NOAA´s Coastal Oceanographic Applications and Services of Tides And Lakes (COASTAL) Program

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Ocean Service (NOS) operates and maintains the National Water Level Program (NWLP) whose backbone is a network of 175 long-term, continuously operating water level stations. Tidal datums derived from these stations have traditionally been important for navigation and shoreline boundary purposes, however there are other beneficial applications and services that water level and datum information can provide. The NOS created its Coastal Oceanographic Applications and Services of Tides And Lakes (COASTAL) Program to focus on such applications. For example, real-time water level information is not only essential for programs supporting safe navigation, such as the Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS/spl reg/), but is also critical for storm surge monitoring for effective evacuation route decision-making efforts. Water level information is also required for successful wetlands restoration projects and for assessing long-term sea level trends. This paper discusses some applications of water level and datum information.