The OOI announcement said the plan covers the Irminger Sea, Station Papa, Endurance and Pioneer arrays, subject to ship scheduling and other operational limits. It said the Regional Cabled Array, the fifth ocean-based observatory named in OOI's budget-impact note, will remain operational and that NSF intends to maintain Data Center capabilities for continuing OOI operations.
The decision affects a network that OOI described in 2025 as five ocean-based observatories off North Carolina, in the Gulf of Alaska, off Greenland, at the Cascadia Margin and Juan de Fuca Ridge off Oregon, and off coastal Washington. OOI said the system provides continuous, real-time meteorological, biological, oceanographic and geophysical data from more than 900 instruments.
Table: OOI arrays named in the descoping plan
| Array or capability | Status described by OOI | Geography described by OOI |
|---|---|---|
| Global Station Papa Array | All in-water infrastructure to be removed, subject to ship scheduling and operational limits | Gulf of Alaska |
| Global Irminger Sea Array | All in-water infrastructure to be removed, subject to ship scheduling and operational limits | Southeast of Greenland |
| Coastal Endurance Array | All in-water infrastructure to be removed, subject to ship scheduling and operational limits | Oregon and Washington coast |
| Coastal Pioneer Array | All in-water infrastructure to be removed, subject to ship scheduling and operational limits | North Carolina / Mid-Atlantic Bight |
| Regional Cabled Array | Remains operational for the foreseeable future | Cascadia Margin and Juan de Fuca Ridge off Oregon |
Source: Ocean Observatories Initiative descoping announcement and FY26 budget-impact note, 2025-2026.