Data Retrieval

[Peter Mitchell]

As a new user and yacht captain, I would appreciate some input on the best sources of data for the area I am currently in - Hawaii. Due to the time it takes to download the data (dial up speeds only) I would like to minimise the download times and maximise pertinent info.
I am looking for weather info pertinent to sailing, surfing and sportfishing i.e.
surface analysis
wind trends
sea swell - direction and height
wave height
sea temp
24-48 hour forecasts
I look forward to your assistance and many thanks in advance.

[Tim Vasquez]

As a new user and yacht captain, I would appreciate some input on the best sources of data for the area I am currently in - Hawaii. Due to the time it takes to download the data (dial up speeds only) I would like to minimise the download times and maximise pertinent info.
I am looking for weather info pertinent to sailing, surfing and sportfishing i.e.
surface analysis
wind trends
sea swell - direction and height
wave height
sea temp
24-48 hour forecasts
I look forward to your assistance and many thanks in advance.

Sounds like you could use two things:

SYNOPTIC DATA from any university server such as http://www.atmos.albany.edu/weather/data1/surface/syn/. Digital Atmosphere has these in the Internet > Retrieve menu. However the files are 2-3 MB a piece. It would be worthwhile if there was a service that could cut these into smaller regional chunks, but I have no idea of any such source. All our version of Digital Atmosphere plot synoptic data.

GRIB DATA from http://www.globalmarinenet.net/grib.htm and from NCEP at http://www.emc.ncep.noaa.gov/data/. These are the only sources I know of at the present time.... and I'm offering free products to anybody that can dig up other consistent real-time sources. Our free test version will plot GRIB files from most of these sources (see the test forum) using the File > Import GRIB Data menu.

Also you can't forget graphics charts. I don't know if there are sources of real-time marine charts online but I wouldn't be surprised... a few minutes with Google should turn up some candidates.

Tim

[David Taylor]

GRIB DATA from http://www.globalmarinenet.net/grib.htm and from NCEP at http://www.emc.ncep.noaa.gov/data/. These are the only sources I know of at the present time.... and I'm offering free products to anybody that can dig up other consistent real-time sources. Our free test version will plot GRIB files from most of these sources (see the test forum) using the File > Import GRIB Data menu.

Tim,

I am now getting consistent GRIB dta (GRIB2 I think) from the new European service from Meteosat-8 (a.k.a. MSG-1), so I claim my free product! There is synoptic data in the data stream as well, but with all the reports mixed together.

If you want some samples, please let me know.

Cheers,
David

[Tim Vasquez]

I am now getting consistent GRIB dta (GRIB2 I think) from the new European service from Meteosat-8 (a.k.a. MSG-1)

That's good news! What's the URL for the source?

Tim

[David Taylor]

I am now getting consistent GRIB dta (GRIB2 I think) from the new European service from Meteosat-8 (a.k.a. MSG-1)

That's good news! What's the URL for the source?

Tim

You get the data over a digital video broadcasting satellite, so it is not currently available on the Internet. As I said, I can send a sample if you like. There are over one hundred people involved in the current trial.

Cheers,
David