to the long, narrow geometries of the precision conductivity sensors used to measure salinity.  Fouquet’s team developed a UV beam illuminator that can be powered either directly from the WEC or from a battery to keep the interior of a conductivity sensor clean.

During recent testing on buoy CE04, the UV system slightly outperformed tributyltin inserts that have traditionally been used to suppress microbial growth, while also offering a non-toxic alternative that avoids the environmental concerns associated with those legacy chemicals. Feedback from OOI engineers played a direct role in refining both the design and the deployment strategy, helping shape the system into a more effective tool for biofouling control.

The UV illuminator has become one of the project’s most promising offshoots, with potential to reduce maintenance cycle frequencies across a range of ocean observing platforms.

Testing the WEC at Sea: Early Data and Next Steps

In addition to working with OOI staff, 3newable also brought on recent OSU graduate Cedric LaPeyre, who had participated in the university’s Marine Energy Collegiate Competition (MECC) team. For the past four years, Endurance Array staff have collaborated with OSU’s MECC teams, each of which has designed a WEC concept around an OOI surface mooring for the Department of Energy competition. Through those connections, OOI was able to link Julie with students whose experience and skill sets aligned well with 3newable’s needs. La Peyre worked on the WEC at 3newable and on preparing the WEC for deployment at OOI-OSU.

During the recent deployment, the WEC achieved a net average power generation of 0.91 watts over 1 1/2 weeks, even in relatively low-energy conditions. Peak net average power generation during a five-minute interval was 2.4 W.  For this demonstration, a commercial controller that consumes approximately 3 W was used in the control circuit, so the generated power was close to 4 W and the peak was over 5 W.  The team also identified several engineering priorities, including better lubrication, wave-specific tuning, and control system modifications to maximize output in variable seas.

Fouquet emphasized that continued sea trials are essential: “We challenge our equipment in the lab, but the ocean is the ultimate test environment. Every deployment teaches us something new about the design, about the conditions, and about how to make our equipment truly practical.”

Funding Realities and Looking Forward

3newable deeply appreciates past support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office. However, changes to federal funding priorities have created major delays and uncertainties. Fouquet expressed concern that many renewable-energy innovators face similar hurdles, particularly smaller companies working on niche but important technologies.

Still, the long-term vision remains clear: expand the role of renewables within ocean observations and reduce the frequency of service voyages so that observing systems can sustain themselves with minimal intervention,” said Fouquet.

3newable would like to continue refining both the WEC and the UV illuminator, exploring new deployment opportunities, and working with OOI to strengthen ocean observing infrastructure through clean, efficient power.

As testing continues, the WEC project showcases the power of collaboration between engineers, researchers, and observing programs. Fouquet’s willingness to iterate quickly, integrate feedback, and share results openly reflects the spirit of innovation OOI strives to foster.

We look forward to sharing future updates as the project advances and as renewable ocean power becomes an increasingly central part of the global ocean observing landscape.

[caption id="attachment_37217" align="alignnone" width="1440"] WEC UV Summer 2025 Deployment. (c): Endurance Array, OSU[/caption] [caption id="attachment_37214" align="alignnone" width="2560"] WEC Upon Recovery. (c): Endurance Array, OSU[/caption] [caption id="attachment_37219" align="alignnone" width="960"] WEC chassis after recovery at OOI-OSU. (c): Julie Fouquet, 3newable LLC[/caption] [caption id="attachment_37216" align="alignnone" width="1280"] 3newable’s UV illuminator (at left) sends a beam down the interior of the conductivity cell of a salinity sensor (at right) to prevent biofouling. (c): Julie Fouquet, 3newable LLC[/caption] [caption id="attachment_37215" align="alignnone" width="1440"] Gooseneck barnacle growth varied by treatment: healthy on the unprotected CT, weakened near the tributyltin-protected CT, and nearly absent beside the UV-protected CT. (c): Julie Fouquet, 3newable LLC[/caption] Read More

A team of young innovators and their professor from Colégio Valsassina in Portugal recently stopped by Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) during their prize trip to the United States earned after winning the 2024–2025 Atlantic Junior Award. Their award-winning project centered on designing a low-flying aircraft capable of collecting coastal and ocean data, a concept that impressed judges and highlighted how engineering can support marine science.

During their visit to the OOI facilities at the Land Ocean Sensors and Observing Systems (LOSOS) lab, the students got an inside look at how OOI engineers build and maintain the coastal and global observing systems operating across the world’s oceans. Project Scientist Jim Edson showcased how OOI data is being used to support scientific investigations over the ocean. The tour also included hands-on demonstrations and conversations about instrument design, power systems, data delivery, and the challenges of long-term operations at sea.

Bridgewater State University played a key role in facilitating the visit, enabled by the Luso-American Development Foundation, helping ensure the students’ U.S. experience showcased both academic and engineering perspectives.

[caption id="attachment_37205" align="alignnone" width="480"] Lead Principal Investigator (PI) of OOI James Edson speaks to visiting students at LOSOS. © Viriato “Vinny” de Macedo, Bridgewater State University[/caption] [caption id="attachment_37207" align="alignnone" width="480"] Lead Principal Investigator (PI) of OOI James Edson speaks to visiting students at LOSOS. © Viriato “Vinny” de Macedo, Bridgewater State University[/caption] [caption id="attachment_37206" align="alignnone" width="640"] © Viriato “Vinny” de Macedo, Bridgewater State University[/caption] Read More

Early in October, OOI Lead Principal Investigator Dr. Jim Edson attended the annual NCAR/UCAR Members’ Meeting, where leaders from across the atmospheric, oceanic, and Earth sciences gathered to discuss shared challenges and opportunities in advancing community-driven science. The event, hosted by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) which manages the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), provided an excellent opportunity to connect with colleagues, strengthen partnerships, and highlight how OOI data can contribute to interdisciplinary research across the environmental sciences.

Attending as a representative for both the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and OOI, Jim met with peers from oceanographic institutions and universities with strong programs in ocean, Earth, and atmospheric sciences. Conversations focused on expanding collaboration between NCAR and OOI, particularly in areas of data integration and educational engagement.

Discussions included potential joint initiatives, such as:

• Data Sharing and Integration: Exploring ways to link OOI’s data acquisition systems with NCAR’s Geoscience Data Exchange (GDEX) to enhance community access.
• Field Collaboration: Participation in an upcoming Pioneer Array turnaround cruise, with the goal of launching rawinsonde balloons to study the marine atmospheric boundary layer.

These efforts demonstrate OOI’s ongoing commitment to fostering partnerships that bridge ocean and atmospheric sciences, supporting both cutting-edge research and the next generation of Earth system scientists.

[caption id="attachment_37166" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Dr. Carol Anne Clayson and Dr. Jim Edson at the 2025 NCAR/UCAR Members’ Meeting[/caption] Read More