AMS Corporate Forum Session 1: New Sources of Weather & Climate Data Ocean Observations (in situ) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Paul F. Moersdorf, Ph.D., Director NOAA National Data Buoy Center Stennis Space Center, Mississippi 22 March 2007

Tropical Moored Buoys Collects profiles of ocean temperature/salinity, air temperature and wind speed/direction data. Short/long wave radiation, barometric pressure and precipitation data is collected on some of the buoys. Operated by Japan. Research array being started in Indian Ocean. TAO is Operational. Real-time data from 55 moored ocean buoys is available for improved detection, understanding and prediction of weather and climate, especially El Niño and La Niña. PIRATA is pre-operational. Data from these moored ocean buoys is available will aid in understanding climate scale dynamics in the Tropical Atlantic Ocean.

Argo Floats Collect profiles of ocean temperature and salinity at 10-day intervals and provide current speed at 2000 meter drifting depth. Data from the 2801 floats will aid in understanding the oceans role in climate scale dynamics in the world’s oceans.

Acoustic Doppler Current Profiles (ADCP) Oil & Gas Platform Data* Near real-time and delayed mode quality controlled ADCP data, from deep-water oil platforms and rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, is available to all. * Required of industry by the Minerals Management Service

Gulf of Mexico MMS ADCP Data

Gulf of Mexico MMS ADCP Data Delayed mode data (1400-1900 meters) from platform 42375 after Hurricane Katrina.

High Frequency (HF) Radar NDBC became the National HF Radar Node on 2/28/2007 and will receive HF Radar radials from all HF radar sites and generate current vectors.

Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis DART A network of 39 U.S. DART stations is planned. To date, 25 have been established. Both Chile and Thailand have one each. Indonesia and Australia will have one each by the end of 2008. In the next week.

Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis DART Made up of (1) bottom pressure unit and (2) surface communica- tion buoy. In case of an event, sea level height data transmitted to the two NOAA/NWS Tsunami Warning Centers.

Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Partners Pacific Northwest Stations Double click to zoom

Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Partners Atlantic Southeast Stations Double click to zoom

IOOS Realtime Data* Providers National Weather Service has 245 stations. The others: National Water Level Observation Network # Stations 132 Scripps Institute of Oceanography 25 Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction System 17 Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System 10 Long Island Sound Ferry 10 Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory 8 Carolina Coastal Ocean Observation and Prediction System 6 LSU Wave-Current Surge Information System 5 Texas Automated Buoy System 5 University of Connecticut – MYSOUND 4 Texas Coastal Ocean Observation Network 4 Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium 4 Stevens Institute of Technology 4 Chesapeake Bay Observing System Skidaway Institute of Oceanography 3 Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute 3 Coastal Ocean Research and Monitoring Program 2 Columbia River Experiment 2 North Carolina Coastal Ocean Observing System 1 University of Southern Mississippi 1 * Atmospheric or oceanographic data

Sources of Data New or Potential Addition of ocean sensors to the NWS’ meteorological buoys and coastal platforms. Sampling station developed by the International SeaKeepers Society. Department of Defense towers off the east and gulf coasts. Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) are beginning to become data contributors. Check the web site of NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) or its Office of Climate Observations (OCO) for more info.

Summary The number of ocean observations is increasing. As a result of early IOOS efforts the number real time coastal ocean observations has dramatically increased. As important, this data is being centrally collected, quality controlled, and distributed. Contact Info: paul.moersdorf@noaa.gov Most of the data shown in this presentation can be found at NDBC’s IOOS Data Assembly Center web site: www.ndbc.noaa.gov