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'''Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System''' (CARICOOS) is a Department of Commerce initiative under NOAA’s Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) that delivers real-time coastal ocean and weather data for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, supporting maritime safety, economic resilience, and environmental management with a network of buoys, radars, and models across the Caribbean region. Established in 2004 as one of 11 IOOS Regional Associations, it serves over 3 million residents and millions of visitors annually by 2025, providing critical forecasts for waves, currents, and sargassum influxes, with over 30 observation assets enhancing decision-making for shipping, fishing, and disaster response. {{Official URL (simple)|url=https://www.caricoos.org/}} ==Goals== * Improve safety at sea with real-time data on waves, winds, and currents.<ref>"CARICOOS Mission," CARICOOS, https://www.caricoos.org/about, accessed February 19, 2025.</ref> * Enhance coastal resilience by forecasting hazards like storms and inundation. * Support economic and environmental outcomes through data-driven stewardship. ==Organization== The Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System is sponsored by the Caribbean Regional Association for Integrated Coastal Ocean Observing (CaRA), a non-profit under the Department of Commerce via NOAA’s National Ocean Service, headquartered at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez.<ref>"CARICOOS Governance," CARICOOS, https://www.caricoos.org/about, accessed February 19, 2025.</ref> Funding comes from Congressional appropriations through NOAA’s IOOS office, averaging $1.5 million annually by 2025, supporting a network of buoys, radars, and staff, with operations guided by a board representing stakeholders from academia, government, and industry. The leader at the Department of Commerce level is the NOAA IOOS Director, currently Carl Gouldman, with CARICOOS led by Executive Director Julio Morell (as of February 19, 2025). ==History== The Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System was initiated in 2004 as part of the IOOS framework, formalized by the [[Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009]], building on regional efforts to monitor Caribbean waters post-Hurricane Georges (1998).<ref>"IOOS History," NOAA IOOS, https://ioos.noaa.gov/about/, accessed February 19, 2025.</ref> It expanded with high-frequency radar installations by 2010 and buoy networks by 2015, responding to needs like sargassum tracking (Web ID 17) and coastal inundation forecasts by 2025. Certified as an IOOS Regional Association in 2012, it continues to evolve with stakeholder-driven enhancements. ==Funding== Initial funding in 2004 came from Congressional appropriations via NOAA, though exact amounts are not isolated from broader IOOS budgets.<ref>"CARICOOS Funding," CARICOOS, https://www.caricoos.org/about, accessed February 19, 2025.</ref> Funding began in 2004 and continues, with approximately $1.5 million annually by 2025 supporting over 30 assets, staff, and modeling, supplemented by university and partner contributions. There’s no funding end date, with annual NOAA allocations sustaining operations. ==Implementation== The program is implemented through a network of over 30 observation assets—data buoys, coastal weather stations, and high-frequency radars—deployed across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, delivering real-time data and forecasts via www.caricoos.org.<ref>"CARICOOS Assets," CARICOOS, https://www.caricoos.org/observations, accessed February 19, 2025.</ref> It operates continuously, integrating satellite, buoy, and model data for applications like search-and-rescue and coastal management, with no end date, adapting to 2025 challenges like climate-driven storms. ==Related== * [[U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System]] * [[National Ocean Service]] * [[Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program]] ==External links== * https://www.caricoos.org/ * https://ioos.noaa.gov/ - NOAA IOOS overview * https://www.globalchange.gov/ - U.S. Global Change Research Program * [[wikipedia:Integrated Ocean Observing System]] ===Social media=== * https://twitter.com/CARICOOS * https://www.facebook.com/caricoos ==References== [[Category:Programs and initiatives]] [[Category:Programs]] [[Category:Department of Commerce]]
