Observation Maps
- Interactive Map
The interactive map is a tool that allows users to select
any of the fields listed below. Other available layers include North
Carolina cities, coastal towns, ports, bathymetry, land cover (NLCD),
hydrology, precipitation radar, and satelite based sea surface
temperature (AVHRR and MODIS SST). This feature is currently under
development.
- Static Map
The static map allows users to view the North Carolina coastal region
and mouse over data locations to get the latest information in a text
box. This feature is currently under
development.
- Wind Velocities
Wind observations come in from a variety of national and local data
providers. Sources include the National Data
Buoy Center (NDBC), METAR National Weather
Service (NWS) Airport observations, Natioal
Ocean Service (NOS) (each of which are branches of the
Natioanal Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA)).
- Sea Surface Currents
Surface current observations are measured remotely using
HF Radar technology. The time lag is
longer than other observations due to the processing and the
averaging that takes place. Currents are provided by two
Long Range SeaSonde
surface current (HF) radars on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. [... more about our system].
- Sea Surface Temperature
-
Very similar to our wind observations, sea surface temperature
observations come primarily from our national data providers. Though
NOS and
NDBC provide most of the observations,
the US Geological Survey (USGS)
has a number of stations as well.
- Water Level
Many stations measuring SST also meausre WL, though again
observations come primarily from our national data providers.
NOS and
the US Geological Survey (USGS)
have many of the stations, with NDBC
providing the offshore observations. This merged map product is still in development.