Although efforts have been underway for more than a decade to design the elements of a global ocean observing system, a similar focus on coastal observing systems is more recent. Amid growing Congressional, federal agency and local university interest in establishing operational coastal observations, the challenge is building a national framework out of the cacophony of interests.

The overview talk will review this unfinished symphony. There will be a discussion of who is occupying the ‘first chairs’ as well as a review of movements yet to be composed.