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National Weather Digest
Marine THE NAVY/ NOAA OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (NODDS)
by Paul M. Duernberger (1) CDR, NOAA
Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center Monterey, CA
ABSTRACT
The Navy/NOAA Oceanographic Data Distribution System (NODDS) uses a Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center (FNOC) host computer (PDP 11/60) with a hardware configuration to a main frame (CDC 6500) computer for processing, storing and transmitting unclassified products and data to both government and non-government (commercial) users. Presently, the network communications subsystem consists of over 200 minicomputers distributed throughout the United States and overseas (TYMNET network), the telecommunications link of nonTYMNET users, and all necessary modems. This paper gives an overview of the system.
1. BACKGROUND
The "SEASAT" satellite was launched in June 1978 and operated for only a few months until its failure in October 1978. Its basic mission was to demonstrate the feasability of measuring various environmental parameters via remote sensing; such as ocean surface temperature, winds, and currents. The Satellite Data Distribution System (SDDS) was used to make SEASAT data available to the user community.
When the satellite failed, some unclassified Navy oceanographic and meteorological products generated by the U.S. Navy's Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center were substituted for the original satellite data. The SDDS logo remained until 30 September 1982. Figure 1 shows the flow of data for the original SDDS program .
On 1 October 1982, the SDDS program was renamed the Naval Oceanographic Data Distribution System (NODDS) with the same Navy products being provided to the users. This evolution of the SDDS program was described by Lazanoff (2).
On 1 July 1983, NODDS became a joint program between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Navy. Since NODDS became the Navy/NOAA Oceanographic Data Distribution System, the number of users has nearly doubled. No basic changes were made to the system; only the management of the NODDS program shifted to NOAA. Table 1 shows this growth:
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2. COMMUNICATIONS
The monthly average of the PDP 11/60 computer connect time has increased from about 400 hours per month to over 800 hours due to this increased usage. Figure 2 shows this growth pattern.
With the additional users, the NODDS Resident Manager's time on the PDP 11/60 has also increased accordingly to service the individual NODDS user directories. Also , a NODDS "after hours" answering service has been necessary.
Currently, 26 users access the PDP 11/60 via TY MNET. The daily usage graph (figure 3) indicates two peak periods during the day. The major period is associa ted with the normal business cycle. The east coast users log on between 0800 to 0900 eastern time, followed by the west coast use rs three hours later, 0800 to 1000 Pacific time. The second peak period, between 2000 to 2300 local Pacific time, is associated with the extended range products generated by the 00 GMT operational computer run at Fleet Numerical.
For continental U.S. users, a TYMNET fee is charged to commercial users. For commercial users outside the continental U.S. , an international TYMNET fee is an additional charge. For the Canadian users, this additional fee is called DataPak.
In March 1984, a test of the ability of the International Marine Satellite (INMARSAT) to transmit a NODDS graphic product across country from Monterey, CA, to Washington, D.C., was successful. With this success, any INMARSAT vessel "at sea" will be able to access the PDP 11/60. The vessel must have the compatible display equipment and modem . Plans are currently being made to support various ships in Antarctica during the upcoming field season.
3. PRODUCTS
NODDS products are available in binary, tabular, graphic , and alphanumeric formats. Standard metE.or-ological charts are available both in graphic and binary formats, while tabular and spectral point information use data at specific gridpoints of the model. The newest alphanumeric summary is a plain language message generated by the Joint Ice Center, Suitland, MD, describing the ice limits for both the
north and south polar regions. The oceanographic products and data range from sea surface temperatures to subsurface structure charts, to spectral wave information and marine winds. A NODDS Users Manual is available for creating one's own NODDS product directory from the various operational meteorological and oceanographic models at FNOC. Figures 4, 5, and 6 are examples of NODDS products.
4. COMMERICAL USER FEE
A commercial user fee is determined by NOAA at 6-month intervals and reflects the commercial user's "fair share" of the cost of producing and transmitting NO DDS products. Effective I October 1984, the user fee was set at $11.82 per connect hour to the host computer. Inclusive in this hourly rate are the variable costs of Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center, all NOAA costs for the daily management of the system, and the TY MNET costs for the continental United States. International users and non-continental U.S. users will have an additional charge for transmission.
