Dip your toe into ocean observation with our new OceansMap Insights. These pre-made permalinks and interactive dashboards are designed to provide you with quick access to real-time ocean data tailored to specific scenarios. Select a scenario, and the permalink will open the OceansMap tool, showcasing the specific data and predictions described in the title and description. Explore the  Insights below, organized by category:

A dashboard showing the probability of encountering HABs along the Baltimore coast. Features also include physical characteristics, including predicted surface temperature, currents, winds and wave forecasts. In a Dashboard format, this Insight demonstrates how Chesapeake Bay Environmental Forecast System (CBEFS) datasets that indicate the probability of a HAB occurrence and the percent chance of encountering specific species (e.g., V. vulnificus, P. minimum, sea nettles) can be provided to users in the Baltimore area.

Historical data going back one month for the Block Island Station in a dashboard format.  Explore wave height, wind speed and direction, water temperature, and current speed and direction from the past month at the Block Island CDIP Station. The 2-day forecast is also shown.

Map view showing the vertical profile plot of salinity and water temperature at a point in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay highlighting drastic changes in salinity and temperature. The sudden change in temperature seen in the vertical profile plot represents a thermocline.

Map view with the compare mode tool on showing the interaction between the fresher bay water and saltier ocean water at max ebb (left) compared to max flood (right).

Compare mode showing salinity at the surface vs the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay. Areas with larger currents, like at the mouth of the bay, show the largest differences in salinity between the surface and bottom. The vertical profile plot gives the vertical salinity profile of the NOAA CBOFS 3D Salinity layer at the location of the Chesapeake Bay Buoys (CBIBS): First Landing @ 36.9983N, 76.0874W observation station. The time series plot in the bottom drawer compares the model layer data to the observed salinity levels for +/- 2 days.

A comparison of surface and bottom marine heat waves with surface and bottom 3D temperatures in the Chesapeake Bay. This Insight compares bottom temperature and bottom marine heatwave data (left side of the map) with surface temperature and surface heatwave data (right side of the map). As an example, users can explore data temporally by clicking the calendar and choosing “Past 30 days,” which should display the presence of a bottom heatwave in early October and which could be compared to the temperature data on the same time series plot.

Map view showing warm water moving north through the Atlantic via the Gulf Stream with global water temperature and currents layers activated.

A dashboard showing the probability of encountering HABs in Virginia Beach. Features also include physical characteristics, including predicted surface temperature, currents, winds and wave forecasts.

Map view displaying the planned locations for the installation of new water level sensors, as part of the MARACOOS IRA-funded Waves, Water Level and Webcams (WWW) project. Additionally, predicted water level and currents are visualized for the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays, highlighting existing data gaps and areas where models could be improved with the assimilation of real-time observed data in coastal areas.

Map view of the mid-Atlantic region showing temperature comparison with the comparison slider tool turned on. On the left side of the map is the satellite measured MARACOOS AVHRR sea surface temperature 7-day composite. On the right side of the map is the sea surface temperature anomaly map showing the areas above and below the average temperature. 

Compare mode showing the difference in resolution between a regional layer and a global layer. The resolution of a regional layer (NOAA Delaware Bay Water Temperature) clearly looks better at this zoom level vs. the global layer (NOAA GOFS 3D Temperature), which shows the importance of regional layers when interested in a specific point. The permalink will always open at the current time.

Overview of air and water temperature for the past 12 months at Virginia Beach Offshore, VA (171) (NDBC & Partner Stations: 44088) @ 36.6120N, 74.8380W. The values to the left give the current air and water temperatures at the station. The map to the right shows the location of the station (center) with model water temperature data showing on the map. The far right gives histograms of air and water temperature. Below is the time series plot for air and water temperature. And at the bottom is a time series plot of water temperature anomaly – times when the temperature reached below -0.5°C from the average are shown in green. Between -0.5°C and 0.5°C are in yellow. Above 0.5°C are in red. 

