The Trump administration’s National Science Foundation (NSF) is dismantling a deep-sea ocean observing program that includes more than 900 instruments deployed in the Pacific and Atlantic. Multiple outlets report the effort follows an NSF notice describing “descoping” and an initiation of decommissioning, with ships expected to begin removal work in coming weeks. Instruments are anchored near locations including the U.S. coasts of Oregon, Washington, and North Carolina, Alaska, and in waters between Greenland and Iceland (including the Irminger Sea). Scientists warn the removal will reduce long-term measurements used to track ocean currents, marine ecosystems, and ocean heat content, including systems tied to broader climate and weather patterns.
The network’s data has supported research into major Atlantic currents and is used to monitor phenomena such as marine heat waves and El Niño. Some reporting also notes scientists have raised concerns that dismantling the program will hinder forecasting and increase uncertainty in estimates of ocean heating rates. The program’s operation began in 2016 and was planned as a multi-decade effort, with some instruments reported to continue longer than others due to specific scientific or technical considerations.
