The SouthEast Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing System (SEACOOS) is a regional partnership that has initiated an integrated coastal ocean observing system for a four-state region of the southeast U.S.  SEACOOS brings together many organizations witha vested interest in improved oceanographic information and in building an Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS). The IOOS seeks to address the needs and concerns of the larger coastal community.  SEACOOS endeavors to significantly increase the quantity and quality of environmental information that is needed to address critical scientific problems and societal issues including:  commercial, military, and recreational maritime operations; K-16 and public education; safety; weather prediction; public health related to waste disposal and harmful algal blooms; shore erosion; and fisheries management.    To accomplish this, SEACOOS uses observing systems that operate at the sub-regional level, collecting real-time information using buoys and other automated coastal sensors every few minutes.  It combines these data with real-time downlinks of satellite images that cover the region in a synoptic manner several times a day.  The founding institutions are research universities within the region, while members include state and federal agencies. The Institute for Marine Remote Sensing (IMaRS) of the College of Marine Science at the University of South Florida, and the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (RSMAS) of the University of Miami operate the satellite ground stations and generate the various satellite data products consumed by SEACOOS users.  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of South Florida, and the University of Miami produce the model output with hindcasting and forecasting capabilities..  A current list of partners and affiliates can be found at http://www.seacoos.org.