Southern Region coastal WFOs participating in NMAO/NWS communications test project. WFO San Juan, P.R. (not shown) is also participating.

The NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (NMAO) and the National Weather Service (NWS) Southern Region are working together to test a new communications project designed to serve the interest of both agencies. In an excellent example of inter-departmental cooperation, NMAO and The NWS have devised an information sharing system to benefit NOAA ships and NWS coastal Weather Forecast Offices (WFO).

"Our ships are always in need of up-to-date marine forecasts," said Rear Admiral Richard R. Behn, NOAA Director, Marine and Aviation Operations Centers. "In turn, the WFOs are always searching for real time weather data from sea because they don't have buoys everywhere."

NWS Southern Region Marine Services Meteorologist Melinda Hinojosa says 13 Southern Region WFOs, from Brownsville, Texas to Jacksonville, Fla., will participate in the test project. "Each of the NOAA ships will have a file with a complete list of phone numbers and the names of key personnel in our coastal WFOs. Our specialists can then provide any type of specialized forecast that may be needed."

In return, the forecast offices will have access to the NMAO's Ship Tracker software so they will know where the ships are. The forecasters will also have a list of the ship's port, cellular and satellite phone numbers. National Weather Service Southern Region forecast offices participating in the project include Brownsville, Corpus Christi and Houston, Texas; Lake Charles and New Orleans, La.; Mobile, Ala.; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and, Tallahassee, Tampa, Key West, Miami, Melbourne and Jacksonville, Fla.

NOAA's Office Marine and Aviation Operations currently has 18 ships plying the waters of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and the Gulf of Mexico. The fleet includes ships that provide hydrographic survey, oceanographic, atmospheric and fisheries research in support of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration mission to predict and understand the Earth's environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources.

The test is scheduled to run through the end of year, at which time the results will be evaluated. "If we find the program works well from both the standpoint of the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations and the National Weather Service, we will expand it to include all coastal offices in the United Sates," added Behn.