ACADEMIC
UAK-F/SFOS/AOOS
The Alaska Ocean Observing System's mission is to improve our ability to rapidly detect changes in marine ecosystems and living resources, and predict future changes and their consequences for the public good. When fully developed, AOOS will -Serve as the Alaska regional node for a national network of observing systems; -Systematically deliver both real-time information and long-term trends about Alaska's ocean conditions and marine life; -Provide to the public Internet access to cost-free data and information on coastal conditions; and -Supply tailored products to meet the needs of mariners, scientists, industry, resource managers, educators, and other users of marine resources. AOOS will provide a centralized location for -Data and information products from platforms such as buoys, providing wind and current speed and direction, wave height, sea temperature and salinity, and more; -Enhancements to existing NOAA weather buoy data for specialized local needs; -Processed satellite data providing Alaska-wide information on sea-surface temperature, ocean color (chlorophyll) and wind; -Geographically comprehensive surface current data from high frequency radar; -Data about fish, birds and marine mammals, the environmental effects of human activities, and any other information that can be used with the physical data to predict future changes to the ocean ecosystem.