Real-Time Data Resources from Ocean Observing Systems
Regional Ocean Observing Systems
A national initiative is currently underway to set up Regional Associations and affiliated OOS across the country. While several regional centers are currently in operation, the sites below showcase the best coastal and oceanographic datasets available.
In most cases these sites are geared towards researchers and hence they link to a variety of datasets, not all of which may be appropriate for classroom audiences. Additionally, the interfaces are not always intuitive or easy to use (user interface development of course is another area of active research). However, if you are looking for specific measurements available in your region, these sites are a good place to start. Additionally, they may be useful if you would like to compare similar datasets between regions,
- NOAA NowCoast
(National Data Portal)
Through a fairly straight-forward mapping interface, a user can plot weather measurements taken at hundreds of sites across the country, along with recent satellite and weather radar images. The interface also links to hundreds of real-time physical meteorological, oceanographic, river, and air/water quality stations. In addition, the map can be used to query links to local weather forecasts for major estuaries, seaports, and adjacent coastal regions as well as the Great Lakes. - Alaska
While this site is currently in its development stage, it already contains an interactive map interface that provides access to an extensive list of real-time data layers, including 1) buoys and coastal stations, 2) surface current maps, 3) web camera links, and 4) weather and marine forecasts. The site also features time-series plotting tools for buoy stations as well as raw data downloads. - Central
and Northern California
This site provides links to a variety of ocean and coastal datasets available in northern California and Oregon, including satellite, surface currents, metrological data from buoy and shore stations, and animal tracks from Pacific pelagics. - Southern
California
On this site, you can quickly locate oceanographic data (i.e. from buoys, satellites, ocean surface currents, wave forecasts, water quality, etc.) available in Southern California. Resources are categorized by instrument and regional zones. Two interesting features: 1) Shore stations data is available for download, and 2) when you click on vectors on the surface current maps, a time-series of currents at the point pops up. - Great Lakes
Links to water level, metrological and buoy data are provided. - GOMOOS
The Gulf of Maine contains an extensive array of buoys which collect a number of physical and biological (i.e. chlorophyll) parameters in real-time. The web site features 1) time-series plots and maps of real-time buoy data so you can compare measurements in time and space, 2) a comprehensive tool for selecting and plotting archived data, 3) short-term animations of surface currents and wave forecasts, and 4) links to regional oceanographic models and real-time satellite data. - SEACOOS
Covering the entire SE United States from North Carolina to the panhandle of Florida, this site specializes in providing maps of data from shore stations, buoys and satellites. For simple studies, real-time static maps are available, while those wishing to delve further can explore the “Interactive Map” which provides a fully customizable interface allowing a user to pan-and-zoom, navigate through time (to access archived data) and toggle various layers on and off. While some educational resources are available on the site, they are mostly unrelated to the ROOS data.
For a more complete list of Regional Associations and Regional Ocean Observing Systems, check out http://www.usnfra.org/.
