The Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) is a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded major research facility operated as a community resource to provide continuous observations of the ocean and seafloor from several key locations. The data collected, maintained, and disseminated by OOI addresses large-scale scientific challenges such as coastal ocean dynamics, climate and ecosystem health, the global carbon cycle, and linkages among seafloor volcanism and life. The system was designed to grow as it incorporates new technologies and accommodates novel research ideas and approaches proposed by individual research scientists. Unlike most facilities, the OOI is mostly operated remotely; engagement by the user community is online through dedicated cyberinfrastructure. The OOI allows scientists unprecedented access to ocean data collected in remote locations and delivers it at high temporal and spatial resolutions, in near-real time, when practicable (Smith et al.).

Smith, L.M., T.J. Cowles, R.D. Vaillancourt, and S. Yelisetti. 2018. Introduction to the special issue on the Ocean Observatories Initiative. Oceanography 31(1):12–15, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2018.104.

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