Coastal Observation Technology System (COTS) and Regional Association (RA) development projects are contributing to the national effort to implement a sustained Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS). The IOOS is an interagency, cooperative effort based on a network of buoys, ships, satellites, underwater vehicles and other platforms that routinely collect real-time data and manage historical information. These data are needed for rapid detection and timely prediction of changes in our nation’s coastal waters. The NOAA Coastal Services Center (CSC) is working with information providers to help state coastal programs get the data and information they need.  Please visit the NOAA CSA website for more information:

 http://www.csc.noaa.gov/bins/c-obs.html