Dial-A-Buoy reads NDBC observations

Picture up-to-the-minute information from your favorite Web page. Then, imagine hearing it read to you over a telephone when you are away from your computer. That is the vision the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) had when it created Dial-A-Buoy for mariners in July 1998. Three months later, mariners were placing 700 calls daily to Dial-A-Buoy to obtain the latest coastal and offshore weather observations and forecasts. Dial-A-Buoy provides wind and wave measurements taken within the last hour at any of NDBC's 65 moored buoy and 54 Coastal-Marine Automated Network (C-MAN) stations located in coastal waters around the United States and in the Great Lakes. Thousands of boaters use the observations, in combination with forecasts, to make decisions on whether it is safe to venture out to sea. Many have said the reports have saved wasted trips to the coast; some even claim that the reports have saved lives. NDBC began posting observations on its Internet Web site http:llwww.ndbc.noaa.gov in 1996. The Web site's popularity grew rapidly, and now serves more than 1.3 million inquiries (hits) monthly. Dial-A-Buoy is an audio extension to the Web site and was created in response to mariners' comments asking for a way to get the information while offshore. The reports include the latest wind direction, speed, gust, air temperature, water temperature, and sea level pressure. Buoy reports also provide details on significant wave height, and an experimental product that provides swells and wind wave heights. Some buoys also provide wave direction. Observations are typically provided hourly.