Ocean Observatories Initiative

Happy Thanksgiving from the Ocean Observatories Initiative! ???? This Thanksgiving, we’re especially grateful for our incredible community of researchers, educators, and ocean enthusiasts. Your dedication to advancing scientific discovery helps foster a deeper understanding of our oceans and their vital role in our planet’s health. Wishing you a holiday filled with gratitude and connection!

?? New Insights into the Ocean Carbon Cycle from the Irminger Sea The high-latitude North Atlantic plays a critical role in the global carbon cycle, and the Irminger Sea is a hotspot for the biological carbon pump, where carbon is transported from the surface to the deep ocean. A recent study by Yoder et al. (2024) leveraged data from the National Science Foundation (NSF) OOI Irminger Sea Array to create a multi-year time series of the inorganic carbon system in the Irminger Sea’s mixed layer. This data set combines seven years of near-daily observations, providing a detailed view of carbon system variables like DIC, TA, and pCO2. These efforts highlight the importance of maintaining long-term observational arrays in challenging environments like the Irminger Sea and demonstrate how carefully processed and calibrated OOI data can unlock unique insights into ocean carbon dynamics. Read more: https://bit.ly/3AXU8CX Image 1: Time series of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), total alkalinity (TA), partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) temperature, chlorophyll-a (Chl), and mixed layer depth (MLD) in the Irminger Sea mixed layer from 2015-2022. Colors identify annual cycles. From Yoder et al., 2024. #OceanScience #CarbonCycle #OOIData #IrmingerSea #ClimateResearch

Eric McRae, Principal Electrical Engineer at University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory, has spent over 13 years advancing the National Science Foundation (NSF) Ocean Observatories Initiative’s Regional Cabled Array Shallow Profilers. Now, he’s sharing his expertise on underwater sound at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center. Read more: https://bit.ly/3Zd6O21

Understanding Temperature Inversions in the Northeast Pacific: Recent Science Highlight from the National Science Foundation (NSF) OOI Endurance Array (EA) ?? Temperature inversions, where a layer of cooler water overlays warmer water, are common in the Northeast Pacific due to processes like cold air events, upwelling, river discharge, and eddy transport. But modeling these phenomena remains a challenge. A study by Osborne et al. (2023) analyzed data from 2020–2021, largely sourced from OOI Endurance Array gliders, to compare observed temperature inversions with models like the U.S. Navy’s GOFS 3.1. Key findings include: - Observed inversions appear in ~45% of profiles between 50–150m depths. - Models capture inversions in only ~5% of cases, with weaker, shallower minimums. The discrepancy is linked to coarse model resolution and the assimilation process which low-pass filters temperature, making inversions weaker. The study highlights the need to test finer vertical grids to improve model accuracy. ?? Dive deeper into this research on the OOI Science Highlights page: https://bit.ly/48Y76gr

Check out our recent Science Highlight from the National Science Foundation (NSF) OOI Regional Cabled Array (RCA)?? A recent study by Wang et al. reveals promising advancements in eruption prediction at Axial Seamount. Using #MachineLearning, researchers identified a distinctive burst of earthquake signals that began 15 hours before the 2015 eruption, peaking just an hour before lava emerged. This discovery offers critical insights into magma movement before eruptions, opening doors to improved forecasting for underwater and other active volcanoes.?Find out more: https://bit.ly/4hDBgtC University of Washington, University of Washington School of Oceangraphy

OOI joined the UCAR - The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research meeting on October 8-9 in Boulder, CO, fostering collaboration between leading atmospheric and oceanographic institutions. OOI Principal Investigator James Edson shared with attendees the latest in ocean data collection, highlighting OOI’s role in critical climate research. He met with NCAR labs to discuss advanced sensor deployments in under-sampled regions like the Irminger Sea and Gulf of Alaska to improve ocean-atmosphere data. This collaboration continues with NCAR at American Geophysical Union and American Meterological Society meetings, strengthening our commitment to real-time data for better climate modeling and sustainable policy. ?? ??: Jim Edson, Carol Anne Clayson (WHOI) and Janet Sprintall (SIO) check out the Cloud Display at the NCAR Mesa Laboratory during the UCAR Reception. #OOI #UCAR2024 #ClimateScience #OceanData National Science Foundation (NSF), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

The OOI's Coastal and Global Scale Nodes (CGSN) team just completed their first standalone small vessel AUV cruise at the Pioneer Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) Array ?? Team members Andrew Robinson, Collin Dobson, and Dan Bogorff tested launch and recovery systems before heading offshore to run AUV transects through the array. With two REMUS600 AUVs equipped with scientific instruments, including CTDs (conductivity, temperature, depth), fluorometers, oxygen and nitrate sensors, they gathered critical data on ocean conditions and biogeochemical processes. This accomplishment highlights the OOI-CGSN team’s dedication to advancing autonomous AUV ocean exploration and data-driven research. #OceanObservatories #AUV #MarineScience #OceanResearch National Science Foundation (NSF), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution ??: Collin Dobson

Check out this amazing video by Emily Pinneo, a VISIONS’23 student, showcasing life growing on the Offshore Shallow Profiler Mooring ?? Emily’s work is a great example of how students are contributing to advancing our understanding of oceanographic science at the OOI Regional Cabled Array. https://bit.ly/48oybcs #OceanScience #MarineLife #StudentResearch #OceanExploration, University of Washington

Attention OOI Imaging FlowCytobot data users?? Following a recommendation from the recent National Science Foundation Ocean Observatories Initiative Facility Board Pioneer Array Workshop, OOI has launched an online IFCB Community forum on Discourse. It’s a space for users to ask questions, share results, troubleshoot issues, and collaborate. You can access the forum through OOI’s Data HelpDesk webpage, under the "IFCB Community" category. Join the conversation and connect with fellow researchers today! ?? Read more here: https://bit.ly/3YyhmZq

The National Science Foundation Ocean Observatories Initiative Facility Board is now accepting applications for a position on its Facility Board! If you’re a scientist, engineer, or modeler with ocean observation experience, this is your chance to contribute to cutting-edge oceanographic research. The selected individual will fill one term that will run through November 30, 2027, and then be eligible to serve an additional 3-year term. Deadline to apply: November 18, 2024. For more details and how to apply, check out the full announcement here: https://bit.ly/3Yw88wR