NOAA CORS Network of 2,000 Active GNSS Reference Stations

NOAA's National Geodetic Survey manages the NOAA CORS Network (NCN), providing Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data from approximately 2,000 active sites as of February 2025. The network supports high-precision positioning, meteorology, and geophysical applications, with data contributed by over 230 organizations and made freely available.

Use Cases

• Improve post-processed coordinate precision to centimeter-level relative to the National Spatial Reference System using GNSS carrier phase and code range measurements.
• Analyze GNSS data from the 2,908 total sites, including decommissioned stations, for long-term geodetic control and crustal motion studies.
• Support meteorological and space weather applications by processing atmospheric data derived from the network's carrier phase measurements.
• Integrate data from the multi-purpose cooperative network of government, academic, and private organizations for regional geospatial referencing projects.

Strengths

• Network comprises approximately 2,000 active GNSS reference stations, providing extensive geographic coverage.
• Data is contributed by over 230 different organizations, ensuring a diverse and cooperative data source.
• Supports high-precision applications, with post-processed coordinates achieving centimeter-level accuracy.

Limitations

• Specific data formats, column structures, and sample data are unavailable for review prior to access.
• The dataset's size, row count, and detailed temporal coverage for individual stations are not specified.
• Data is provided in formats like KML and PDF, which may require specialized tools or conversion for analytical use.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce, National Geodetic Survey.

Collection Method

Multi-purpose cooperative network where over 230 government, academic, and private organizations independently own and operate sites, sharing data with NGS for analysis and free distribution.

Freshness

Data holdings were last updated in the metadata on 2026-03-13.

Geography

Primarily the United States and its territories, with a few foreign countries.