Explore the system
Observing the Ocean
Understanding and monitoring the ocean at a global scale is too complex for any single nation or institution to handle alone. That is why GOOS leads and coordinates a global community of ocean observing networks that collect vital observations every day through the “eyes” of thousands of platforms and instruments at sea.
Why it matters
These observations enable data-driven solutions for weather and extreme event forecasting, climate management, maritime and coastal risk responses, biodiversity stewardship, and a sustainable ocean economy.
In situ observing networks — by the numbers
64
Contributing countries
17
Observing networks (4 emerging)
9,389
Platforms
120,000+
Observations per day
*The current numbers and map show operational observations from mostly mature ocean observing networks feeding into OceanOPS, the operational monitoring and support centre of GOOS. In the future, GOOS aims to fully integrate all emerging networks as well as biological and ecosystem observations into this display.
Observing platforms at sea
Explore the operational platforms from mature GOOS networks currently collecting ocean and marine meteorological observations at sea. Biological and ecosystem observing platforms are currently not included.
GOOS Ocean Observing Networks
GOOS currently unites 13 mature and 4 emerging observing networks that collect long-term in-situ oceanographic and marine meteorological observations through various platforms.
Networks (17)
Biology and Ecosystem observing communities
GOOS biological and ecosystem observations are organized differently from those for ocean physics and biogeochemistry because of the distinct nature of the communities and the complexity of the information needs.
These observations are carried out by observing communities collecting data on the 12 biological and ecological Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs). These EOV communities bring together numerous independent monitoring initiatives worldwide to deliver the complex data vital to evaluate the status of marine life.
Discover the Biology and Ecosystem monitoring initiatives around the world:
National contributions
64 countries* contribute observing platforms to the Global Ocean Observing System. Information on contributions to biology and ecosystem observations is currently not represented.
[Member State contributions — as in GOOS Status Report 2025]
*Where observing platforms are supported through European Union-level programmes, they are attributed to the EU as a collective contributor rather than to individual EU Member States.