Alaska Ocean Observing System

08/19/2026

AOOS staff Holly Kent and Lisa Sheffield Guy, along with Lisa's son Miles, participated in the annual Barrow Arctic Research Center (BARC) Science Fair in Utqiaġvik last week. The fair brings together researchers to share their work with the community. AOOS shared about the importance of real-time wave buoy information and the Backyard Buoys program.

07/31/2026

The AOOS-funded Whale Glider was successfully deployed last Friday, July 24. Jackie Grebmeier and Paul Macoun launched it from the CCGS Sir Wilfred Laurier, and the glider has been making steady progress toward Kotzebue Sound.

The current plan is for the glider to loiter south of Point Hope for another week or two to monitor the sea ice, which remains packed in around Utqiagvik. Once conditions improve, it will continue northward.

The glider data are available through the AOOS Ocean Data Explorer:
https://portal.aoos.org/?ls=rSIERihg /1ca67092-e13a-5666-b7bc-fdc5dc2b0c54/v2?tab=visualization

Acoustic detections from the onboard hydrophone are being displayed through Mark Baumgartner's Robots4Whales website:
https://dcs.whoi.edu/chukchi2607/chukchi2607_unit_595.shtml

Photos by Paul Macoun.

UAF College of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences

07/10/2026

Darcy Dugan and our partner Natalie Monacci at UAF College of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences recently hosted the ocean acidification community monitoring workshop with the Kodiak Area Native Association, Chugach Regional Resources Commission, and Southeast Alaska Tribal Ocean Research programs.

07/02/2026

We are still recruiting for a full-time Finance Manager. Please submit a cover letter and resume to Sheyna Wisdom, Executive Director, at [email protected] by COB July 10, 2026.

More information here:
https://aoos.org/wp-content/uploads/Finance-Manager-Announcement.pdf

06/25/2026

Another way that AOOS supports Alaska’s Blue Economy is through a collaboration with the Marine Exchange of .

For over 15 years, AOOS has partnered with the Marine Exchange of Alaska (MXAK) to improve maritime safety by installing weather stations at 70 remote locations across the state. These stations deliver real-time weather data directly to vessels via the AIS (Automatic Identification System) network.

Project page:
https://aoos.org/project/increasing-weather-observations-with-ais/


Arctic Watch Marine Exchange of Alaska U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System

Transmitting real-time data through Automatic Information Systems

06/25/2026

From the cold waters of the to the tropical Pacific Islands to the world’s largest system of freshwater lakes, U.S. regions are incredibly diverse – and so are the economies they support. Coastal and Great Lakes industries generate billions in economic activity and support millions of jobs, all of which depend on accurate, real-time ocean and coastal data.
⛴️
IOOS coastal observing systems deliver that data – supporting safe maritime transportation, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, coastal tourism, and offshore energy. By providing accessible, decision-ready information, IOOS helps businesses operate with confidence, reduce risk, and adapt to changing conditions.
🐋
Ocean Data Day highlights the value of this data and the people behind it.

This year’s theme, Coastal Data for a Strong Economy, underscores how ocean data powers economic activity – guiding ships into port, informing fishing operations, and helping keep our ocean economy moving.
🌊
AOOS provides Marine Weather Dashboards to support Alaska’s Blue Economy. These displays show real-time maritime conditions for Prince William Sound, Cook Inlet, Kodiak, Southeast, and the Bering Sea.

More information:
https://lnkd.in/g-sqDgZq

Link to Marine Weather Dashboards:
https://lnkd.in/edhN4dBH

06/11/2026

Come join the team! AOOS is recruiting for a full-time position to serve as the Finance Manager.

The new position will report directly to the Executive Director. Please submit a cover letter and resume to Sheyna Wisdom, Executive Director, at [email protected] by COB July 10, 2026.

View position description here:
https://aoos.org/wp-content/uploads/Finance-Manager-Announcement.pdf

06/05/2026

These are some of the amazing people we work with in Quinhagak at Nalaquq, LLC!

Last week, Alice traveled there along with Thilo Klenz (UAF College of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences ), Katie Basile Alaska Sea Grant, and Deja Jackson ANSEP . We tagged along for drifter and buoy deployments in Kuskokwim Bay, and had a great evening teaching kids about waves and the Backyard Buoys app.

Photos by Alice Bailey:
1. Warren Jones
2. Jimmy Jones
3. Walter Galila Sr.
4. Lynn Marie Church (and her daughter:)
5. Thilo Klenz
6. Deja Jackson
7. Katie Basile

06/04/2026

Hey Alaska! It's time to check out the Backyard Buoys app on your phone! The first wave buoys of the season are being deployed, and there will be many more!

05/13/2026

The UAF College of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences fos glider fleet is back in action for the 2026 spring season! 🤖🌊

Shackleton, Blinky, and Turbo are currently collecting ocean data in the Gulf of Alaska, tracking changing conditions, plankton blooms, and ecosystem productivity as spring unfolds.

This summer, the Whale Glider will also head north to the Chukchi Sea, where it will monitor ocean conditions and listen for marine mammals beneath the Arctic surface.

Learn more about the latest observations and missions:

https://aoos.org/spring-2026-glider-update/

University of Alaska Fairbanks