Ocean Monitoring System Faces Funding Cuts | JQJO

Proposed federal budget cuts threaten the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), a network crucial for maritime safety and weather forecasting. The system, comprised of regional associations using buoys and other technology to monitor ocean conditions, provides real-time data used by harbor pilots, the military, and the National Weather Service. Eliminating the $43.5 million in federal funding would severely impact data collection, potentially jeopardizing navigation, tsunami warnings, and hurricane predictions. While a House bill proposes increased funding, the Trump administration's proposed cuts have alarmed scientists and users who rely on the system's essential data.