Adding Value to NDBC Weather Buoy Observations through Enhanced Data Management Practices

The mission of NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) is to provide comprehensive and reliable marine observations to further our understanding and improve predictions of weather, climate, oceans and the coastal environment. To this end, NDBC’s coastal weather buoys serve as a focal point within NOAA and numerous outside agencies for high quality in-situ meteorological and oceanographic observations. The data collected by the buoys are often used by weather forecasters and modelers for calibration and validation of model outputs and satellite remote sensing techniques.

To keep abreast with changes in technology and to add capacity for new observations, NDBC engaged in a concentrated effort between 2013- 2017 to revitalize its aging coastal weather buoy network. Commissioned in 2018, the new weather buoy system, known as SCOOP (Self-Contained Ocean Observation Payload), consists of commercial sensors, modular meteorological and oceanographic payloads, and a smaller 2.1 m buoy hull. Some of the new capabilities and value of the SCOOP system include increasing the resolution of real-time observations from one observation per hour to one every 10 minutes, and a change in the data processing from on board the buoy to shore-side processing systems. To support this system, NDBC has initiated a project to enhance its enterprise-wide data management practices. The goal of this project is 1) to develop methodologies compatible with the new SCOOP weather buoy; 2) ensure consistency and transparency of methods; 3) improve quality assurance, quality control and archiving, and ultimately; 4) improve confidence and usability of NDBC observations.

As part of this effort, NDBC has implemented quality assurance practices which improve the database architecture and the metadata recorded in the archives. New quality control processes that benefit real-time data result in higher quality observations disseminated to the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) Global Telecommunication System (GTS). An added value of the project is the review and updating of existing policies, agreements, practices and procedures that help to manage the complete data lifecycle. Here we review the progress to date, how it aligns with U.S. and global standards, and provide a preview of future planned enhancements.