computed parameters, including heat content, dynamic height, transport. and depth of the 2O~ isotherm, (4)related datasets, including TOGA drifting buoy data, operational analyses model data from the National Meteorological Center, and TOPEX/POSEIDON satellite data.
TAO data displays consist of time series plots and two-dimensional space and time slices through the array, presented as plots and animations of measured and calculated parameters. Multiple views of these two-dimensional gridded fields include latitude and longitude, depth and time plots for all the sections in the TAO buoy array, latitude-longitude maps, and animations of TAO data and analyses and related data sets.
A. TAO Display Software (Unix/X-windows)
TAO display software data displays (Fig. 2) include the following: (1) buoy summary plots, which show current meter data and subsurface temperature data, (2) buoy sensor plots, which show the output of the standard sensors on the moorings, (3) stacked plots, with which the user selects buoy and sensor pairs to be displayed as a vertical stack of time series plots, (4)section plots, which include latitude and longitude vs. depth and time plots for all the sections in the TAO buoy array, (5)latitude-longitude maps, (5)animations of TAO data and analyses and related data sets, such as operational analyses model data from the National Meteorological Center, TOGA drifting buoy data, and TOPEX/POSEIDON data, and (6) special plots of general interest, including the latest 5-day mean SST and wind, TOPEX/TAO comparisons, and timeline plots showing availability of different data types for the TAO buoys. Plots can be routed to any network printer, and on-line help provides detailed information about the data, including descriptions of the gridding techniques utilized in preparation of the data fields being displayed. Users can specify graph parameters such as time axis, vector scaling and contour levels. Remote users can utilize a sophisticated data subscription service to receive automated data file updates which makes the latest real time data sets available to them locally. The TAO display software is freely available from PMEL's anonymous ftp, and details are available on the Web at http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/toga-tao/taows.html.
B. World Wide Web
TAO World Wide Web pages (Fig.1) provide extensive information about the TAO Project, the TAO buoys, the TAO Implementation Panel, TAO scientific publications, description of methods by which the TAO data is disseminated, as well as access to the data in the form of plots, animations, and listings. Displays (Fig.3) presently include the most recent S-day mean sea surface temperature, and latitude-longitude plots, latitude-time plots, longitude-time plots, depth section plots, and animations of measured and computed TAO and related data. The user selects display parameters, such as the section
