The Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS) is the Regional Association of the national Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) in the Pacific Northwest, primarily Washington and Oregon. NANOOS has strong ties with the observing programs in Alaska and British Columbia through our common purpose and the occasional overlap of data and products.

With today's rising sea levels, coastal flooding, harmful algal blooms, decreased oxygen levels - to name just a few threats - we need to understand why these changes are happening. Their impact on society spans weather, climate, ecosystems, transportation, and commerce.

Some observing systems already exist like ocean buoys, satellites, and tide gauges that collect data to monitor such changes. But how can these systems and data talk to each other? And, can they effectively measure all we need to know? The Pacific Northwest needs an observing system that will give us an integrated picture of what's going on in our oceans and estuaries.

NANOOS is a partnership of over 40 entities, including industry, state agencies, local governments, tribes, non government organizations, and educational institutions. NANOOS users of data and products who need to make a wide range of decisions about our oceans and estuaries include:

To serve this varied roster of users NANOOS has prioritized several areas of emphasis for stakeholders:

• Maritime Operations
• Ecosystem Impacts
• Regional Fisheries
• Coastal Hazards (plus tsunamis)

Within these areas NANOOS provides observational and model data plus forecasts, decision-making tools, and new applications to make the business of managing our coastal oceans and estuaries easier than it has been in the past.

NANOOS is gearing up to serve your expanding needs. In the future as an external provider you'll be able to add new data that can be accessed and viewed using NANOOS tools. NANOOS plans to provide the following services:

NANOOS began in the fall of 2003. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was drawn up at the first workshop to establish the purpose and future direction of NANOOS and to guide all activities and relationships among members. Since its inception in 2003, workshops have been held on governance, system design, industry involvement, and region-specific interests such as dissolved oxygen in Hood Canal and the problem of Oregon coastal erosion.

In 2005, 10 signatory parties activated the agreement. At that time, Dr. Jan Newton became its Executive Director. All signatories established the Governing Council with each signatory entitled to assign a member to serve on the Council.

In 2006, the NANOOS Governing Council held its first election for four officers and four standing committee chairs. You can check out the names and contact information under People. NANOOS is eager to hear from all those who have an interest in the ocean environment ... which is just about everyone!

Take a look, too, at the original Documents that date back to when NANOOS was a prototype project and forming alliances with all of its constituencies.

Currently, NANOOS has grown to include over 50 signatories, Members representing the interests of all the different regions and sectors: industry, government (federal tribal, state, local), non-governmental organizations, education, and research. NANOOS and all of its users are benefiting from these members' commitment to furthering the scientific and operational design and maintenance of the Pacific Northwest regional ocean observing system.