U.S. IOOS: Our Eyes on Our Oceans, Coasts, and Great Lakes.
The Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) provides high-quality data and information on current and future states of the oceans and Great Lakes from the global scale of ocean basins to local scales of coastal ecosystems.
Societal goals of IOOS
IOOS provides data in forms and at rates required by decision makers to address seven societal goals:
Improve predictions of climate change and weather and theireffects on coastal communities and the nation
Improve the safety and efficiency of maritime operations
Mitigate the effects of natural hazards more effectively
Improve national and homeland security
Reduce public health risks
Protect and restore healthy coastal ecosystems more effectively
Enable the sustained use of ocean and coastal resources