marine observations by program

<div>This layer mirrors that found at: <a href='https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/obs.shtml' rel='nofollow ugc'>National Data Buoy Center (noaa.gov)</a></div><div>For further information on this layer, refer to: <a href='https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/docs/ndbc_web_data_guide.pdf' rel='nofollow ugc'>NDBC Web Data Guide (noaa.gov)</a></div><div><br /></div>Mariners rely on real-time marine weather and oceanographic observations to provide current conditions for waters they are navigating or plan to navigate. These observations are also used by weather forecasters in preparation of marine weather forecasts and warnings. They help generate surface-weather analysis and are often assimilated into numerical weather and oceanographic forecast models, providing greater accuracy in predictions to forecasters and mariners. The conditions that are relevant to mariners include winds, waves and swell, visibility, water levels, water currents, ice coverage and thickness, and air gap – the distance between the water surface and lowest point of a bridge. These conditions can vary based on season, geographic area, and ship position along the intended route.<div>Observations for coastal waters, offshore waters, and high seas are available to mariners from a variety of observing networks operated by NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOS), National Weather Service (NWS), Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS), Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), and other federal agencies. Information on where to find real-time observations for each of the primary marine weather and oceanographic variables is given below, along with detailed descriptions of the various observing networks and programs.</div>