NDBC Wave observation system update

ABSTRACTThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) operates a network of over 100 marine weather observation buoys. These buoys presently use a wave observation system named the Digital Directional Wave Module (DDWM). The DDWM uses commercial motion sensors contained in a single package and processing boards that are now obsolete. Therefore, the NDBC completed an engineering effort to replace these obsolete components with a new wave observation system named Ocean Wave Linux (OWL).The OWL replaces the DDWM’s nine axis motion sensor with a compatible device. The OWL produces the same observations as the DDWM but with much less power consumption and with modern COTS available components.The DDWM is contained in a single tube named WAVCEAN-16, which is a payload in the NDBC’s Self-Contained Ocean Observation Payload (SCOOP). WAVCEAN-16 physically contains the Wave and Ocean (which measures sea surface temperature) modules. After extensive, successful field trials, the OWL components replaced the DDWM components. This effectively created a new tube or product. The new tube is named WAVCEAN-18.This paper focuses on the changes from WAVCEAN-16 to WAVCEAN-18 and highlights engineering analysis of field tests of the WAVCEAN-18. We also describe the NDBC’s plans for operational transition from the WAVCEAN-16 to WAVCEAN-18.KEYWORDS: OWLWavesDDWMNDBC Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.