National Data Buoy Center

The National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) is a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States. It is responsible for the design, operation, and maintenance of a network of buoys and other data collection platforms in the oceans and Great Lakes. These buoys gather real-time meteorological and oceanographic data, such as wave heights, wind speeds, air and water temperatures, and atmospheric pressure.