NOAA, Proteus Ocean Group to Advance Marine Environment Studies Under New Partnership

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has signed an agreement with Proteus Ocean Group to advance marine science, research and education and create a better understanding of the ocean’s environment.

NOAA will use the PROTEUS underwater station, a facility that will be built off Curacao island to allow scientists, innovators and other individuals to study oceanic environments for extended periods. PROTEUS will also include a video production facility, which will allow scientists to provide live streaming for research and education purposes.

As part of the partnership, NOAA and Proteus Ocean Group will use the underwater station and other shoreside facilities to identify new oceanic research opportunities. Proteus Ocean Group will also share data and insights regarding the development of the underwater facility, NOAA said.

The partnership is one of several collaborative efforts NOAA has with the private industry on weather- and climate-related matters.

In December 2022, NOAA and Microsoft signed a cooperative research and development agreement to use machine learning and cloud computing tools to boost the agency’s climate and forecast models. Under the CRADA, Microsoft was also tasked with improving data management, creating a catalog for ocean observations, developing a resilient and accessible weather modeling and forecasting system and helping the agency implement pilot projects for earth system modeling and research.