The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System

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Many organizations and individuals are concerned with sustained observations and/or products and services based on such observations from the estuaries and Exclusive Economic Zone of the Gulf of Mexico. A group of these entities have agreed to form a Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) as part of a U.S. National Federation of such systems. GCOOS is an effort of this group of entities to establish a sustained observing system for the Gulf of Mexico. GCOOS seeks to provide observations and products needed by users in this region for the purposes of detecting and predicting climate variability and consequences, preserving and restoring healthy marine ecosystems, ensuring human health, managing resources, facilitating safe and efficient marine transportation, enhancing national security, and predicting and mitigating against coastal hazards.

There are many repositories of data and marine information, and ongoing activities to collect additional data and produce new information regarding the Gulf of Mexico. Some of these are sustained for socioeconomic needs, while others are for research needs. All may be considered to contribute to the GCOOS. Website links are available and organized into four groups pertaining to 1) in situ data, 2) satellite data and products, 3) models and other products, and 4) associated activities/users.

Texas A&M University (TAMU) is listed here as the primary affiliation for GCOOS because it hosts its website and the contact person is a professor and scientist at TAMU, Dr. Worth Nowlin. However, GCOOS is actually affiliated to several institutions and organizations on the US Gulf of Mexico coast, including:

  • Auburn University
  • Dauphin Island Sea Lab
  • Florida Institute of Oceanography
  • Florida Sea Grant
  • Florida State University
  • Gulf Fiber Corporation
  • Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution
  • Louisiana State University
  • Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium
  • Mississippi State University
  • Mobile Bay
  • National Estuary Program National Coastal Data Development Center
  • NRL Stennis Space Center
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Roffer's Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service, Inc.
  • Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
  • Texas A&M University T
  • exas A&M University - Corpus Christi
  • Texas General Land Office
  • Tulane and Xavier Universities
  • University of Southern Mississippi
  • University of South Florida
Field of Focus
Gulf of Mexico monitoring
Affiliates
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