OceanGliders: the underwater glider component of the integrated Global Ocean Observing System
Autonomous underwater gliders delivering near-real-time, four-dimensional views of the ocean to science and society.
What is OceanGliders?
The ocean's most productive and societally important regions, including coastal boundaries, polar seas, and open ocean fronts and eddies, are shaped by fine-scale dynamics whose sustained, subsurface observation remains one of the central challenges in ocean observing.
As a component of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), OceanGliders envisions a future in which gliders, uniquely capable of sustained and targeted sampling across these diverse environments, systematically deliver the observations needed to fill these observing gaps. In this future, glider observations routinely inform climate projections, ecosystem management, and societal responses to ocean variability and change, as part of a more complete and connected global ocean observing system that builds a clearer picture of the ocean's role in climate, ecosystems, and society.
OceanGliders Objectives
OceanGliders coordinates sustained glider observations within GOOS, delivering high-resolution, four-dimensional data for operational and scientific applications. OceanGliders works toward a future in which:
- Ocean variability and change are better understood across a range of spatial and temporal scales;
- Glider observations are cross-disciplinary, simultaneously capturing physical, biogeochemical, and ecosystem Essential Ocean Variables across all missions;
- Glider observations inform ocean, weather, climate, and ecosystem prediction and societal decision-making;
- Sustained observing coverage exists in coastal, polar, and other dynamically significant environments;
- Glider data are open, interoperable, and of consistently high quality;
- A globally inclusive glider community exists, built on international collaboration, innovation, and shared best practices; and
- Glider observations are integrated with complementary observing systems, strengthening the GOOS.
How We Observe
Three Missions, One Global Network
BOON
Boundary Ocean Observing Network
Observes coastal to shelf–slope regions; resolves boundary processes and human-relevant variability; bridges shore-based and open-ocean observations.
FLOOD
Fine-scale and Lateral Observations of Open Ocean Dynamics
Observes the open/interior ocean; resolves multiscale dynamics (e.g., fronts, eddies, water-mass transformation); links local processes to basin-scale circulation and climate.
POLAR
Polar and ice-covered environments
Observes ice-covered regions; enables under-ice observations; resolves ocean–ice interactions and basal melting, reducing key climate uncertainties.
Get Involved
Whether you operate gliders, analyse ocean data, or are looking to join the OceanGliders community, we'd love to hear from you.
Get Involved