IMOS was established under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS), with initial funding of $50M in 2007.  It has successfully deployed a range of observing equipment in the oceans around Australia, and is making all of the data freely and openly available through the IMOS Ocean Portal - imos.aodn.org.au/webportal/.

IMOS aims to meet the needs of the research community, address issues of national importance and contribute to international ocean observing programs. Observations being undertaken are guided by science plans developed within the marine and climate science community.  These plans address five major research themes: multi-decadal ocean change, climate variability, major boundary currents, continental shelf processes and biological responses. IMOS is designed to be a fully-integrated, national system, observing at ocean-basin and regional scales, and covering physical and biological variables.

IMOS operates as a matrix of Nodes and Facilities.  The science Nodes act as a focal point for the scientific community and stakeholders to influence the design of the observing system by developing the science plans. There is a Bluewater and Climate Node, and Regional Nodes in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Southern Australia and Tasmania.  IMOS Facilities, operated by nine different institutions within the National Innovation System, are responsible for deploying IMOS infrastructure and delivering data streams for use by the Nodes and other stakeholders. The Facilities are funded under the IMOS system.

To read an article recently published in The Journal of Ocean Technology (Vol 3, No 3, 80-81) about IMOS click here.