Fig. 7. Java interface for EPIC data selection (http://www.epic.noaa.gov/epic/edsel/edsel.html).
and outfitted for deploying TAO buoys in support of NOAA's TAO mission.
IV. EPIC HYDROGRAPHIC AND TIME SERIES DATA DISTRIBUTION
A. Web Access to Epic Data
The EPIC web browser (Zube et al., 1997) was developed to provide access to EPIC data selection, editing of the data selection, and dynamically generated graphics and listings of EPIC data. Web pages provide data selection by specifying latitude, longitude, time, depth, and other criteria. The user is presented with a clickable map of station locations and can select from a variety of dynamically generated plots and listings. Geographic area selection can be made with a conventional clickable image map, and datasets meeting selection criteria are located in a back-end relational data base. These EPIC web browser utilities have been utilized for providing web access to the internal PMEL data base consisting of nearly 100.000 in-situ profile data sets, the NODC World Ocean Atlas 1994 of profile data, and the Reid and Mantyla data set. Figure 6 is a screen snapshot showing web access to EPIC data sets.
B. Java Data Selection on the Web
A Java interface has been developed for EPIC data selection on the Web. Geographic search criteria can be specified by dragging a box on a map (Fig. 7). Other search criteria can be specified as well, and clicking the search button passes the search criteria to a back-end database. From this point, the EPIC web browser is used to allow the user to select data sets for plotting or listing.
V. CONCLUSION
The TAO moored buoy array in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean is a major component of the global climate monitoring system, extending from 95｡? in the eastern Pacific to 137｡? in the west, and telemetering data to shore via the NOAA Argos satellite system. Real-time data and graphics from the TAO array of moored buoys is being made available via Unix/X-windows/Internet and the World Wide Web. All graphics and animations include data acquired from the buoys during the previous night. For more information, please contact the TAO Project Office, NOAA/PMEL/OC, Seattle WA, e-mail taogroup@pmel.noaa.gov, or see the TAO Web pages:
