West Coast and Pacific Islands-based ocean observing systems are set to receive a combined $27.7 million in federal funding to bolster and expand the reach and capability of U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) regional associations, it was announced Sept. 4. The Department of Commerce and NOAA said 12 grants are being awarded totaling $101.5 million with funds from the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act to support IOOS, which helps in the collection of coastal and Great Lakes data and creates infrastructure and tools toward that effort. “With this $101.5 million investment, NOAA’s IOOS will be able to improve and…