Santa Barbara Channel Buoy Data: Meteorology and Wave Spectra

Science Applications, Inc. collected this data from fixed platforms starting on 13 March 1984 to support the Santa Barbara Channel project. The dataset uses the NODC F191 format, which contains seven distinct record types for buoy identification, meteorological parameters, and wave spectra time series. Each record is 120 characters long, but the data does not fully conform to the standard F191 specification.

Use Cases

• Analyzing wave frequency and density time series based on the reported wave spectra records.
• Correlating meteorological parameters like temperature and pressure with wave conditions.
• Studying coastal oceanography using buoy position, sampling rate, and heading data.
• Validating wave and weather models against historical fixed-platform observations.

Strengths

• Data collection began on a specific date: 13 March 1984.
• Follows a defined, documented standard format (NODC F191) with seven structured record types.
• Represents a long-term project focused on a specific geographic area (Santa Barbara Channel).

Limitations

• Critical metadata is missing: row count, column names, and file size are unknown across all sources.
• The data is noted to not completely conform to the F191 format, suggesting potential quality or parsing issues.
• Sources conflict on the 'last updated' date (2026 vs. 1984), casting doubt on metadata maintenance.

Provenance

Source

Science Applications, Inc. - Raleigh NC (SAI), processed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC).

Collection Method

Collected from fixed platforms.

Time Range

From 1984-03-13 onward.

Freshness

2026-03-05 22:24:08.998585

Geography

Santa Barbara Channel.