Program
GLOS is one of 11 Regional Associations of the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®), working to enhance the ability to collect, deliver, and use ocean and Great Lakes information. IOOS is a partnership among federal, regional, academic and private sector parties that works to provide new tools and forecasts to improve safety, enhance the economy, and protect our environment.
IOOS
IOOS supplies critical information about our Nation’s oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes. Scientists working to understand climate change, governments adapting to changes in the Arctic, municipalities monitoring local water quality, and industries affected by coastal and marine spatial planning all have the same need: reliable, timely, and sustained access to data and information that inform decision making.
Improving access to key marine data and information supports several purposes. IOOS data sustain national defense, marine commerce and navigation safety. Scientists use these data to issue weather, climate and marine forecasts. IOOS data are also used to make decisions for energy siting and production, economic development, and ecosystem-based resource management. Emergency managers and health officials need IOOS information to make decisions about public safety. Teachers and government officials rely on IOOS data for public outreach, training and education.
The Global Observing Network
IOOS is the U.S. contribution to the Integrated Earth Observation System (IEOS) and Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) as part of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO). GLOS is a participating organization in GEO and provides technical and secretariat support to the regional Canadian and U.S. partnership: GEO-Great Lakes. Under the leadership of USGS and Environment Canada, the Great Lakes partnership includes representatives from many U.S. and Canadian agencies that have a role in the collection and exchange of information in the Great Lakes.
On behalf of GEO-Great Lakes, GLOS maintains a metadata catalog (GEO Network) that is registered and discoverable through GEO’s Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).
