MARCOOS

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Coastal Ocean Observing System (MARCOOS) is a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-funded project focused on delivering real-time information products for ecosystem-based decision support, maritime safety, water quality, and coastal inundation in the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB). Entering its fourth year, MARCOOS has established an integrated system of buoys, gliders, and other technologies, including an array of high frequency (HF) surface-current radars. Over the past year, MARCOOS surface-current radar data became an official operational component of the U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue Operations System (SAROPS) and is helping save lives at sea. Collaboration with the NOAA fisheries has increased with model forecasts for the MAB. MARCOOS has been able to achieve these early successes, due in part to its ability to leverage Coast Guard, Navy, National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), NASA, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investments.

The Mid-Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (MACOORA) is one of 11 regional associations in the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS); its region is comprised of ten states, four major urban estuaries, a 1000 km-long continental shelf, abundant maritime commerce, and some of the most threatened fisheries in the U.S. MARCOOS is a joint effort with approximately 30 principal investigators from 20+ academic, governmental, and private institutions across the region.

CIT is a subcontractor to Rutgers University in this project and provides site support for five CIT-owned HF radars along the Delmarva (Delaware/Maryland/Virginia) coast that contribute data to the MARCOOS HF radar network.