A Massachusetts ocean studies institute is building underwater data collection stations in locations from the Gulf of Alaska to Rhode Island to help researchers understand the ocean's role in climate change. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on Cape Cod has received nearly $100 million in federal grants to help develop and operate the underwater observatories.

Underwater stations will be built worldwide, from the Gulf of Alaska to about 75 miles southeast of Newport, R.I. They'll measure variables such as water temperature and current movements.

Woods Hole scientist Robert Wellers says the stations will help scientists make prolonged deep-water observations that aren't possible now and save money spent on data collection.

Wellers hopes the system will be fully operational by 2015.