Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
DART Data Processing
NDBC has enacted automated quality checks for DART data as it is delivered in near-real
time, as well as post-processing quality analyses for archived DART data dating back to 2003
(http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/dart.shtml). Even older (since 1986) quality-controlled BPR data
can be found at NGDC (http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazard/DARTData.shtml). Currently, the
archived data comprise the 15-minute sea level samples from the “standard” mode of DART
operation, as well as the 15-second and 1-minute samples transmitted during the “event” mode
of operation. Access to the continuous 15-second sea level data that are stored internally in the
DART BPRs, and are retrieved after recovery of each BPR, has not yet been automated; the data
is available upon request from NGDC.
To facilitate the use of the 15-second data for studying such phenomena as atmospherically-
generated “meteo-tsunamis,” coastally-generated infra-gravity waves, and the earth's seismic
“hum,” among other phenomena, quality-controlled 15-second data could be made available
from an archive center such as NGDC. The NTHMP (2008) recommendations for enhancing the
quality and availability of tsunami-relevant data (see sub-section on
Coastal Sea Level Data Pro-
cessing
) also apply to the DART station data.
Sea Level Data Integration into Other U.S. and Global Observation Systems
The coastal sea level data and metadata are available through the IOS Sea Level Monitor-
ing Facility (http://www.vliz.be/gauges/index.php). However, the IOC website does refer back
to Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level (PSMSL), the British Oceanographic Data Center
(BODC), and the UHSLC for low-frequency and high-frequency research quality sea level data.
In addition, the expanded DART array data and metadata are available globally from the NDBC
website (http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/dart.shtml), which can be reached through NGDC. How-
ever, edited bottom pressure data are not available after 2004 and are awaiting review.
However, with respect to the integration of the U.S. DART and coastal tsunami-relevant sea
level stations, the committee has found no evidence that an integration with Integrated Ocean
Observing System (IOOS), Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), or Global Earth Observation
System of Systems (GEOSS) is being pursued or implemented, despite a recommendation in
the NTHMP (2008) report to “develop an observing system architecture to design, build, deploy
and operate tsunami observation and data management systems in conjunction with IOOS
and the all-hazards GEOSS. Tsunami near-real-time observation systems (including seismic,
water level, and oceanographic) and data management systems (including modeling and
archiving) are key elements of IOOS and GEOSS.”
The DART buoy platforms present an outstanding opportunity to acquire long time-series
data of oceanographic variables for nationally important research and monitoring goals, in-
cluding for climate research. Giving other observational programs access to the DART platform
(especially, use of the acoustic and satellite communications capabilities) provides an opportu-
