Abstract Ocean science and decision support applications increasingly rely on the synergistic, interdisciplinary use of multivariate data from distributed agency repositories. While more available, the growing variety and volume of ocean observing data combined with the heterogeneous
modalities of access continue to pose a challenge to broadscale uptake. This limits the effective utilization of costly investments in sustained ocean observation by an increasing diversity of user communities with a need for such environmental information on the oceans for the assessment
of climate change and other ecosystem impacts. Leveraging an advanced cloud technology stack and an ongoing multi-agency pilot effort being spearheaded by NASA, the CEOS Ocean Variables Enabling Research and Applications for GEO (COVERAGE) initiative seeks to collaboratively develop the next
generation data service infrastructure for a more digitally integrated ocean observing system in support of marine science and ecosystem-based management. In particular, we envisage the implementation of a data services layer atop of existing agency repositories to provide more harmonized
access to satellite, in-situ, and model data across a fragmented ocean data landscape with a set of value-added services that include integrated data search, visualization, and analytics. Here we outline the motivation and importance of this effort plus efforts thus far towards the collective
realization of this ambitious vision.
Data services in ocean science with a focus on the biology
