The Mid-Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing System extends from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to Cape Cod, Massachusetts covering ten states and the District of Columbia, five major estuaries, and expands off the coast into the Mid-Atlantic Bight.  Home to major shipping ports and dense coastal populations, MARACOOS works with partners and stakeholders across the Mid-Atlantic, to expand ocean and coastal data coverage to work with communities to mitigate risks from coastal hazards, strengthen local economies, and provide better data for safer navigation.  

Distinguishing characteristics of the Mid-Atlantic region:

• Serves over 80 million people, approximately a quarter of the U.S. population
• MARACOOS’ OceansMap is a public free-to-use tool, turning data into real-time products mariners, researchers, and emergency planners can use
• Creates free custom tools within OceansMap that make data easily accessible and providing a resource communities and can return to repeatedly
• Diverse network of real-time observing and forecasting assets, including water-level sensors, high-frequency radar, hurricane underwater gliders, and an ensemble of statistical and dynamical ocean forecast models
• Builds on established local and state monitoring programs, integrating them into a unified Mid-Atlantic regional network rather than duplicating existing efforts
• Collaboration with IOOS regional associations, especially neighboring RA’s SECOORA and NERACOOS on projects such as BioTracks, MBON, and ACT