Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Meteorological and oceanographic data collected from the National Data Buoy Center Coastal-Marine Automated Network (C-MAN) stations and moored (weather) buoys during November 1987 (NCEI Accession 8800003)

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This dataset contains oceanographic and meteorological data collected from National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) Coastal-Marine Automated Network (C-MAN) Stations and moored (weather) buoys. Data are in both NODC F291 and netCDF formats. C-MAN station and moored buoy data typically include barometric pressure, wind direction, speed and gust, and air temperature; however, some C-MAN stations are equipped to also measure seawater temperature, water level, waves, and relative humidity. Moored buoys measure wave energy spectra from which NDBC derives significant wave height, dominant wave period, and average wave period. In addition, many moored buoys measure the direction of wave propagation.

NDBC established the C-MAN for the National Weather Service in the early 1980's. NDBC has installed approximately 50 C-MAN stations on lighthouses, at capes and beaches, on near shore islands, and on offshore platforms. NDBC has deployed over 100 moored (a.k.a., weather) buoys in coastal and offshore waters from the western Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean around Hawaii, and from the Bering Sea to the South Pacific.

Dataset Citation

Cite as: NOAA National Data Buoy Center (2017). Meteorological and oceanographic data collected from the National Data Buoy Center Coastal-Marine Automated Network (C-MAN) stations and moored (weather) buoys during November 1987 (NCEI Accession 8800003). https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/8800003. In NOAA National Data Buoy Center. Meteorological and oceanographic data collected from the National Data Buoy Center Coastal-Marine Automated Network (C-MAN) and moored (weather) buoys. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/NDBC-CMANWx. Accessed [date].

Dataset Identifiers

ISO 19115-2 Metadata

gov.noaa.nodc:8800003

Full Text · XML

Search Data	NOAA Marine Environmental Buoy Database (search) Search for data by user-specified criteria and optionally download data.
Download Data	HTTPS (download) Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. FTP (download) These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP). THREDDS (download) These data are available through a variety of services via a THREDDS (Thematic Real-time Environmental Distributed Data Services) Data Server (TDS). Depending on the dataset, the TDS can provide WMS, WCS, DAP, HTTP, and other data access and metadata services as well. For more information on the TDS, see http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/thredds/current/tds/. HTTPS (download) Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. FTP (download) These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP).
Distribution Formats	netCDF (Version: netCDF-4 classic model) File Specification: NCEI_NetCDF_TimeSeriesProfile_Orthogonal_Template_v2.0, ACDD-1.3, CF-1.6 F291 (Version: 1981-03-30) File Specification: MULDARS Buoy Data Format (F291)
Ordering Instructions	Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1-301-713-3277 ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov

Time Period	1987-11-01 to 1987-11-30
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates	West: -177.6997 East: -66.6 South: -18 North: 63.3
Spatial Coverage Map

General Documentation

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Descriptive Information
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Associated Resources

Meteorological and oceanographic data collected from the National Data Buoy Center Coastal-Marine Automated Network (C-MAN) and moored (weather) buoys
- https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/NDBC-CMANWx
  NCEI Collection
US National Oceanographic Data Center (2023). NODC Standard Product: Documentation for NODC Standard File Formats and Related Codes, 1960 - 1996 (NCEI Accession 0189890). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0189890.
- https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0189890
  documentation

gov.noaa.nodc:NDBC-CMANWx

Publication Dates	publication: 2017-03-15 revision: 2023-02-13
Data Presentation Form	Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status	Complete - production of the data has been completed Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency	As needed - NCEI Accession 8800003 was revised and a new version of the archival package was published. Updates to existing archival packages may provide additional files or replace obsolete files. The latest version contains the most complete and up-to-date representation of this archival information package. All of the files received prior to this update are available in the preceding version of this accession. Please see journal.txt in the /about directory for additional details on changes made.
Supplemental Information	Documents about NDBC's processing of C-MAN and moored buoy data and other related information are in NCEI accession 0070493.
Purpose	The purpose of collecting this data set is to respond to the need for recorded continuous meteorological and oceanographic observations in the US coastal areas.
Use Limitations	accessLevel: Public Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.

Dataset Citation	Cite as: NOAA National Data Buoy Center (2017). Meteorological and oceanographic data collected from the National Data Buoy Center Coastal-Marine Automated Network (C-MAN) stations and moored (weather) buoys during November 1987 (NCEI Accession 8800003). https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/8800003. In NOAA National Data Buoy Center. Meteorological and oceanographic data collected from the National Data Buoy Center Coastal-Marine Automated Network (C-MAN) and moored (weather) buoys. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/NDBC-CMANWx. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors	NOAA National Data Buoy Center
Contributors	US DOC; NOAA; NWS; National Data Buoy Center (NDBC)
Resource Providers	US DOC; NOAA; NWS; National Data Buoy Center (NDBC)
Publishers	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information

