SOCIB is a Coastal Ocean Observing and Forecasting System located in the Balearic Islands, a new facility of facilities open to international access. SOCIB responds to a change of paradigm in the observation of our oceans and coasts, an observation that has evolved from being centered on a unique platform, the oceanographic ships with data availability being delayed in time, to an observation now based on multi-platform and integrated systems (using buoys, satellites, ships, autonomous underwater vehicles, HF radar, ARGO profilers, etc.), also assuring quasi real time quality controlled data availability for both researchers and society. This change of paradigm is very significant and allows being able to respond to the three key drivers identified by SOCIB back in 2009: (1) science priorities, (2) technology development, (3) response capacity to society needs. SOCIB is a multi-platform distributed and integrated system that provides streams of oceanographic data and modelling services to support operational oceanography in a European and international framework, therefore also contributing to the needs of marine and coastal research in a global change context. In line with EuroGOOS, operational oceanography is here understood in a wide sense, including both the systematic long-term measurements of the seas and their interpretation and dissemination, and also the sustained supply of multidisciplinary data to cover the needs of a wide range of scientific research and societal priorities. This allows a quantitative increase in our understanding of key questions on oceans and climate change, coastal ocean processes, ecosystem variability, sea level rise, etc. and also drives us towards a more science based coastal and ocean management. It is important to note that in its present format and financial status, SOCIB isl not be carrying out direct research activities (except in specific areas directly related to SOCIB objectives) but provides support for them. The research activities are being carried out by IMEDEA, COB/IEO and UIB, among other organisations, in close coordination to SOCIB.
