TAO buoy atr sea with ship in background

NDBC Tropical Ocean Array

The NDBC Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) Array utilizes moored ocean buoys to collect real-time data, enhancing the detection, understanding, and prediction of El Niño and La Niña.

What Data Is Collected?

  • Surface Meteorological Data: Measurements include wind speed, wind direction, atmospheric pressure, air temperature, and near-surface water temperature.
  • Subsurface Data: Observations of water temperature and salinity are gathered at various depths.
  • Equatorial Current Profiles: Select stations along the equator also measure ocean current profiles.

How Do I Get Started?

  • Accessing Recent Data: Click on the TAO Station List link or the TAO Station ID Search field towards the top of the page to select any of the TAO stations and view its recent observations.
  • Accessing Historical Data: Click the TAO Data Download to access historical data for the TAO stations.

Want more information?