Estuarine and Coastal Processes represents the next stage in the development of our understanding of the ocean. This research area utilizes geographic information systems (GIS) and a variety of data sources to create a more integrated understanding of the ocean. Sea surface temperatures, currents, wind, salintity, and wave height and direction are just a few of the parameters used to create data sets and interactive maps that can be used by scientists, fishermen, boaters and ocean enthusiasts.
The UNC Coastal Studies Institute (CSI) is involved in several partnerships in the field of ocean observing. These partnerships allow CSI to extend their reach outside Northeastern North Carolina and into the national ocean observing community.
The North Carolina Coastal Ocean Observing System (NC-COOS):
CSI is a supporting member of the North Carolina Coastal Ocean Observing System (NC-COOS). "One of the primary goals of NC-COOS is to develop a robust set of ocean observing platforms. Having a system that is flexible and robust will allow us to observe the ocean and the atmosphere in real-time using a variety of host platforms. These include offshore buoys and Navy towers, estuarine profiling platforms, a rooftop development package, and a remotely sensed surface current radar."
The South East Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing System (SEACOOS):
Southeast sub-regional observing systems
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