A new mapping website plots Pacific weather and marine data for researchers and the public.
A new mapping website plots Pacific weather and marine data for researchers and the public.
The interactive web portal, dubbed Voyager, brings together information such as weather forecasts, surface currents and tide readings, both current and historical, on one map for boaters, researchers and the public.
Users can also plot this information on NOAA nautical charts on-screen. Originally an experimental tool focused on Oahu, Voyager, on the web at http://pacioos.org/voyager, is expanding to include U.S. Pacific commonwealths, territories, freely associated states and the U.S. minor outlying islands in the Pacific Ocean.
The website was developed by the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS), a regional member of the NOAA-led U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS).
The freeweb site allows users without the need for special or proprietary software, to view, combine, download, and explore thousands of different data sets covering the U.S. Pacific Islands from Hawaii to the far reaches of the Pacific Ocean.
“Voyager lets both professionals and the general public create maps using ocean and coastal data in a way that’s comfortable, understandable, and built upon a familiar Google product,” said Chris Ostrander, PacIOOS director. “Users can also save and share their custom maps, as well as share visualizations and notes, which is especially important for researchers.”
“In addition to aiding researchers and managers, this online tool will make life easier for people heading out on the water or to the coast,” said Zdenka Willis, IOOS director. “Voyager can help users know when conditions are safe, while aiding researchers working to unlock the mysteries of our ocean.”
NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join NOAA on Facebook, Twitter and other social media channels at http://www.noaa.gov/socialmedia/.