This dashboard highlights data that may be useful for offshore wind developers working in Rhode Island and Massachusetts Wind Energy Areas. Live conditions near the lease areas are provided, as well as forecasted information for winds, tides, waves, and currents. The Offshore Weather Window tool can support planning of offshore operations at the wind farm location. 

This dashboard allows wind energy stakeholders to explore data shared with the public from wind energy developers. The dashboard highlights live conditions in the wind energy area as measured by developer buoys, as well as historical data.

A map showing surface currents, winds, waves and water temperatures for offshore operations in the Mid-Atlantic.

Map view showing wind energy lease areas in the Atlantic with a layer highlighting the areas that are acceptable to perform blade inspection operations (waves less than 1.5m and wind less than 10 m/s at blade hub height). The Hudson Canyon lease area is selected, showing the windows in time blade inspection operations would be permittable. The permalink always opens to the current time.

Map view highlighting live conditions (e.g., wave height and wind speed) at the Central Long Island Sound NDBC station. AIS vessel traffic data and shipping lanes are also loaded, while a layer on the map and in the timeseries plot indicates where and when wave heights are less than 1 m (green), above 2 m (red), or in between (yellow).

Navigation dashboard view showing live conditions from the Central Long Island Sound NDBC station and navigation map. Charts also display wave height and direction, water level (i.e., tides), and water temperature, while rose plots indicate forecasted wind speed/direction and current speed/direction in the Long Island Sound. The timeseries indicates when conditions are safe for boating.

Map view showing the shipping channel through the Chesapeake Bay with virtual stations placed along the channel. Wind, water level, and currents are showing on the map with many more layers turned on, but with opacity set to 0. This way users can hover over an area with the hover tooltip tool on and immediately see all conditions at that location. Or they can click a virtual station to pull up the observation drawer.

Navigation Dashboard view showing live observed conditions by the Chesapeake Bay Buoys (CBIBS): First Landing Station @ 36.9983N, 76.0874W. The model forecasted conditions are also shown which include +/- 2 days from the active time.

Chesapeake Bay channel entrance using OceanMap’s explore view. This dashboard gives data for two days in the past and forecasted data two days in the future. This is an example of what a tugboat captain may use while navigating toward the Chesapeake.

Map view using Compare Mode to view water temperature, as well as wave height and direction. Several Virtual Stations are also saved at key areas around the region to show key data in different areas. Click the Weather Window icon to view the Wave Height Decision Tool to determine if conditions are safe for beachgoers.

Dashboard view for beachgoers near Virginia Beach showing live observed conditions at the Cape Henry NDBC and CDIP stations, as well as charts predicting water temperature; chance of encountering HABs, bay nettles, and pathogens; wave speed and direction; and wind speed and direction. A time series compares wave height, water temperature, and wind speed forecasts to determine when conditions are ideal for beachgoers.

Map view of the mid-Atlantic region showing wind and wave model data.

Live surf conditions with 2-day forecast at NDBC DELAWARE BAY 26 NM Southeast of Cape May, NJ Station.

Map view highlighting the MARACOOS webcams in New York City, NY and Hoboken, NJ, which are situated to observe flooding in support of the WebCOOS project. Click the gray webcam station icon to load an image preview and select the preview to view the full-size image. The map also includes wave and water level prediction datasets, which can be compared against the webcam images, as well as CO-OPS water level stations to provide real-time in situ data.

Map view showing important data for tracking storms and assessing coastal risks. Wave height, winds, and surge tide predictions are loaded, as well as tropical cyclone outlook and active storms. Additionally, gliders and 2023 Hurricane Monitoring saildrones provide data at their locations and a virtual station at Elizabeth City, NC, is pre-loaded to display data in the timeseries.

Map view highlighting OceansMap’s global view capability. The Global GFS wave height layer is turned on.

Historical storm and ocean conditions in global map view.