# NDBC API Plans

## Free (Government Open Data)

NDBC data services are provided free of charge as a public service by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). No registration, API key, or authentication is required to access any NDBC data endpoint.

### Included

- Full access to the NDBC Real-Time Data Service (last 45 days of observations from all active stations)
- Full access to the NDBC Latest Observations snapshot (all-station summary updated every 5 minutes)
- Full access to the NDBC Historical Archive (quality-controlled annual and monthly files)
- Full access to the NDBC THREDDS/OPeNDAP NetCDF Service (all dataset categories)
- Full access to the NDBC HF Radar Surface Currents Service
- RSS feeds for individual stations and geographic observation searches
- Data available in multiple formats: plain text (space-delimited), NetCDF, RSS/XML

### Data Coverage

| Measurement Category | Real-Time Window | Historical Coverage |
|----------------------|-----------------|---------------------|
| Standard meteorology | 45 days | Station lifetime |
| Continuous winds (cwind) | 45 days | Station lifetime |
| Spectral wave summaries | 45 days | Station lifetime |
| Raw spectral wave data | 45 days | Station lifetime |
| ADCP currents | 45 days | Station lifetime |
| Oceanographic (ocean) | 45 days | Station lifetime |
| Tide data | 45 days | Station lifetime |
| DART tsunami data | 45 days | Station lifetime |

### Station Network

- 1,000+ moored buoys, drifting buoys, C-MAN coastal stations, and partner stations
- Global coverage across Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, and international waters
- Most stations report hourly; data available within approximately 25 minutes after the hour

### Intended Use

NDBC data is intended for:
- Marine weather forecasting and maritime safety
- Oceanographic and atmospheric research
- Tsunami detection and warning systems
- Search and rescue operations
- Climate monitoring and long-term trend analysis
- Commercial shipping and recreational boating
- Environmental impact assessment

### Contact

- General inquiries: webmaster.ndbc@noaa.gov
- NDBC contact page: https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/contacts.shtml