ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) has released its GOOS Status Report 2025, unveiling major advances in ocean monitoring for climate resilience, operational services, ocean health, and the blue economy.
Yet beneath these achievements lies a stark warning: without stronger investment and broader collaboration, the world risks “going blind” as essential ocean data becomes increasingly fragile.
The interactive report—led by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO—highlights how ocean observations form the backbone of climate projections, early warning systems, biodiversity conservation, and strategic decision-making for governments and industries worldwide.
Ocean Data: The Backbone of Climate Predictions and Global Security
GOOS emphasizes that sustained ocean observations underpin vital global systems, including: extreme weather forecasting, long-term climate modeling, El Niño early warning systems, sustainable maritime economic planning, and protection of ocean ecosystems.
The 2025 report showcases several notable breakthroughs:
Advances in monitoring the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a critical driver of Earth’s climate.
Improved El Niño forecasts for South America through enhanced ocean datasets.
Elephant seals equipped with sensors gathering unprecedented data from the Southern Ocean.
Co-designed ocean observing initiatives in South Africa involving local communities and stakeholders.
A new initiative transforming 10,000 commercial vessels into real-time meteorological and oceanographic observatories.
A Critical System Under Threat
Despite progress, the report warns that the global ocean observing system remains fragile. Coverage remains uneven, drifting buoys and ship-based observations are declining, and the system depends heavily on a limited number of contributors.
“Thousands of observing platforms are the ‘eyes’ of our ocean. Without robust data, our forecasts and decisions weaken,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo on November 20, 2025.
IOC Executive Secretary Vidar Helgesen echoed the concern, stressing that the reliability of global climate information is at risk unless coordinated action is taken now.
GOOS is calling for long-term investment from governments, as well as deeper engagement from the private sector—especially the maritime industry.
“With shrinking budgets and a fragile observing infrastructure, innovation through strong partnerships is essential,” said OceanOPS Manager Mathieu Belbeoch.
GOOS Director Joanna Post underscored the need for “a new economic mindset” that treats ocean observing as critical global infrastructure—vital for securing the future of societies and the planet.
A More Accessible, Interactive Report Format
The GOOS Status Report 2025 introduces an updated, interactive format that provides clearer insights into the state, value, and vulnerabilities of the global ocean observing system. It serves as a call to action for governments, funders, industry, and international partners to reinforce the ocean data backbone needed for climate resilience and sustainable development.
About GOOS, OceanOPS, and IOC
GOOS provides global leadership and coordination for sustained ocean observations based on Essential Ocean Variables. These observations support weather forecasting, climate adaptation, coastal risk management, biodiversity protection, and sustainable ocean economies.
OceanOPS, based in Brest, France, oversees more than 10,000 marine meteorological and oceanographic platforms worldwide, including the Argo network with nearly 4,000 autonomous underwater profilers.
The IOC of UNESCO supports cooperation among 152 Member States in marine science, ocean services, tsunami warning, and ocean literacy. It leads the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021–2030. (AT Network)
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