Alaskans will be flying blind after NSF decommissions ocean monitoring network
Summary
NSF announced decommissioning the Ocean Observatories Initiative, a network that provides real-time ocean data on temperature, salinity, waves and other metrics. The data informs fisheries management, coastal hazard planning and weather prediction, affecting Alaska’s seafood industry and vulnerable communities. The move raises concerns about data gaps and resilience, though NSF says data remains accessible and other nations may fill the void.