NOAA is actively participating in the international effort obtain subsurface temperature observations in support of global oceanographic studies. NOAA/AOML Shipboard Environmental data Acquisition System (SEAS) currently supports the collection of this type of observations on fifty voluntary ships from Ship Of Opportunity Program (SOOP). Observations from these vessels are collected and transmitted via the GOES and INMARSAT C satellites. SOOP vessels are responsible for more than 14,000 eXpendable BathyThermograph (XBT) observations each year. More information on XBT data and products can be found here...

Marine meteorological observations made onboard voluntary vessels of the Voluntary Observing Ship Program are a substantial component of global weather forecast efforts and climate studies. There are currently almost 400 ships aiding NOAA in the collection of meteorological observation. These vessels provide as many as 200,000 observations per year.

NOAA supports the collection of underway sea surface salinity and temperature data from Thermosalinographs (TSG) installed in ships of the NOAA fleet and ships of the Ship Of Opportunity Program. AOML currently leads and/or collaborates in the TSG operations carried out on board of ships in all ocean basins. Data from these transects are routinely quality controlled and provided to data distribution centers. More information on TSG data and products can be found here...