NOAA Technical Report NOS CO-OPS 047

The National Ocean Service (NOS) Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services
(CO-OPS) provides the National infrastructure, science, and technical expertise to collect and
distribute observations and predictions of water levels and currents to ensure safe, efficient and
environmentally sound maritime commerce. The Center provides the set of water level and tidal
current products required to support NOS' Strategic Plan mission requirements, and to assist in
providing operational oceanographic data/products required by NOAA's other Strategic Plan themes. For example, CO-OPS provides data and products required by the National Weather Service to meet its flood and tsunami warning responsibilities. The Center manages the National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON), a national network of Physical Oceanographic Real-Time Systems (PORTS) in major U. S. harbors, and the National Current Observation Program consisting of current surveys in near shore and coastal areas utilizing bottom mounted platforms, subsurface buoys, horizontal sensors and quick response real time buoys. The Center: establishes standards for the collection and processing of water level and current data; collects and documents user requirements which serve as the foundation for all resulting program activities; designs new and/or improved oceanographic observing systems; designs software to improve CO-OPS' data processing capabilities; maintains and operates oceanographic observing
systems; performs operational data analysis/quality control; and produces/disseminates oceanographic products.