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Since 1970, the coastal population of the United States has grown by 51 million people,
or 45 percent.
By 2020, it is expected to rise by another 15 million people.
The future of our economy and way of life is tightly linked to the health of our coastal
ecosystems. Therefore, our coasts need proper management, and that is best achieved through
sound scientific data.
Since 1999, an office within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, called
the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, NCCOS for short, has been bringing together
coastal stakeholders, managers, scientists, industry leaders, and regulators to monitor,
assess, research, and forecast the health and state of our coastal and marine areas.
In the arena of coastal ocean science, NCCOS is NOAA's boots on the
ground.
Using the latest technologies, and knowledge, skills and data obtained through groundbreaking
research, NCCOS scientists develop innovative tools and methods to track
the state of our coasts.
NCCOS also identifies natural and man-made threats to fragile habitats, water quality,
and critical coastal resources, and they work hand-in-hand with coastal decision makers
to solve problems and find ways to balance ecological, social and economic goals.
When you need to know what's there and why, you need NOAA's National Centers for Coastal
Ocean Science.
NCCOS. Essential science for sustainable commerce and healthy coasts.