Modeling and observational studies of the earth's natural waters will undergo a major paradigm shift as we move our focus from discrete measurements in support of individual research efforts to long-term integrated observational systems that support the community at large. Integrated ocean observing systems that address the diverse needs of the aquatic scientific community are expected to be the core tools in aquatic research for the foreseeable future. Over 40 pilot ocean observatories are presently operating within U.S. and Canadian waters. Major initiatives such as the NSF-sponsored Ocean Research Interactive Observatory Networks (ORION) and the contemplated Integrated Ocean Observing System provide broad templates for the future development of research and operational observatories with organizations such as Ocean.US, providing scientific and organizational guidance to their formation and governance.

While the conceptual framework for these observatories promises immense positive impact for diverse arenas of social, economic and scientific needs, the practical considerations in making such systems operationally cost effective prove daunting. In response to this challenge WET Labs has partnered with Satlantic Inc. to establish a new company dedicated to providing sensors, systems and networks for operational use in long-term observing networks. We invite you to visit the WETSAT website to learn more about this venture.

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