Connect 
Navigation 
Introducing the Integrated Marine Observing (IMOS) System
Introducing_the_Integrated_Marine_Observing.pdf
Introducing the Integrated Marine Observing (IMOS) System
Dr Marian McGowen, IMOS, University of Tasmania
The Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) is a nationwide collaborative program designed to observe the oceans around Australia, including the coastal oceans and the ‘bluewater’ open oceans. IMOS will provide quality free data to support research on many of the critical marine issues facing Australia, including climate change and sustainability of ecosystems. Twenty-seven separate institutions will be involved in the new facility, which is funded under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy. IMOS partners comprise most of the universities and agencies with capability in ocean and marine research. The program has strong links with similar international programs and agencies.
IMOS is a distributed set of equipment and data information services which collectively contribute to meeting the needs of marine climate and ecosystems research in Australia. The observing system provides data in the open oceans around Australia out to a few thousand kilometres, as well as the coastal oceans. IMOS is driven by the needs of the marine community, to deliver key data-streams to support marine research, industry and management activities. The infrastructure also contributes to Australia’s role in international programs of ocean observing.
The IMOS office coordinates the deployment of a wide range of equipment and assembles the data through 11 facilities distributed around the country. The data are made available to researchers through the electronic Marine Information Infrastructure (eMII) located at the University of Tasmania.
An NCRIS funded activity
The $92 million nationally integrated marine observing program was announced on 27 November 2006, by the Minister for Education, Science and Training. The investment is made up of $50 million of direct funding provided under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) over five years, which has also attracted nearly equal in-kind and partner contributions from agencies and universities.
IMOS organisation
IMOS represents a major shift in the way ocean observations are carried out and managed in Australia, and requires a new style of coordination within Australia’s marine community. IMOS was designed by the marine community through a process that required a strong consensus on what observations are needed to support research at a national scale. IMOS is essentially a service to the community providing free, open and timely access to data.
The five Science Nodes are responsible for identifying the scientific objectives that need to be addressed by ‘marine observing’, the development of science plans and providing the strategic framework necessary for the initial deployment of infrastructure.
1 Bluewater and Climate Node – support research into climate change and its impacts on all timescales, by focussing on the physical and dynamical state of the ocean. Biogeochemical observations will play a role.
2 GBROOS (Great Barrier Reef Ocean Observing System) – understanding the physical environment which governs the GBR region and how it is changing.
3 NSW IMOS (New South Wales IMOS) – focuses on the East Australian Current, and its impact on shelf ecosystems.
4 SAIMOS (South Australia IMOS) – explores the nature and dynamics of ecosytems in the region of Kangaroo Island-Eyre Peninsula and the Bonney Coast.
5 WAIMOS (Western Australia IMOS) – focuses on the Leeuwin current and its impact on shelf ecosystems.
IMOS infrastructure is implemented largely through 11 Facilities, centred around the generation of time series data for oceanographic and climate research and monitoring of productivity and biological populations. The facilities are run by existing scientific agencies or departments. Facilities will have the responsibility for operating and maintaining equipment, and making high quality time series data available in real time and quality controlled mode to the marine community.
1 Argo Australia – a fleet of around 200 profiling floats observing ocean physics to 2,000m, part of a larger global program.
2 Enhancement of Measurements on Ships of Opportunity - a set of underway observing systems for physical chemical and biological oceanography on volunteer observing ships.
3 Southern Ocean Automated Time Series Observations – a set of moored biogeochemical and ocean weather instruments in the Sub Antarctic Zone.
4 Australian National Facility for Ocean Gliders – a multisensor system similar to an Argo float, which can traverse as well as profile, and is operated from a land base.
5 Australian National Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Facility – used for high resolution surveys of benthic habitats.
6 Australian National Mooring Network – a network of national reference stations, plus regional moorings on shelves and slopes.
7 Australian Coastal Ocean Radar Network – for high resolution mapping of coastal currents.
8 Australian Acoustic Tagging and Monitoring System – curtains of receivers to monitor movements of tagged marine animals.
9 Facility for Automated Intelligent Monitoring of Marine Systems – a communications system on the barrier reef, facilitating the delivery of data from sensors to the scientists in real time.
10 eMarine Information Infrastructure – responsible for hosting, managing, distributing and archiving IMOS data.
11 Enhancing Access to Australian Ocean Remote Sensing Data – to make satellite products to support research in Australia’s regional waters.
Further information: Marian McGowen, (03) 6226 7505, Marian.McGowen@utas.edu.au or www.imos.org.au
Article in WAVES 13 (3) 2007
