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Real data in the classroom

Sensors & Data.

Live datasets from NOAA research voyages, curated for inquiry-based classroom lessons. Built by alumni who used these instruments at sea.

Teacher at Sea alumni come home with one thing in common — they've stood next to the instruments. They've watched the sonar return on a scientist's screen. They've calibrated a CTD cast. They know what the numbers mean because they collected them.

This page collects the public datasets and visualization tools our alumni use most in their classrooms — paired with notes on how to turn each one into a unit.

Datasets

Pick a dataset to build a unit around.

  • Sea-surface temperature

    NOAA OISST

    Climate trend lessons, El Niño/La Niña units

  • Fisheries stock assessments

    NOAA Fisheries

    Quantitative ecology, population dynamics

  • Bathymetry surveys

    NOAA Office of Coast Survey

    Map-reading, contour interpretation, ROV path planning

  • Ocean acidification

    NOAA PMEL Carbon Program

    Chemistry units, climate-impact case studies

  • CTD profiles

    NOAA research vessels

    Water column structure, thermoclines, salinity stratification

  • Acoustic backscatter

    NOAA AFSC

    Sonar interpretation, fish biomass estimation