Ocean-monitoring system proposed Information gathered from
satellites would be combined with ground- and water-based
monitoring information to provide a better overall picture of
the ocean environment May 18, 1999 Web posted at: 4:40 PM EDT A
national council made up of officials from the top 12 federal
ocean agencies has released a report to Congress calling for
funding for an integrated ocean observing system, according to
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The
National Ocean Research Leadership Council asserts that such a
system would provide essential information on ocean-affected
weather patterns, facilitate safe and efficient marine
operations and ensure healthy and restored marine ecosystems.
The information collected by an integrated ocean system would be
similar to the information gathered for atmospheric weather
forecasting, according to the report, "Toward a U.S. Plan for an
Integrated, Sustained Ocean Observing System." Information
gathered from satellites, for example, would be