N.O.A.A. Data Buoy Center Information

[DandyDon]

I'll use this to check conditions of nearby stations immediately before a trip - for all US waters, muhc of the Caribbean, and even some of Europe:

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/

Data varies from different stations, but typically one can obtain wind speed, air temp, wave information, and often - shallow water temperature!

hone: And I'll add nearby buoys for a trip to my cell phone, so I can call for information:

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/dial.shtml

For speed dialing, I'll store - with the station name:
(1) (228) 688-1948 followed by a Hard Pause;
(2) then 1 followed by a Hard Pause;
(3) then the station ID number followed by # sign and a Hard Pause;
(4) then 1.

Hints: Don't rush the system; don't key the (Send) button until the the recording says "press one," then not until the recording says "press # sign."

:book2:

 

[archman]

The Flower Gardens folks use buoy # 42019 pretty often to check weather conditions.

http://seaboard.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.phtml?$station=42019

...looks like there are a couple of TABS buoys now closer to the Sanctuary. I wonder if they're data is more accurate.

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/WestGulf.shtml

 

[DandyDon]

The Flower Gardens folks use buoy # 42019 pretty often to check weather conditions.

http://seaboard.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.phtml?$station=42019

...looks like there are a couple of TABS buoys now closer to the Sanctuary. I wonder if they're data is more accurate.

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/WestGulf.shtml

Know what the difference is between a Moored Buoy and a TABS.....?

Looks like they're owned by Texas A&M, one is not reporting, the other report is old, and neither give water temp. Aggies. :smurf:

Oops - you are one, huh? :help:

 

[archman]

The downfalls of Texas A&M... why don't you just stab me instead? Woods Hole should get at least some of the blame, as they designed this type of buoy.

Here's a thorough and yummily technical link about the TABS (Texas Automated Buoy System) buoys. They're in use primarily to augment the other buoys and provide better disaster (oil spill) response.

http://tabs.gerg.tamu.edu/tglo/oceans2001.pdf

Those two offshore buoys are supposedly near the Sanctuary. Being cheap and small, the winter may have messed them up and they haven't been replaced yet. They only have about a six month lifespan... less if they get run down by a ship or vandalized by stupid boaters trying to tie up to one.