Coastal Services Center

---

Enhanced Observing Systems

---

Improving Observation Systems

As part of the Coastal Storms Program, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in collaboration with the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System, will help reduce information gaps between observing systems and improve the management of observing methods needed for coastal storm events in the Southern California region. Following the initial inventory of existing in situ, remote sensing, and real time data, an assessment will be made to see where NOAA can help fill observation gaps. If appropriate, new sensors will be placed in areas lacking data, and data collection improvements will be made on existing sensors. Improved observations can include coastal wind profiles, tide and water levels, air and water temperature, and wave measurements, among others.

Since information from the many observation platforms comes from a variety of sources, NOAA will also work with local partners to enhance data sharing and management and will also assist with the analysis of the data obtained from the observations. The focus will be on value-added enhancements of both observations and data management in coastal storm regions.

How the Project Will Work

Improved observations mean better weather predictions and, in turn, more accurate warnings and mitigation efforts. The benefits include reduced costs in loss and damage to the individual citizen and the government. This project will result in closer collaboration of NOAA with the regional integrated ocean observing system efforts, which will generate more targeted products and services for the region. In addition, the information garnered from this project will assist other Coastal Storms Program projects—such as the bathymetric and topographic projects for flooding and storm surge—as well as other local partners working on coastal storm impacts.

For Additional Information

Robert Bassett
NOAA National Ocean Service
Center for Operational Oceanographic
Products and Services
Telephone: (301) 713-2981, ext. 179
E-mail: Robert.Bassett@noaa.gov