NOAA collects real-time data from satellites, buoys, weather stations, citizen scientists, and more. See what is happening right now in this collection of ocean, freshwater, and atmospheric resources.
NOAA’s GOES-16 satellite used its Red-Green-Blue Air Mass Band to watch several areas of low pressure rotate around each other off the coast of Chile, June 2-3, 2019. (Image credit: NOAA Satellites)
This collection is organized into three categories:
Classroom ready
Classroom-ready modules are designed with educators in mind. They use NOAA data in lesson plans and curricula for a straightforward experience.
Carbon cycle toolkit
8th - 12th grade & undergraduate • Teacher guide • Links to standards
This activity familiarizes students with carbon cycle science, specifically focusing on the trends in atmospheric carbon dioxide. It also includes real-time data and a thorough background on the carbon cycle and greenhouse effect.
Interactive map • Numerical data • Graph/figure
Climate & Data ACLIPSE Activities offsite link
6th - 12th grade • Teacher guide • Links to standards
This collection uses real-time environmental data in self-directed student activities exploring the natural world. Students learn about carbon cycling, ocean acidification, and other phenomena related to climate change. These modules are designed with a three-dimensional approach to teaching in mind and use a data literacy framework.
Interactive map • Numerical data • Graph/figure
Data in the Classroom
5th - 12th grade • Teacher guide • Links to standards
Data in the Classroom has structured, student-directed lesson plans that use historical and real-time NOAA data. The five modules address research questions and include stepped levels of engagement with complex inquiry investigations with real-time and past data.
Interactive map • Numerical data • Satellite imagery • Graph/figure • Modeled/predicted
Estuaries 101 Real-time Data System Wide Monitoring Program (SWMP)
6th - 12th grade • Teacher guide • Links to standards
Estuaries 101 helps students and teachers increase their knowledge of coastal and estuarine science and how estuaries affect their daily lives. The curriculum modules in Estuaries 101 feature hands-on learning experiments, field work, interactive maps, and data explorations using data from NOAA’s network of 28 National Estuarine Research Reserves.
Interactive map • Numerical data • Graph/figure
Easily accessible resources
Often geared for researchers, these data resources come in a variety of formats and are not associated with lesson plans. However, the ones we highlight here are user-friendly and usually address a single subject.
Climate.gov Maps and Data
Explore numerous education materials, maps and data related to climate topics. Click across the Data Snapshots, Dataset Gallery, Climate Data Primer, and Climate Dashboard sections to see different data visualizations.
Interactive map • Numerical data • Graph/figure • Modeled/predicted
CoCoRaHS Network offsite link
The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow (CoCoRaHS) Network is a community-based network of volunteers who measure and map precipitation in all 50 states. Educators and students can sign up to collect data and anyone can access precipitation data updated daily.
Interactive map • Numerical data • Graph/figure
GOES East & West Image Viewer
View real-time imagery of North America, South America, and much of the Pacific Ocean from NOAA’s state-of-the-art GOES Satellites. High resolution images and animations are available in visible light, infrared, and “geocolor” to show clouds and atmospheric conditions.
Satellite imagery
GLOBE Data Visualization
View data collected by teachers and students participating in the GLOBE Program and long-term air temperature and precipitation observations from the Global Historical Climate Network (GHCN).
While lessons for data collection and other activities are a part of the GLOBE website, specific lessons for manipulation of this data are not provided at this link.
Interactive map • Numerical data • Graph/figure
Great Lakes MODIS Imagery Region Map
View real-time and recent satellite images from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument. Download high-resolution images in multiple formats.
Satellite imagery
Hourly Surface Data for the U.S.
View real-time hourly temperature, wind chill, and heat index values for North America in this basic map.
Numerical data • Modeled/predicted
Interactive Atmospheric Data Visualization
The Global Monitoring Division of NOAA’s Earth System Research Lab collects worldwide, long-term and real-time data on atmospheric chemicals including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and many others. A wide variety of measurements and plot types are available for carbon cycle gases, solar radiation, ozone, aerosols, and more.
Interactive map • Numerical data • Graph/figure
National Data Buoy Center
The National Data Buoy Center provides real-time environmental observations collected from buoys around the world. View both recent and historical information on ocean and weather conditions, as well as any current tsunami activity. Graphs and tables of data are available for water column height at each buoy location.
Interactive map • Numerical data • Graph/figure
National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS)
View the U.S Drought Monitor's weekly map and summary and the Climate Prediction Center's monthly drought outlook. Zoom in to see the regional, state, and county level and obtain historical comparisons.
Interactive map • Numerical data • Graph/figure
River Observations
View hydrograph, summary, and real-time data (flood stage, current height) from river gauges across the country. Explore river forecasts and experimental long-range flood risk. Download KMZ files for Google Earth of observed and forecasted river conditions.
Interactive map • Numerical data • Graph/figure
Tides and Currents
Explore real-time tide, weather, and current observations from an interactive station map. Find high and low tide and graphs of measurements over time by clicking on a station.
Interactive map • Numerical data • Graph/figure • Modeled/predicted
Trends in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
Examine recent, monthly, annual mean, and full record global CO2 data, as well as data from Mauna Loa, Hawaii. Change the scale of the graph and find individual point values on the graph by mousing over the point in question.
Numerical data • Graph/figure
U.S. Drought Monitor offsite link
View the weekly drought monitor map and summary. Zoom in to see the regional, state, and county level and obtain historical comparisons. Explore Drought.gov for even more data.
Interactive map • Numerical data • Graph/figure
xmACIS offsite link
Search weather data from regional climate centers. Data is available for each Weather Forecast Office (WFO); find your local WFO here.
Numerical data • Graph/figure
NOAA Satellite and Information Service [Advanced]
View and download real-time, full-resolution satellite imagery from NOAA’s Satellite and Information Service. Visualize the latest satellite observations on interactive maps; check out the image of the day; explore past storms, floods, fires, and other events; and more.
Interactive map • Satellite imagery
Looking for more?
If you haven’t found what you’re looking for here, try exploring our major data repositories. These sites host vast troves of data from across many different subjects and disciplines.
Storm Prediction Center
The Storm Prediction Center shows real-time and recent severe weather predictions, fire warnings, and other hazard information. Some historical data is also available.
Interactive map
Integrated Ocean Observing Systems (IOOS) Data Portals [Advanced]
IOOS provides data about marine environments, including analyses of historical data, alerts based on current conditions, and forecasts of future conditions based on model predictions. IOOS links to hundreds of data sources operated by regional ocean observing systems across the United States and its territories.
Interactive map • Numerical data • Graph/figure
National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) [Advanced]
NCEI hosts and provides public access to one of the most significant archives for environmental data on Earth. Over 25 petabytes (25 million gigabytes) of atmospheric, coastal, oceanic, and geophysical data are available.
Interactive map • Numerical data • Satellite imagery • Graph/figure • Modeled/predicted