Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services 

NOAA’s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) is the authoritative source for 

accurate, reliable, and timely tides, water levels, currents and other oceanographic information. CO-OPS data, 

products and services support safe and efficient navigation, sound ecosystem stewardship, coastal hazards 

preparedness and response, and the understanding of climate change. Included below are two highlighted 

scientific projects by CO-OPS researchers and their partners.

NOAA Development of a Webcam Coastal Observing Network

NOAA NOS launched a 

pilot observation network to 

collect imagery from a 

series of web-enabled 

cameras mounted along the 

southeast coast of the 

United States. The collected 

imagery provides a new

way to collect data on rip 

currents, high tide flooding, 

and other coastal hazards. 

Images are also used to 

identify marine mammals 

along the coast, as well as to track human uses of natural resources — including beach use during the 

COVID-19 pandemic. Images are acquired and processed in a standardized way so they may be incorporated 

into a wide range of downstream scientific applications and products. The pilot program is a public-private 

partnership that includes NOAA, the Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association, the U.S. 

Geological Survey, Surfline Inc., the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and University of South 

Carolina.

FY20 Accomplishment(s): Published peer reviewed journal article detailing the development and goals of the 

network; development of a software tool to enable remote webcam imagery rectification using Lidar data (journal 

article submitted); and use of the network to help assess beach use during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Peer reviewed journal article: Dusek et al. 2019 Frontiers in Marine Science 

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2019.00353/full

Pilot site for webcam network:

https://secoora.org/webcat/

News article detailing camera calibration tool:

https://secoora.org/new-open-source-tool-to-remotely-calibrate-web-camera-data/

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The Buxton, NC (left) and Miami Beach, FL (right) webcams installed as part of the 

pilot webcam observation network. Image Credit: Sur
Development and Demonstration of Wave Measurements 

from Radar Tide Gauge

NOAA CO-OPS is currently 

transitioning the primary water 

level sensor at most National 

Water Level Observation 

Network (NWLON) stations 

from an acoustic ranging 

system to microwave radars. 

With no stilling well and higher 

resolution of the open sea 

surface, microwave radars have 

the potential to provide realtime wave measurements at 

NWLON sites. Radar sensors at 

tide stations may offer a low

cost, convenient way to 

increase nearshore wave 

observational coverage 

throughout the U.S. to support 

navigational safety and ocean 

research applications.

FY20 Accomplishment(s): Completed detailed laboratory and field testing and associated analysis to 

demonstrate microwave radar water level sensors’ capability to simultaneously measure average sea 

level and waves

Peer reviewed journal article: Fiorentino et al. 2019 Frontiers in Marine Science

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2019.00586/full

NOAA Ocean Podcast Coverage:

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/podcast/oct14/mw128-taking-measure.html

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Microwave radar tide gauge used for sea level and wave measurements at an 

NWLON station. Image Credit: Laura Fiorentino, NOAA CO-OPS.