Part 2: Explore GoMOOS

Oceans cover over 70% of Earth's surface and contain 97% of Earth's water. The oceans regulate global carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels by absorbing roughly half of Earth's atmospheric carbon dioxide. They are also responsible for producing more than half of Earth's oxygen supply because they support photosynthesizing plants. Our oceans are home to hundreds of thousands of plant and animal species plus thousands or even millions of other species that have not yet been identified.¹ Additionally, ocean commerce is a multi-billion dollar industry: fishing, international trade, communications, recreation, and tourism all depend at least in part on our oceans.

Given the ecological and economic importance of Earth's oceans, it's vital that we collect and maintain information about them to monitor their health and identify potential threats. Data on such variables as wind direction, wave height, and air temperature, plus water temperature, salinity, and current speed and direction at different depths are now routinely collected by moored (anchored) buoys equipped with sensors at various depths along their tethers. These buoys transmit the data to shore as they are collected and the data become available right away via the Internet or phone. The ability to access "real-time" data on oceanographic conditions is beneficial to commercial fishermen, sailors, scientists, meteorologists, search and rescue personnel, and public health officials.

¹ We will know more about the number of aquatic plants and animals soon. A Census of Marine Life is currently underway. This 10-year global initiative involving researchers from more than 50 nations will help quantify the diversity and distribution of marine life and describe how it changes over time.

The Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System (GoMOOS) is recognized as a leader in coastal ocean observing technology. GoMOOS deployed and maintains 10 buoys in the Gulf of Maine and provides access to real-time data from them plus 11 other buoys (maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) in the region.

Click this GoMOOS Hourly Data link to access an interactive map of the buoys in a new window. Click an individual buoy to obtain the most recent data for that buoy. Click the "Station Description" link immediately to the right of the map to learn more about the buoy.

Take a quick look at the map to familiarize yourself with the locations of Buoys B, E, I, and M. These are the buoys for which you will request and analyze data to predict when the spring phytoplankton bloom will occur.

Compare data from one buoy to another. Once you have chosen a station, click the "Compare this station to others" link at the right of the buoy map.

Keep the first buoy you chose or select a new one from the pull-down menu. Select a second and/or third buoy from their respective pull-down lists. Click the show data button to see the results. What can you tell about each location from the data?