NOAA Announces Funding to Support Ocean Observing in the Pacific Islands
August 13, 2009
NOAA’s Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) has awarded more than $2.09 million in competitive grant funding to support ocean observing efforts in Hawaii and the Pacific Islands.
The grants support the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System and will be administered by the University of Hawaii at Manoa under the direction of Brian Taylor, dean of the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. Funding will continue support and development of the Hawaii-Pacific Ocean Observing and Information System which measures and predicts ocean and coastal conditions. The system also develops products aimed at enhancing the safe and productive use of the ocean, such as coastal inundation and erosion alerts, fishing and marine mammal forecasts, channel and nearshore circulation prediction, and automated water quality detection.
The Pacific Islands system is one recipient in a series of nationwide IOOS grant-funded projects, totaling $21 million this year. The goal of each regional observing system is to maintain and enhance ocean and coastal observations in the area, making data easier to access and giving planners and policymakers the information needed to improve safety, enhance the economy, and protect the environment. Data from each region will also be available to researchers throughout the country via the national IOOS.
“This award represents NOAA’s commitment to implementing the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation Act of 2009 which recognizes the IOOS regional systems as key components of the national effort,” said Zdenka Willis, NOAA IOOS program director. “These projects are crafted to meet local customer needs while also contributing to the success of the national effort.”
NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources.