The U.S. government is putting big money into watching the oceans. They’re giving $101.5 million to improve how we track what’s happening in the water.
This cash will help 12 different groups across the country do a better job of keeping an eye on the seas, lakes, and coasts.
These groups are part of something called the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS). They collect data about the water and make it easy for people to use.
The money comes from a law passed to help fight climate change.
Here’s a quick look at who’s getting the money and what they plan to do with it:
Alaska: $7.7 million
- New buoys and moorings to help tribes and coastal communities
- Workshops on harmful algae and fishing
- Better tools for measuring water levels
California: $10 million split between two groups
- More water testing to understand climate impacts
- Better ways to track sea animals
- New tools to spot harmful algae
- Work with Native groups
Great Lakes: $5 million
- Year-round watching of the lakes
- New app for beach safety
- Work with ice fishers to measure ice thickness
Gulf of Mexico: $5 million
- New gear to fill in gaps in what we know
- Work with local groups to track things like floods and dangerous currents
Mid-Atlantic: $48.8 million
- Better tracking of ocean acid levels
- New tools for communities
- Work with wind energy groups
- Lead a national effort to improve ocean watching
Northeast: $5 million
- Upgrade the buoy network
- Improve ways to predict ocean conditions
- Better tracking of sea life
Pacific Northwest: $5 million
- Better spotting of harmful algae and low oxygen in the water
- Create new tools with local input
Caribbean: $5 million
- Better data to help predict hurricanes
- New centers to teach people about coastal dangers
Pacific Islands: $5 million
- Work with native groups to make better tools
- Share knowledge with island communities
Southeast: $5 million
- Projects in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida
- Focus on fair access to ocean info
This money will help these groups buy new gear, hire more people, and come up with better ways to watch the water. They’ll work with local communities, including tribes and people who live on the coasts.
The goal is to help everyone understand and deal with changes in the ocean caused by climate change.
Some cool things they’ll do:
- Put out new buoys and sensors
- Make better computer models of the ocean
- Create apps and websites to share info
- Train people to use the new tools
- Work with schools to teach kids about the ocean
All of this work will help:
- Warn about dangerous waves and currents
- Track harmful algae that can make people sick
- Keep an eye on fish populations
- Predict how climate change will affect the coasts
