The weather impacts a wide range of commercial operations and recreational activities, including shipping, fisheries, oil and gas, mining and sailing.

Real-time, open ocean and coastal observations are critical for generating marine weather forecasts and warnings which enable safe and efficient maritime operations and activities.

Extreme ocean events (tropical cyclones, ice storms, floods, droughts, tsunamis) cause loss of life and property, and place a financial burden on governments and industries.
Ocean observations, forecasts and early warning systems deliver real-time information to help manage risk and improve emergency response efficiency.

Large-scale ocean-atmosphere interactions like El Niño and changes in ocean circulation significantly impact seasonal weather patterns across extended regions. They influence phenomena such as storm frequency and severity, precipitation, drought and flooding, and impact activities ranging from fisheries and agriculture, to insurance and construction.
High quality and long duration (> 30 years) global observations of ocean temperature, salinity, circulation, sea level and chemistry, from sea surface to the deep ocean, are critical to detecting climate change and enabling environmental prediction and adaptation by communities and nations. Ocean data are increasingly required to improve short to long-term forecasts for governments and industries.

Integrated physical, biogeochemical, and biological observations are required to monitor and understand the cumulative effects of key stressors, from climatic change, ocean acidification, to population pressure and industrial practices, on ocean health.

Small-scale tourism and local fisheries are an important source of employment in many coastal communities. Integrated and timely ocean information lead to more effective protection of ecosystems, e.g. coral reefs, more viable small-scale fisheries and improved marine spatial planning.