All commercial users are required to sign a NODDS User Agreement prior to access. The term of this agreement is 1 year and it defines the role of the Navy, NOAA, and the user. This Agreement also defines the respective liability of each party for the use of NODDS products.
Volume 10 Number 2
5. CONCLUSION
NODDS is a program that has satisfied both government and commercial users. Its continued growth has caused some concern, and evaluation of the future capabilities of the host computer is now being considered. Both access and availability of additional products via the host computer require a replacement machine in the near future.
FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES
1. CDR. o uernberg er is the first NOAA comm.issioned officer to be assigned to the Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center, Monterey, CA. He received his B.S. m Meteorology/Oceanography from the N. Y. Maritime CollEge. His graduate work mcludes University of Miami, A tmospheric Science Program and the Applied Science Program, Naval Postgraduate School. His past assignments ha ve been at the National Meteorological C enter, National Hurricane Center, and National Severe Storms Forecast C enter of NO A A. Prior to his current assignment, CDR Duernberger was Commancilng Officer, NOAA Ship KELEZ.
2. Lazanoff, Sheldon, 1983: Oceanographic Data Distribution Technology, Sept., pp. 38-39.
The System.
Naval Sea
Figure 1. System Configuration for SEASAT Commercial Demonstration Program.
J: ~ COtfl'IUNICATIONS SATELLl TE
SATELLITE
'"""0"'' '"~'" \ I \ HIGH SPEED CONNUNI CA Tl ONS PROCESSOR
GEOPHYS I CAL REDUCTIONS ANIl FORNATTED DATA PRODUCTS ON flAINFRANE CO~!PUTERS
~~ 00 ~::::;:::;::-:,
FAIRBANKS. AI< GROUND STATION
FACSIHILE SCANNER
HARD COPY
1111 GROUND RECEIVING ANTI:NNA
FLEET NUHERICAL OCEANOGRAPHY HONTEREY. CA.
TERNINAL DISPLAY
TELETYPE
NODE~!s
TEXTRONIX 40XX GRAPHICS TE~!INAL
HOST CONPUTER ( PDP 11/60)
TEXTRONIX HARD COPY UNIT
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National Weat her Diges t
I I I De pt . of De fense (DOD) Commerci a 1 Users I
Oth er Gov I t Users NOOOS Resident flgr .
I I
I
300
'" " ~ 0
'" ... 200 u .. c c 0 u
" .. ... ~ Co 5 0 u ... '" 0
'" 100 -
0
J F
Ti me of Day ( l ocal Pacific)
0: 00 - 0 :59 1:00 - 1:59 2:00 - 2 :59 3 :00 - 3 : 59 4 : 00 - 4:59 5:00 - 5 : 59 6 : 00 - 6 :59 7 :00 - 7: 59 8 : 00 - 8 :59 9 : 00 - 9 :59
10 : 00 - 10: 59 11: 00 - 11: 59 12 :00 - 12 : 59 13: 00 - 13 :59 14:00 - 14 : 59 15 : 00 - 15:59 16 : 00 - 16: 59 17: 00 - 17:59 18 : 00 - 18:59 19:00 - 19 : 59 20 :00 - 20: 59 21: 00 - 21: 59 22 :00 - 22:59 23 :00 - 23: 59
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I I I I I I
I I I
I I I I I I I I
I I I I I I
I I I
I I I I I I I
I I I I I
I I I I I I I I
I I
I I
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I I I
A H J J A S J F M A M J J A S J F M A M J J A S J F H A M J J A S
1984 Mon ths
F igure 2. Total Month ly Connect Hours f or 1984 by User Groups.
o 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 xxxxxxx------------------------------------------------------------------------------------XXXXXXXXXXX X XXXX
XXXXXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXX XXXX
Two peak usage pe r i ods are identif i ed.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Figure 3. Average NODDS us e (Product or Dir ectory access ).
NAVY/NOAA OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA Volume 10 Number 2
1 01,..1
Figure 4. Navy Surface Pressure Chart for 00 GMT, 4 Dec. 1984.
Figure 5. Navy Significant Wave Height and Direction Analysis for 12 GMT, 3 Dec. 1984.
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National Weather Digest
52
PRIMARY DIRECTION ANALYSIS 12Z 03 DEC 84 SIG WAUE H T ANALYSIS 12Z 03 DEC 84
Different Color Projection for Wave Analysis for 12Z 03 Dec. 1984
Figure 6
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