Data Resources

National Estuarine Research Reserve SWMP Data

• The National Estuarine Research Reserve System-wide Monitoring Program (SWMP) tracks short-term variability and long-term changes in estuarine waters to understand how human activities and natural events can change ecosystems. It provides valuable long-term data on water quality and weather at frequent time intervals.
• The NERRS Centralized Data Management Office (CDMO) Web Site
  This Web site provides an overview of the NERRS System-wide Monitoring Program (SWMP) at 26 NERRS sites across the country, as well as the meteorological and water quality data collected through SWMP from 1995 to 2003.
• Estuaries Lesson Plans using SWMP data
• Weeks Bay NERR, Alabama EstuaryLive broadcast after Hurricane Ivan, visit the 2004 archived programs on http://www.estuaries.gov.

NOAA's Data Sources

• National Oceanographic Data Center archives & provides public access to global oceanographic and coastal data
• Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) observations and predictions of water levels and currents
• El Nino/Southern Oscillation
• NWS National Digital Forecast Database
• National Data Buoy Center: Real-time data on wind and wave conditions is available from data buoys around the coasts of the US. Look at the graphs of recent conditions and download data from the last 45 days.
• National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service
• National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)

Education Programs that Use Data

• The COOL (Coastal Ocean Observation Laboratory) Classroom
  This is a series of Internet-based instructional modules designed to provide information on research, technology, data, and oceanographic careers related to coastal marine science being conducted at Rutgers University and the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve. This site has great lessons on the use of different parameters and data types, including real-time data!
• How to access and use SWMP data – Developed by Waquoit Bay NERR.
• Eyes on the Bay: Lots of easy to use links to Chesapeake Bay data.
• Striper tracker: Site tracks the coastal migration of striped bass. It has a section for teachers and various games for students to play.
• Monterrey Bay Aquarium Research institute (MBARI) Includes a wealth of information about the scientists working at MBARI, their current research projects, data sets and technology involved in studying the oceans.
• The Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE) provides access to collections of educational resources, including electronic materials for both teachers and learners, such as lesson plans, maps, images, data sets, visualizations, assessment activities, curriculum, online courses, and much more.

About the Integrated Ocean Observing Systems (IOOS)

• Article on “Utilizing Data from NOAA’s Observing Systems to Achieve Environmental Literacy” (PDF) – This article was drafted for the MTS/Oceans 2005 Conference. Written by staff members of NOAA’s Office of Education and Sustainable Development and the NERRS.
• NOAA & the Earth Observing System: This NOAA site provides information about the emerging and pioneering U.S. and Global Earth Observation Systems, including a fact sheet, details about U.S. and international efforts, and the specific value to every state, the District of Columbia and the Tribal Nations.
• Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System: Lots of links to remote sensing of our local ocean. Clear and easy to navigate. Especially check out the buoy data presentation formats, which include real-time conditions, recent conditions, and archived data to download and graph.
• SouthEast Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing System (SEACOOS): Lots of real time and archived data as well as good lesson plans.

Other Data

• Pat Harcourt’s list of recommended sites (PDF) to access data. Pat is the Education Assistant for Waquoit Bay NERR.