More than 2000 deployments per year are required to maintain the two global arrays, which are an essential part of the Global Climate Observing System, providing crucial data for weather forecasts and information on the heat content of the oceans.

UNESCO: Post-Conflict and Post-Disaster Responses

As such, they form an essential component of marine observing systems established as part of the World Weather Watch, the World Climate Research Programme, the Global Ocean Observing System, the Global Climate Observing System and other meteorological and oceanographic operational and research programmes.

UNESCO: THEMES

The concept of a global ocean observing system grew from the realisation that understanding and forecasting climate change would require a long-term, multivariate ocean observing system.

UNESCO: Social and Human Sciences

The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) also contributes directly to the actions under the UN Framework Convention for Climate Change as the ocean component of the Global Climate Observation System (GCOS).

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES