Interactive web access to real-time El Nino/La Nina data from the TAO buoy network in the tropical Pacific

The TAO array consists of approximately 70 ATLAS and current meter moorings spanning the Equatorial Pacific from 95/spl deg/W to 137/spl deg/E in the west, telemetering oceanographic and meteorological data in real-time via the Argos satellite system. The purpose of the array is to provide high quality, in-situ, real-time data in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean for short-term climate studies, most notably those relating to the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon. The TAO Project Office at PMEL in Seattle, Washington has developed interactive systems which allow users to access and display the TAO real-time as well as historical data. The most recent development include a JavaScript backed real-time interactive web access which adds the flexibility for data selection, enables users to customize plots by specifying parameter, time and depth ranges, and simplifies procedures for generating data plots dynamically via the WWW. The measurements of the TAO buoy network consist primarily of surface winds, sea surface temperature, upper ocean temperature and currents, air temperature, and relative humidity. Additional time series data, such as rainfall, salinity and short wave radiometry are available from sensors which have been added to TAO moorings for specialized. These data support research efforts at institutions around the world on the detection of La Nina and El Nino events, and the causes and consequences of climate variability originating in the tropical Pacific. A real-time data access, display and analyses system for is therefore important for research scientists as well as the general public. As technology has evolved, several TAO data access systems have been developed by the TAO Project Office. Advances in technology enables the user to be presented with highly interactive web interface to access and display TAO data using customizable user graphic interface. Described here is highly enhanced JavaScript backed TAO Real-time data Interactive Web Access System.