News Archive
2024 Yukon River Chinook Run Timing Forecast
Yukon River Chinook are predicted to arrive on the delta just slightly later than average in 2024: The first significant pulse (15% point) is expected by June 14th and 50% of the run is expected to have arrived by June 23rd. April mean air temperature at the Nome, AK...
COASST: Community science for Pacific coastal marine health
COASST, short for the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team, is a citizen science initiative based at the University of Washington with the aim of documenting seabird carcasses that wash up on the shore. AOOS helps COASST with trainings and uploading seabird carcass data on the Ocean Explorer Data Portal.
Implications of the Proposed President’s FY25 Budget
The proposed President’s FY25 budget for Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Regional Observations is a reduction of more than 76% from fiscal year 2023 and 2024 enacted levels, and less than any funding level for the program since its inception in the 2008 federal budget. If enacted, funding at this level would cripple the IOOS system.
Marine Weather Dashboards and new mobile app
The AOOS data portal offers displays of maritime conditions so that users can easily access this information in real-time. The data are from multiple sources, such as the National Weather Service and the Marine Exchange of Alaska, and include tide predictions,...
Time of the baby seal
As Alaskans plan their summer schedules and stow away their winter gear, a familiar scene unfolds: collective grumbling at the arrival of wet spring snow. There is a silver lining to this type of spring precipitation, as the traditional Inuit calendar reminds us.
Spring 2024 Glider update
It’s going to be a very busy season for the Glider Operations Team at the University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences! They are excited to further push the boundaries of ocean research with these technological wonders.
2024 planned research vessel movements in Alaska
The 2024 Planned Research Vessel Movements list is now available on the IARPC Collaborations website. This community-driven resource compiles the details for upcoming and ongoing research activities in Arctic and Alaska waters during the 2024 field season.
The IOOS Regional Network urgently needs your support!
More than ever, we need our partners, supporters, and user communities to send a strong message to Congress. Please add your name on one of our sign-on letters (deadline April 10).
AOOS expands Alaska Native representation on board of directors
This year, the Alaska Ocean Observing System is committed to enhancing Alaska Native representation on its board of directors by expanding from one to four seats. The organization is currently reaching out to leaders within Alaska Native Organizations across the state to identify interested entities.
Scientists share upcoming plans at Alaska Marine Research Night
AOOS hosted the Alaska Marine Research Planning Night at the 2024 Alaska Marine Science Symposium (AMSS). This fun and collaborative event provides an opportunity for marine researchers working across Alaska to share information on their upcoming field season for networking and collaboration.
Glider recovery was a collaborative effort in 2023
Two autonomous underwater vehicles, nicknamed “Shackleton” and “Loki,” received help from mariners when issues arose during their ocean adventures in 2023. AOOS supports a fleet of these vehicles, also called “gliders,” through a partnership with UAF’s College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences.
A new storymap presents information on ocean acidification
A new storymap gives viewers an introduction to the processes and implications of ocean acidification (OA) in Alaska, along with ways that Alaskans are addressing this issue.
Backyard Buoys Jan. 2024 update
Supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Convergence Accelerator Program, three IOOS Regional Associations (NANOOS, PacIOOS, and AOOS) collaborated with Sofar Ocean Technologies, as well as Indigenous and education partners from each region. Their joint effort aimed to provide real-time wave data to Indigenous coastal communities.
UPDATE: Request for Coastal Resilience Project Ideas
We reviewed project idea submissions and selected those that will be included in our application to IOOS.
Request for Coastal Resilience Project Ideas
The Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) will be receiving funds from the NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for the period of January 1, 2024-December 30, 2028. We are seeking proposals describing activities aimed at improving coastal resilience and advancing equitable service delivery at the regional scale.
Navigating Safely: How the Marine Exchange of Alaska Supports Mariners
The Marine Exchange of Alaska (MXAK), a non-profit organization based in Juneau, supports safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible maritime operations in Alaska’s remote and often perilous waters by providing critical information to the maritime community.
Backyard Buoys Summer 2023 Update
AOOS and the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission achieved several significant milestones with the Backyard Buoys project during summer 2023.
Summer HABs Update
Since May 2023, several Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) have been detected in Alaska.
Axiom Data Science is hiring
Axiom Data Science is hiring for several new positions. Axiom Data Science (a Tetra Tech company) is a technology and informatics firm with a mission to build a better understanding of society and the environment by increasing the accessibility, reuse, and impact of scientific data.
Save the date! Bering Science Webinar 8/29
Salmon fishermen are collecting data near fishing spots and along transit routes as part of the new Southeast Alaska Trolling Vessel Ocean Measurement program. The Alaska Trollers Association leads the project in partnership with AOOS, Alaska Sea Grant, and UAF.
Job Opening for NOAA/NCCOS Kasitsna Bay Lab Director
This position is located within the Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) with 1 vacancy located in Seldovia, AK. The Kasitsna Bay...
2023 Yukon River Chinook Run Timing Forecast
Yukon River Chinook are predicted to arrive on the delta later than average in 2023: The first significant pulse (15% point) is expected by June 20th and 50% of the run is expected to have arrived by June 26th. Spring 2023 brought with it below average temperatures...
Spring 2023 Bering Science released
Salmon fishermen are collecting data near fishing spots and along transit routes as part of the new Southeast Alaska Trolling Vessel Ocean Measurement program. The Alaska Trollers Association leads the project in partnership with AOOS, Alaska Sea Grant, and UAF.
Alaska trollers gather year-round data
Salmon fishermen are collecting data near fishing spots and along transit routes as part of the new Southeast Alaska Trolling Vessel Ocean Measurement program. The Alaska Trollers Association leads the project in partnership with AOOS, Alaska Sea Grant, and UAF.
Glider update: The adventures of Shackleton and Gretel
This spring, gliders named Shackleton and Gretel traveled hundreds of miles monitoring a series of hydrographic stations known as the Seward Line in the Northern Gulf of Alaska. The autonomous underwater vehicles transmit data to the AOOS Data Portal in near-real time.
Fishermen log ocean data with smartphone app
The Skipper Science Partnership enables fishermen to log marine weather, oceanic conditions, fishing patterns, and biological observations while they are at sea.
Changes to ‘Alaska Weather’ Television Program and Soliciting Comments on Future Service Changes through July 30, 2023
Effective July 1, 2023, Alaska Public Media will no longer assemble and distribute the daily ‘Alaska Weather’ television program. To continue support to users, NWS will continue to produce graphics and record a modified web-based version of the program.
The 2023 Sea Ice for Walrus Outlook Season has begun!
From March – June 2023, AOOS will again be contributing weekly forecasts of surface currents and sea ice movement to the Sea Ice for Walrus Outlook (SIWO) program.
Request for Bids – Contract work for developing mobile web-based application for Mariner’s Dashboard
AOOS is looking for a contractor to develop a web-based application for the Mariner’s Dashboards (Prince William Sound, Cook Inlet and Kodiak) that can serve as a prototype that is used to solicit feedback for future development of a native (iOS and Android) application.
Arctic projects measuring currents and recording whale songs get new funding
Projects measuring the ocean currents around Wainwright, Point Barrow and Cape Simpson, as well as recording and analyzing whale and walrus sounds in the Arctic, are receiving new funding for equipment updates.