The Martha´s Vineyard Coastal Observatory: a long term facility for monitoring air-sea processes

The desire to gain a better understanding of coastal processes over the past decade has led to an increased focus on coastal research in the scientific community. As an estimated 50% of humanity lives within 100 miles of a coastline and as national defense initiatives shift towards littoral regions, this interest in coastal processes will continue to grow. The south shore of the island of Martha´s Vineyard is an ideal location for the study of the near-shore environment, due to its uninterrupted, south-facing beach with open ocean exposure. This area is frequented by all types of weather systems, including winter storms, hurricanes, and calm summer conditions. The seasonal variations provide a wide range of biological activity as well. To support long-term research in these areas, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), supported by the National Science Foundation, is currently developing and installing a coastal observatory system on the south shore of the Vineyard in Edgartown, Massachusetts