NOAA's Coastal Ocean Database and FOCOS Program

by Douglas R. McLain, NOAA Cent for Ocean Analysis and, Prediction, Monterey, United States,
Philip A. McGillivary, NOAA Cent for Ocean Analysis and, Prediction, Monterey, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Coastal Zone '91

Abstract:

The NOAA Center for Ocean Analysis and Prediction (COAP) was recently formed in Monterey to support collection, distribution, and analysis of marine data for application to coastal ocean management and global climate change. COAP is colocated with the Navy Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center (FNOC) and is based on fisheries research and ocean services groups that have been established at FNOC for many years. An initial focus of COAP is to provide civilian and military oceanographic, meteorological and remote sensing datasets and technologies to civilian users. Data are available in real-time (with direct access by PC microcomputers and modems), with longer term archive data available on request. A unique aspect of COAP will be development of an intensive system for monitoring the nearshore conditions along the central California coast. This program, the Fully-instrumented Oceanographic Observing Site (FOCOS), will cover the proposed Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary. Observations will include conventional weather and in-situ reports by research and merchant ships. In addition, special real-time observations by state of the art instruments will include hourly ocean surface current maps with 3?3km resolution derived from a CODAR coastal current mapping radar, high-resolution (1?1km) ²coastal surface current and windfield data derived from a COAST dual-frequency radar, and marine boundary layer wind speed and direction on 50?50km grid scales to 1200km offshore, from an Over-the-Horizon radar.

Subject Headings: Ocean engineering | Oceanography | Sea water | Data analysis | Radar | Ocean currents | Databases | California | United States

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