There are a variety of coastal and ocean observing systems that routinely monitor the coastal environment. These include federally operated or managed observing systems that are national in scope. Examples are the array of moored buoys and fixed coastal stations managed by the National Data Buoy Center, the National Water Level Observing Network operated by the National Ocean Service, U. S. Geological Survey network of stream gages, and land surface weather observations. In addition there are systems that focus only on a particular coastal region, port, or estuary, and may be operated by universities, the private sector, or federal, state or local agencies.

The purpose of this site is to provide a view of real-time and recent data generated by these systems through an Internet Map Server and to provide links to information about these systems. The site also provides information on the development of an Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS). The IOOS will integrate existing systems with an increased number of regionally managed in situ and remote observing systems to improve public safety, monitor the health of our ecosystems, and enhance our understanding of long term climate trends.

The internet map server is intended to provide a common, geospatially referenced view of real-time and recent coastal and ocean observations. The site will include views of marine and land surface weather observations, physical, chemical and bio-optical oceanographic observations, and coastal water level and stream gage observations.