Carolinas Coast: A One-Stop Carolinas Coast: A One-Stop Shop for Marine Observations Shop for Marine Observations

in the Carolinasin the Carolinas

Funded by theNational Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration

A partnership among:A partnership among:Carolinas Coastal Ocean Observing and Prediction SystemCarolinas Coastal Ocean Observing and Prediction System

Coastal Ocean Research and Monitoring ProgramCoastal Ocean Research and Monitoring ProgramSoutheast Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing System Southeast Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing System NOAA NWS Wilmington Weather Forecast OfficeNOAA NWS Wilmington Weather Forecast Office

Most users of information prefer “one stop shopping” – it is inefficient to have to go to multiple places to get different sets of information

What is “Carolinas Coast” and why is it needed?

Information on offshore conditions may be needed rapidly sound decisions and safe operations in coastal waters.

“Carolinas Coast” is a web portal that combines diverse observations and and information products on coastal and offshore conditions in the Carolinas

How was the development of Carolinas How was the development of Carolinas Coast initiated?Coast initiated?

Wilmington WFO wanted to add new Wilmington WFO wanted to add new marine marine observations into their “marine” observations into their “marine” webpage webpage

for the maritime community in for the maritime community in NC/SC.NC/SC.

The coastal ocean observing community The coastal ocean observing community in the SE region wanted to enhance in the SE region wanted to enhance cooperation in meeting user needscooperation in meeting user needs

There were two main drivers:There were two main drivers:

What was the approach?What was the approach?We built on information management capacities We built on information management capacities developed by the regional coastal ocean observing developed by the regional coastal ocean observing programs Caro-COOPS, CORMP, and SEACOOS, programs Caro-COOPS, CORMP, and SEACOOS, including :including :

Aggregation of near real-time Aggregation of near real-time observations from in-situ platforms, observations from in-situ platforms, models, and remote sensingmodels, and remote sensing

Integration of these with NOAA NWS Integration of these with NOAA NWS observations and productsobservations and products

Leveraging of outreach activities Leveraging of outreach activities within both NOAA NWS and coastal within both NOAA NWS and coastal ocean observing systemsocean observing systems

To use the Carolinas Coast “one-To use the Carolinas Coast “one-stop” portal, go to:stop” portal, go to:

www.erh.noaa.gov/ilm

which will bring up……..

Next click on “Marine” on the left side of the page

This takes you to the new Marine site for the NC & SC coasts, which includes observations, hazards statements, & tide tables

Click on a yellow dot to see the most recent weather and/or oceanographic data for that location

Each yellow dot represents real-time data

Click on one of the weather or ocean data points to graph the previous 24 hrs of recorded data

This allows you to view changes in conditions

Sea Surface Temps, Radar, Radar Loop, Air Pressure, Wind & Bathymetry overlays can be accessed.

Changeable base maps are on the Observations page

When the Hazards tab is flashing, there are active marine hazards in the Carolinas for which boaters should be aware.

Click on the advisory link to get more details.

Click on the coastline and view the tide table for surrounding beaches and inlets.

Carolinas Coast is ready for Carolinas Coast is ready for “roll out” but development “roll out” but development

will continue to build in will continue to build in enhancements and enhancements and additional capacityadditional capacity

Continuing steps…..Continuing steps…..

Focus Group ReviewFocus Group Review• In house NWS committee reviews the website In house NWS committee reviews the website

development and provides feedbackdevelopment and provides feedback• The next meeting will review the suggested changes The next meeting will review the suggested changes

to the Observations & Hazards tabs and will unveil the to the Observations & Hazards tabs and will unveil the new Tides tab.new Tides tab.

““Forecasts” tabForecasts” tab• Integration with NOAA NWS experimental digital Integration with NOAA NWS experimental digital

forecast productsforecast products Developing Operational CapacityDeveloping Operational Capacity

• Establishing protocol for long-term coordination Establishing protocol for long-term coordination between universities and NOAA NWSbetween universities and NOAA NWS

• Improving reliability of data access and aggregation Improving reliability of data access and aggregation (e.g. mirrored sites/back-up servers)(e.g. mirrored sites/back-up servers)