Mission and Objectives

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Mission

To improve understanding and monitoring of our oceans by guiding collaborative efforts and by providing oceanographic data and data products to all marine users and managers for the benefit of the public good and conservation of our resources.



Objectives

1. Provide leadership and coordination to develop the integrated ocean observing system in Central and Northern California:

  • Identify, engage and enhance collaboration among a broad base of stakeholders
  • Develop historical, real-time and forecasting products to meet stakeholder needs
  • Serve as the oceanographic data portal, providing access to data at spatial and temporal scales appropriate for users' needs
  • Identify and create solutions for observation and information gaps
  • Work closely with California's coastal programs and agencies

2. Actively participate in the development of the Ocean Observing system at the national level:

  • Improve the safety and efficiency of marine operations
  • More effectively mitigate the effects of natural hazards
  • Improve predictions of climate change and its effects on coastal populations
  • Improve national security
  • Reduce public health risks
  • More effectively protect and restore healthy coastal marine ecosystems
  • Enable the sustained use of marine resources

3. Advance the seven societal goals set forth by IOOS:

  • Serve as the central and northern California node (regional association) for a national network of observing systems
  • Work closely with all regional associations (RAs), especially our neighbors in Southern California (SCCOOS) and the Northwest (NANOOS)
  • Actively participate in nationwide IOOS initiatives and programs