Exploring ocean data: comprehensive approaches to data collection and the role of public databases in facilitating the interconnection between ocean and human health

Since the year 2000, oceanic research has seen a surge in data collection, with approximately 500,000 sets of measurements for a single variable (e.g., temperature) recorded annually. Yet, further advancements are essential to deepen understanding of climate change phenomena, pollutant propagation, and the ocean-human health nexus. Analyzing Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) designated by the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), such as temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, phytoplankton distribution, coral cover and many others, is critical to assessing oceanic responses to anthropogenic pressures. Equally vital are persistent pollutants, antimicrobial resistance genes, human viruses, pathogenic bacteria, and micro- and nano-plastics, which underscore the inseparability of human and environmental health under an Ocean and Human Health framework. The public health sector can contribute and provide support for the continuous expansion of EOVs and this review seeks to contribute to this process, endorsing collaboration between public health experts and oceanographers to inform health policies that recognize oceans’ central role in human well-being. Over decades, a wide range of tools have been developed for the scientific community to measure EOVs, ranging from those requiring human intervention to automated systems. This narrative, not exhaustive review summarizes some of primary ocean observation technologies integrated within GOOS: satellites, drifting and moored buoys, research vessels and ships of opportunity (SOO), Animal Borne Ocean Sensors (AniBOS), and unmanned vehicles. Each one is examined in detail, highlighting characteristics and landmark projects like the Argo program and the FerryBox initiative, which have profoundly shaped oceanography. Accessing EOVs collected through these programs is fundamental to contextualize the new variables. Many databases are available to facilitate this process and key information will be provided. The review also explores emerging frontiers, particularly advancements in SOO through public-private collaborations. Framed from a public health perspective, it emphasizes the pivotal role of data collection and access in elucidating ocean-human health (OHH) interactions.