Station P, or Station Papa, is an ocean measurement site used to collect data on the salinity, density, pressure, and other variables found in the ocean. It is located at 50 degrees north latitude, 145 degrees west longitude (water depth, 4220 meters). Since December 19th, 1949, Station Papa has been used to measure ocean climate, and has one of the oldest records of oceanic time series data.
The site was established by the US Navy in 1943. In 1951, US funding to maintain continual presence ran out and observational responsibility was passed to Canada. The site was staffed continuously until 1981. Starting in 2007, automated observations from a moored surface buoy have been made, with initial funding from the US National Science Foundation, followed by sustained funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 2009. The Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans Line-P program partners with NOAA on Station Papa by providing the ship time for annual maintenance cruises .
The idea for Station Papa began during the Second World War, founded in the Pacific Ocean with the role of providing weather observations and forecasts during the Battle of the Coral Sea, in May 1942. Flights over the trans-pacific led to the foundation of several stations to monitor oceanic weather systems. By 1943, the US Navy established two stations: one located in the Gulf of Alaska at 50ðN and 145ðW, and a second station north of Hawaii to be maintained by the 73m Coast Guard Cutter Haida; they would continue to do so until the end of World War II periodically. However by 1944, Coast Guard frigates took over navy vessel weather station duties.