The Cooperative Institute for Marine Ecosystems and Climate (CIMEAS) is a consortium of nine academic institutions in California: UC San Diego (lead), Farallon Institute, Cal Poly Humboldt, Cal State Los Angles, Moss Landing Marine Laboratory, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, and UC Davis.

CIMEAS supports NOAA’s comprehensive observation, modeling, and management programs. CIMEAS’ goals are to: (1) Understand, predict changes in, and share knowledge about climate, weather, oceans, and coasts; and (2) Conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. CIMEAS focuses on physical and ecological variability in the coupled ocean-atmosphere-land (earth) system, globally and in four focus regions: the California Current System (CCS); the US West Coast and the Western US; the Pacific; and the Southern Ocean. Emphasis is on analysis and prediction of physical and biogeochemical parameters, ecosystems, and societal welfare, aligned with NOAA’s foci on resilient communities and ecosystem-based management.

CIMEAS builds on the success of the Cooperative Institute for Marine Ecosystems and Climate (CIMEC), with expanded partnerships, goals, and world-class research and educational capabilities relevant to four research themes: (1) Science to Support Ecosystem-Based Management of Living Marine Resources; (2) Research, Development, and Technology Innovation for Global Ocean Observations and Monitoring; (3) Coastal and Oceanic Observations, Analysis, and Prediction; and (4) Weather, Water, and Climate Research. CIMEAS leverages sustained innovation in global and regional observing systems, theory and modeling, and use of models in decision tools for management of ecosystems and communities that face an uncertain future, with potentially unprecedented variability.

CIMEAS builds on CIMEC’s long history of close collaboration with NOAA line offices, centers, and laboratories that assist in transitioning research and development to NOAA data products and services, and provide input on research directions and priorities from NOAA and stakeholder groups. CIMEAS addresses NOAA’s future workforce needs in its educational programs, from undergraduate through postdoctoral levels. Education and outreach programs address Earth System literacy to build and diversify the pipeline of students in NOAA-relevant fields. CIMEAS employs best practices in data management to ensure responsible and effective stewardship of data. CIMEAS’ business plan provides a basis for strong leadership of the CI in collaboration with the supporting academic institutions and open lines of communication with NOAA line offices and programs. Progress and accomplishments and the success of the CI will be achieved by oversight and review by an Executive Board and Council of Fellows.