US Begins Dismantling $368 Million Deep Ocean Climate Monitoring Network Across Atlantic & Pacific

The United States has begun dismantling its deep ocean observation system across the North Atlantic and North Pacific, initiating a phased shutdown of a major global climate monitoring network.

The system, the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) , includes more than 900 deep-sea instruments deployed off Oregon, Washington, Alaska, North Carolina and the Irminger Sea between Greenland and Iceland.

Recent updates confirm that recovery operations have begun , with research vessels retrieving instruments off the US West Coast first. Full removal across all sites is expected to continue in phases through 2027, ending continuous real-time ocean data collection at most locations.

Built at a cost of about $368 million and launched in 2016 with a planned 25-year lifespan, the OOI has provided long-term measurements of ocean temperature, chemistry, currents, seismic activity and marine ecosystems from the seafloor to the surface.

Scientists say the network has been critical for studying how oceans absorb greenhouse gases and track climate-driven events such as marine heat waves , ecosystem changes and extreme weather risks.

A key component, the Irminger Sea array , has supported monitoring of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) , a vital current system linked to global climate regulation. Researchers warn that reduced monitoring could weaken early warning capabilities for major ocean shifts.

The NSF has described the move as part of a broader strategy of “descoping” and lifecycle management , redirecting funds toward emerging technologies and new research priorities. Budget proposals reportedly reduced OOI support sharply in fiscal year 2026.

However, scientists and former officials have criticised the decision, warning it could undermine US leadership in ocean and climate science and create irreversible gaps in long-term climate records.