Carolinas Regional Coastal
Ocean Observing System
NC Climate Fellows
April 14, 2013
DeeDee Whitaker
How do researchers gather data about
the oceans?
• Cruises
• A system of buoys that monitor ocean
parameters 24/7
• NOAA administrates the National Data Buoy
Center for world wide data
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/dart.shtml
• A data subset for the Carolinas is CarolinasRCOOS
http://carolinasrcoos.org/
DART MAP
CarolinaRCOOS
• Integrates SECOORA and Caro-COOPS which were
existing regional programs.
• RCOOS is comprised of ocean buoys, shoreline
buoys and land stations.
• Typical variables measured in real time include:
Air temperature
Air pressure
Wind
Water temperature
Salinity
Chlorophyl
Current
Spectral Wave
Carolinas RCOOS Map
Classroom Use
• Data is real time and archived so useful for
projects
• Metadata is available for all parameters
• For some stations, data goes back 20 years
• Maps are interactive and linked to spatial data
• Maps can be used on a global as well as local
scale
• Excellent source for research projects,
scenario/problem-based learning lessons, and
place-based learning activities
Sample Lessons
• DART web quest
• Carolina RCOOS web quest
• PBLs and scenarios