Any observing strategy must preserve the continuity of essential long term measurements, while responding to changing scientific and practical needs in the short term. Technological advances during the past decades have made an integrated ocean observing system possible. These advances include new sensors, new platforms, and new communications hardware and software. Surface and subsurface mooring technology provides a new ability to maintain cost-effective observatories in the ocean. Subsurface floats, remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles, and acoustic sampling methods have expanded our spatial coverage and permit ready access to observatories for maintenance, data linkage, and time-series sampling.
Satellites now observe the sea surface temperature, winds, elevation and color.
Color measurements are used to estimate the phytoplankton population of the upper ocean, and new analytical methods may soon allow remote identification of algal types and an estimation of their productivity. Flow-through systems are now available for identifying microbial populations by means of their molecular components. New communications satellites will dramatically accelerate the flow of data from in situ ocean sensors, and reduce the cost of collecting those data. Advances in computers and information technology have made it possible to process immense volumes of data and to create ever more realistic scientific models. The continuing advances in computing power, data management, and networking make possible the fully integrated systems that will have a dramatic impact on our scientific capabilities.