NDBC TAO: Message from the Director

Director's Message

Paul F. Moersdorf, PhD

Welcome to the TAO project portion of NOAA's National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) website. By every measure, the superb work of the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) and partners JAMSTEC (Japan) and IRD (France) have created an operational network that serves both research and real time users around the globe. In recognition of that status, NOAA continues a methodical transition of the U.S. TAO operational role from PMEL to NDBC. The first fruit of that effort is the web site you are viewing. Since 2007, NDBC has responsibility for at-sea operations, and shares equipment production duties with PMEL.

NDBC is committed to continuing the TAO tradition of providing climate quality data. We are working with our NOAA partner PMEL to ensure that climate observation principles are upheld. We invite your participation in our quality control and quality

assurance efforts. Please feel free to contact us at any time, day or night, if you have a data quality issue. Our 24/7 Data Assembly Center can be reached at 228-688-2835 or dmac@noaa.gov. You may also feel free to call me (228-688-2805), TAO Transition Director Mr. Landry Bernard (228-688-3394), or TAO Project Manager Dr. Chung-Chu Teng (228-688-7101) with longer term issues, ideas or suggestions.

TAO has been called the "crown jewel" of the Global Climate Observation System, and we are excited and humbled to be its custodian!

Sincerely,

Paul Moersdorf, Ph.D.
Director
NOAA's National Data Buoy Center