NOAA's nowCOAST Web Mapping Resource Displays Real-Time Coastal Information
Written by NOAA
14 March 2006
In a continuing effort to improve maritime safety and commerce through the monitoring of physical changes in weather, oceanographic and river conditions, NOAA launched an updated version of the popular nowCOAST Web portal. NowCOAST is a Web mapping portal providing coastal communities with real-time observations and NOAA forecasts. The new version now allows users to view real-time surface observations 'on-the-map' along with the latest GOES satellite cloud imagery and NOAA National Weather Service weather radar images. The GOES imagery is updated every half hour and the weather radar mosaic is updated every 15 minutes.
NowCOAST uses Geographic Information System technology allowing users to overlay other datasets and NOAA forecast products with these on-map displays to get a detailed picture of present conditions from the top of the watershed to the ocean.
NOAA image of nowCoast screen capture showing sea surface temperatures, significant wave heights and NOAA National Weather Service radar imagery taken at 10:45 a.m. EST on March 14, 2006. (Image Credit: NOAA)
Developed by the NOAA Ocean Service's Coast Survey Development Laboratory, nowCOAST's on-map display of real-time surface meteorological and oceanographic observations includes hourly updated data from federal and regional observing networks on land and water. The on-map display of real-time data and imagery available through nowCOAST is made possible with real-time data provided by the NOAA’s Satellite and Information Service, National Weather Service, and Earth System Research Laboratory in Boulder, Colo.
In addition to these new data, nowCOAST includes geo-referenced hyperlinks to observations from river and water quality observing networks, coastal Web cams, as well as NOAA marine and weather forecasts and forecast guidance from NOAA weather, ocean, estuarine and river computer prediction models.
NowCOAST includes an interface to accommodate both novice and experienced GIS users to allow both to quickly view real-time environmental conditions for any U.S. coastal area. Users can access information via four pull down menus or use standard GIS tools such as zooming in and out to change map scale; and overlaying different types of observations or forecasts for comparison purposes. By combining these capabilities, nowCOAST provides a rapid way to discover and view a wide range of real-time coastal observational and NOAA forecast information.
Without nowCOAST, Internet users must locate and bookmark numerous Web pages to access NOAA’s online forecast products as well as real-time observations from different NOAA branches, other federal agencies, and stations operated by state agencies and universities. The nowCOAST Web portal eliminates these time-consuming steps through its interactive map interface, allowing users to specify particular areas of interest and providing both on-map display of environmental conditions and direct access to Web pages displaying observational and forecast information. The portal provides one-stop shopping to current environmental conditions and forecasts in the coastal states of the U.S.
NowCOAST is designed to be a planning aid for commercial and recreational mariners, coastal managers, emergency responders, marine educators, and researchers to discover and display real-time coastal information. By aggregating a wide variety of this information in one location and providing access and visualization in an easy-to-use manner, nowCOAST serves as a unique and powerful tool for the marine community to visualize environmental conditions via the Internet.
NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine resources.
Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners and nearly 60 countries to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes.
Top iPhone related GIS and Geo Tech news stories from 2009 - At the end of the year its always interesting for us to look at some of the stats and results to identify trends and more important, to see what our readers think is hot! In the "news" category it seems that iPhone related geo tech items were extremely popular.
Geo Social Location Checkin to Twitter from iPhone - With the cool SXSW event taking place Austin, TX, everyone who's anyone in social and social location seems to have rolled out updates this week, making your choice for how to check-in to your social media bookmarks even tougher to decide on!
10 Awesome GIS and Mapping apps for the iPhone - I recall last year at the ESRI UC when an iPhone was on stage showing a prototype app (think ArcPad on iPhone). It was then that I realized the iPhone platform is going to be BIG in mapping and there's a ton of opportunity for developers.
Nokia Booklet 3G, unboxing video and image gallery... Those of you in the USA who pop in to BestBuy occasionally, you may have seen a stand showing off the Nokia Booklet 3G. A sleek, 3G enabled, SIM slot (AT&T) sporting netbook.
Interesting Tweeple - 10 Geo Technology & Geo-Social Women of Twitter - given the growing love for geospatial and location-aware technologies, I’ve decided to hype 10 women that I feel make a significant contribution to the Geo-Twittersphere. If you’d like to add 10 knowledgeable and useful Twitter contacts to your Geo following list I highly suggest the following: (in no particular order)
10 Geo Social Location-Aware Apps Making Waves... With Twitter's opening of their location API to developers there's going to be a ton of third party apps that will enable Twitter users to share location-aware information via their Twitter accounts.
Signs that indicate you may be a GeoGeek (aka. GeoNerd) and some suggested Geo blogs - Chances are good that if you are a Geo Geek then you already know it and likely refer to yourself as one. However, there’s many of you out there that may be on the fence and wondering… “am I a Geo Geek?" Read on for a comprehensive list of signs you might be a GeoGeek followed up by some suggested Geoblog reading.
Real-time GPS Mapping and GIS Solution Aids Efficient Disaster Management - Saturday, February 7, 2009 will forever be known as Black Saturday in the State of Victoria, Australia. In the midst of a 10-year drought, a record breaking heat wave descended upon the state, with temperatures exceeding 45 degrees C (110-120 deg F), breaking all-time record highs in some cities - Victoria Police Use Trimble Juno SC Handhelds to Speed Assessment of Damage Caused by Bush Fires.
2010 ESRI Federal User Conference February 17-19, 2010, Washington D.C. Walter E. Washington Convention Center - The FedUC is the largest geospatial conference for federal agencies. Connect with other leaders, decision makers, and GIS professionals.
The International LiDAR Mapping Forum 2010 - Tenth Anniversary Event! ILMF 2010 will be held from March 3 - 5, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency in Denver at Colorado Convention Center.
The NAVTEQ 2010 Global LBS Challenge Awards Ceremony will be held during Ignite at O'Reilly Where 2.0. Be among the first to hear as NAVTEQ announces the winners for the North America region. Participants will be competing for a global prize pool of $10 million and growing by showcasing pre-commercial location-enabled apps using NAVTEQ map data & products. March 30, 2010, during Ignite Where, 7:30pm - 9:00pm, at the Marriott San Jose, CA
WHERE2.0 2010 - Now in its sixth year, the Where 2.0 Conference is where the grassroots and leading edge developers building location-aware technology intersect with the businesses and entrepreneurs seeking out location apps, platforms, and hardware to gain a competitive edge. For 15% use Discount Code: whr10lbs
In a continuing effort to improve maritime safety and commerce through the monitoring of physical changes in weather, oceanographic and river conditions, NOAA launched an updated version of the popular 
See more 