Theme keywords	NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS AIR TEMPERATURE BAROMETRIC PRESSURE DEPTH - OBSERVATION SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE WAVE DATA WAVE HEIGHT - SIGNIFICANT WAVE PERIOD - AVERAGE WAVE PERIOD - DOMINANT WAVE SPECTRA WIND DIRECTION WIND GUST WIND SPEED NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS meteorological physical WMO_CategoryCode oceanography weatherObservations Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC WINDS > SURFACE WINDS EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC WINDS > SURFACE WINDS > WIND DIRECTION EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC WINDS > SURFACE WINDS > WIND SPEED EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN TEMPERATURE > SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN WAVES EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN WAVES > WAVE HEIGHT EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN WAVES > WAVE PERIOD EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN WAVES > WAVE SPECTRA NetCDF Climate and Forecast (CF) Metadata Convention Standard Names air_pressure_at_sea_level air_temperature depth latitude longitude sea_surface_temperature sea_surface_wave_directional_variance_spectral_density sea_surface_wave_frequency sea_surface_wave_mean_period_from_variance_spectral_density_second_frequency_moment sea_surface_wave_period_at_variance_spectral_density_maximum sea_surface_wave_significant_height sea_surface_wave_variance_spectral_density time wind_from_direction wind_speed wind_speed_of_gust
Data Center keywords	NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS US DOC; NOAA; NWS; National Data Buoy Center NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS US DOC; NOAA; NWS; National Data Buoy Center Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords DOC/NOAA/NWS/NDBC > National Data Buoy Center, National Weather Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Platform keywords	NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS FIXED PLATFORM OF UNITED STATES Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords FIXED OBSERVATION STATIONS > FIXED OBSERVATION STATIONS NDBC C-MAN Station/Buoy Identifiers 32302 41001 41002 41006 42001 42002 42003 42007 42015 44004 44005 44006 44007 44008 44009 44011 44012 44013 45001 45002 45003 45004 45005 45006 45007 45008 46001 46002 46003 46004 46005 46006 46010 46011 46012 46013 46014 46016 46017 46022 46025 46027 46028 46035 46039 46040 46041 46043 51001 51002 51004 51005 ALRF1 ALSN6 BURL1 BUZM3 CARO3 CHLV2 CLKN7 CSBF1 DBLN6 DESW1 DISW3 DPIA1 DSLN7 FBIS1 FFIA2 FPSN7 GDIL1 GLLN6 IOSN3 LKWF1 MDRM1 MISM1 NWPO3 PILM4 PTAC1 PTAT2 PTGC1 ROAM4 SAUF1 SBIO1 SGNW3 SISW1 SPGF1 SRST2 STDM4 SVLS1 TPLM2 TTIW1 VENF1 WPOW1
Instrument keywords	NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS ADCP barometer meteorological sensor thermistor Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords ADCP > Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler BAROMETERS > BAROMETERS THERMISTORS > THERMISTORS
Place keywords	NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Bering Sea Coastal Waters of Alabama Coastal Waters of Florida Coastal Waters of Louisiana Coastal Waters of Southeast Alaska and British Columbia Coastal Waters of Texas Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Great Lakes Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Gulf of Mexico Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary North Atlantic Ocean North Pacific Ocean Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument South Pacific Ocean Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > CANADA > GREAT LAKES, CANADA CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > GREAT LAKES OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF AMERICA OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF MEXICO OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > HAWAIIAN ISLANDS OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN > BERING SEA OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN
Keywords	NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 8800003

Use Constraints	Cite as: NOAA National Data Buoy Center (2017). Meteorological and oceanographic data collected from the National Data Buoy Center Coastal-Marine Automated Network (C-MAN) stations and moored (weather) buoys during November 1987 (NCEI Accession 8800003). https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/8800003. In NOAA National Data Buoy Center. Meteorological and oceanographic data collected from the National Data Buoy Center Coastal-Marine Automated Network (C-MAN) and moored (weather) buoys. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/NDBC-CMANWx. Accessed [date].
Access Constraints	Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees	In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.

Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps	2017-03-15T15:45:21Z - NCEI Accession 8800003 v1.1 was published. 2023-02-13T05:38:55Z - NCEI Accession 8800003 was revised and v1.2 was published. Rationale: Additional metadata files were received or created for this dataset. These updates were copied into the about/ directory of this accession. These updates may provide additional files or replace obsolete files. This version contains the most complete and up-to-date representation of this archival information package. All of the files received prior to this update are available in the preceding version of this accession.
Output Datasets	NCEI Accession 8800003 v1.1 NCEI Accession 8800003 v1.1 (download) published 2017-03-15T15:45:21Z NCEI Accession 8800003 v1.2 NCEI Accession 8800003 v1.2 (download) published 2023-02-13T05:38:55Z

Lineage information for: dataset

Processing Steps

2017-03-15T15:45:21Z - NCEI Accession 8800003 v1.1 was published.
2023-02-13T05:38:55Z - NCEI Accession 8800003 was revised and v1.2 was published.
Rationale: Additional metadata files were received or created for this dataset. These updates were copied into the about/ directory of this accession. These updates may provide additional files or replace obsolete files. This version contains the most complete and up-to-date representation of this archival information package. All of the files received prior to this update are available in the preceding version of this accession.

Output Datasets

NCEI Accession 8800003 v1.1
- NCEI Accession 8800003 v1.1 (download)
  published 2017-03-15T15:45:21Z

NCEI Accession 8800003 v1.2
- NCEI Accession 8800003 v1.2 (download)
  published 2023-02-13T05:38:55Z

Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument	ADCP barometer meteorological sensor thermistor
Platform	FIXED PLATFORM OF UNITED STATES

Last Modified: 2025-03-19T23:05:49Z
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov

Meteorological and oceanographic data collected from the National Data Buoy Center Coastal-Marine Automated Network (C-MAN) stations and moored (weather) buoys during November 1987 (NCEI Accession 8800003)

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