On Coastal Ocean Systems, Coupled Model Architectures, Products and Services: Morphing from Observations to Operations and Applications

The national build-up of “coastal ocean observing systems” (COOSs) to establish the coastal observing component of the national component of the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) network must be well organized and must acknowledge, understand and address the needs of the principal clients, the federal, and in some cases state as well, agencies that provide financial support if it is to have substantive value. The funds being spent in support of COOS should be invested in pursuit of the establishment of the National Backbone (NB) that is needed: to greatly improve atmospheric, oceanic and coastal “weather” forecasting, broadly defined; for ecosystem management; and to document climate variability and change in coastal zones. However, this process has not occurred in a well conceived, orderly, well integrated manner due to historical and cultural bases and because of local priorities. A sub-regional effort that is designed to meet federal agency needs and mission responsibilities with an emphasis on meeting societal needs is presented by way of example to show that university and industry partners with federal agencies have an important role to play in the future of building out ocean and coastal observing and prediction systems and networks.