Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System
Stored: Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (nonprofit) |
| Top Organization | Department of Commerce |
| Creation Legislation | Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System manages a network of observing assets to provide real-time and historical data on the Gulf of Mexico, supporting safety, environmental protection, and economic resilience. It aims to deliver reliable, accessible data products to diverse stakeholders, from researchers to emergency managers, enhancing understanding and management of Gulf coastal and ocean systems. |
| Program Start | 2005 |
| Initial Funding | $2 million (early IOOS grants) |
| Duration | Ongoing |
| Historic | No |
Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) is a nonprofit Regional Association certified by NOAA’s Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) under the Department of Commerce, coordinating ocean and coastal observations across the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System manages a network of observing assets to provide real-time and historical data on the Gulf of Mexico, supporting safety, environmental protection, and economic resilience, aiming to deliver reliable, accessible data products to diverse stakeholders, from researchers to emergency managers, enhancing understanding and management of Gulf coastal and ocean systems. Key features include its operation of over 2,000 data streams via the GCOOS Data Portal as of 2025, its leadership in the Smart Great Lakes Initiative since 2019, and its support for over 30 seasonal buoys and glider missions, notably aiding hurricane forecasting and tracking harmful algal blooms (HABs).
Goals
- Collect and disseminate timely, accurate Gulf data to improve safety, navigation, and ecosystem health, targeting reduced risks from hazards like HABs and hurricanes.
- Enhance regional collaboration and data integration, aiming for a comprehensive observing system across the five Gulf states and beyond.
- Support long-term environmental monitoring and forecasting, with metrics like increased data points for climate change and ocean acidification studies.
Organization
The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System nonprofit, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, oversees the program, certified by NOAA as an IOOS Regional Association in 2016. GCOOS manages a network of buoys, gliders, and high-frequency radars, integrating data from federal (NOAA, USGS), state, academic, and industry partners via the Seagull platform launched in 2021. Funding primarily comes from NOAA IOOS grants—$3–4 million annually—supplemented by membership dues and project-specific awards like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The program’s leader is the GCOOS Executive Director, currently Jennifer Boehme as of 2025, guided by a Board of Directors from diverse sectors.
History
GCOOS was founded in 2005 as a member-driven organization, formalized under the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009, which established IOOS and its regional components, building on earlier Gulf monitoring efforts. It incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 2013 and achieved NOAA certification in 2016, affirming data quality standards. Milestones include launching the GCOOS Data Portal in 2010, responding to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill with enhanced observations, and initiating the Smart Great Lakes Initiative in 2019 for modernized data systems. GCOOS continues to expand, with 2024 efforts focusing on climate change data and a proposed Great Lakes Mapping Act for lakefloor mapping.
Funding
Initial funding of approximately $2 million came from IOOS grants in 2005–2006, establishing GCOOS’s network, with annual funding now averaging $3–4 million through NOAA appropriations and supplements like the 2022–2025 Hurricane Glider Campaign ($1.5 million). Funding is ongoing with no end date, blending federal grants, state contributions, and private donations, though a 2024 proposed IOOS budget cut to $10 million regionally threatens growth. Project-specific funding, like Lakebed 2030’s $200 million goal, relies on additional legislative support.
Implementation
GCOOS implements its mission through a network of over 30 seasonal buoys, gliders, and radars deployed since 2005 across the Gulf, collecting data on currents, temperature, and water quality, shared via the Seagull platform since 2021. Implementation includes continuous updates, with assets like Imaging FlowCytobots monitoring HABs and gliders enhancing hurricane models, serving users from Texas to Florida. It has no fixed end date, aligned with IOOS’s long-term observation goals.
Related
External links
- https://gcoos.org
- https://ioos.noaa.gov/regions/gulf-of-mexico/
- wikipedia:Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System
