Water Level, Wave and Webcam (WWW) Network
IOOS Regional Associations, including MARACOOS, are deploying networks of low-cost water level sensors, wave buoys, and webcams to fill critical gaps in coastal hazard data. These systems provide real-time, hyper-local information to help coastal communities prepare for and respond to flooding, rip currents, and other coastal hazards. By partnering with local residents, decision-makers, and federal agencies, and integrating with existing national networks, this collaborative effort ensures access to vital ocean data to strengthen community safety.
WWW Network Goals:
The data collected from these sensors will be visualized through OceansMap providing clear, real-time insights on water levels, waves, and coastal conditions.
Decision-makers across the Mid-Atlantic—including emergency managers, planners, and municipal leaders—will use these tools to inform flood forecasting, emergency response, infrastructure planning, and public safety communications, ensuring timely and locally relevant decision support.
improve community safety
Deliver near-real-time, local information on flooding, waves, and coastal hazards to help keep people and property safe.
LOCALIZED DECISION-MAKING
Provide accessible data tools that support smarter planning and faster response during coastal emergencies.
connect people with ocean data
Make ocean and coastal information easy to understand, use, and trust—whether you’re a resident, a fisherman, a business owner, or an emergency manager.
BUILD PARTNERSHIPS FOR STRONGER COASTS
Work hand-in-hand with local communities, scientists, and government partners to create solutions that meet real-world needs.
WWW Network Sensors:
Water Level Sensors
Expanding data access for flood risk, emergency response & public safety
Installed at strategic locations like bridges, marinas, and tidal creeks, low-cost water level sensors collect data every 15 minutes. This hyperlocal information helps track tidal flooding and storm surge in real-time, improve emergency response and planning, and support public safety and coastal decision-making.
WWW Webinar Series:
Watch our summer 2025 webinar series recordings to learn more about our new Water Level, Waves, and Webcams (WWW) Network and explore the latest options with OceansMap and our OceansMap Insights, broken down by state (Delaware, Maryland, New York & New Jersey, and Virginia). If you don’t have time to watch the entire webinar, we’ve broken the session into bite-sized segments so you can dive into the topics that matter most to you. Those are linked below each video:
Delaware:
- Dr. Alexandra Schueller shares about the Sofar spotter wave buoy network going into Delaware Bay and how the data will help improve flood forecasting, emergency response and public safety.
- Tina Sepahpur highlights how water level monitoring is expanding across the Mid-Atlantic.
- Sheri Schwartz gives a quick demo of OceansMap Insights, focused on Delaware-specific insights.
Maryland:
- Dr. Timothy Canty shares how low-cost water level sensors are expanding access to real-time, hyperlocal data that improves flood forecasting, emergency response and public safety.
- Tina Sepahpur highlights how water level monitoring is expanding across the Mid-Atlantic.
- Ava Puschnigg shares about HydroNet, a new dashboard designed to transform complex sea level data into accessible, user-friendly insights.
- Sheri Schwartz gives a quick demo of OceansMap Insights, focused on Maryland-based insights.
New York & New Jersey:
- Dr. Philip Orton shares how low-cost water level sensors are expanding access to real-time, hyperlocal data that improves flood forecasting, emergency response, and public safety.
- Tina Sepahpur highlights how MARACOOS is expanding water level monitoring across the Mid-Atlantic.
- Sheri Schwartz gives a quick demo of OceansMap Insights, focused on New York and New Jersey-based insights.
Virginia:
- Dr. Derek Loftis shares best practices for flood monitoring and model validation using next-gen sensors and community science.
- Tina Sepahpur highlights how water level monitoring is expanding across the Mid-Atlantic.
- Sheri Schwartz gives a quick demo of OceansMap Insights, focused on Virginia-based insights.
Wave Sensors
Provide critical data for maritime navigation, beach safety and wave-driven flooding predictions during storms.
Wave buoys, whether floating or moored offshore, deliver hourly updates on wave height, wave period and wave direction, helping emergency managers make informed decisions during storms.
Watch to learn about the deployment of a Sofar Spotter wave buoy:
Webcams
Webcams enhance situational awareness and support alerts for coastal hazards and public safety
Webcams offer continuous visual observation of shoreline changes, rip current activity and surf zone dynamics. MARACOOS webcams are part of the larger WebCOOS web camera network and the data is also available in OceansMap.
