The links below provide access to data that is collected and published on the web in 'real-time' or near 'real-time'. This type of data collection and publication s aimed at collecting oceanographic data automatically, communicating the results to a base station on land, and immediate publication of the data on the internet making it available to the wider scientific community and public. These resources and other european operational oceanography programmes are detailed further via the Marine Monitoring Observation pages.

Liverpool Bay Coastal Observatory integrates real-time measurements of oceaonography coupled to models into a pre-operational coastal prediction system whose results are displayed on the web site. Measurements include coastal tide gauges, met stations, webcam; cureent speed and direction, water quality and oceanographic measurements from ferries fixed moorings and satellite platforms. The data is available in 'real-time' via the internet.

The Channel Coastal Observatory is the data management and regional coordination centre for the Southeast Regional Coastal Monitoring Programme. The programme provides a consistent regional approach to coastal process monitoring, providing information for development of strategic shoreline management plans, coastal defence strategies and operational management of coastal protection and flood defence. Data collection of wind, currents and sea temperature are collected from a number of stations around the English Channel and published in real-time via the internet.

The North of Ireland Joint Agency Coastal Monitoring Programme (NIJACMP) is a partnership between government organisations to provide monitoring of water quality and oceanographic parameters from fixed locations from around Northern Ireland and provide the results in near real time on a web site. Measurements include, salinity, temperature, DO, flouresence and turbidity.

European Ferry Box project is a collection of ferries instrumented to measure water quality parameters along established ferry routes. The data, which is available on-line, contributes to the understanding of the seasonal changes in the most important water quality parameters and improve knowledge on the natural ranges in parameters as well as in impacts by human activities. Routes to and from the UK include, Liverpool - Belfast, Harwich to Cruxhaven, Southampton to Cowes and Portsmouth to Bilbao.

WaveNet is a strategic wave monitoring network for England and Wales that provides a single source of real time wave and temperature data from a network of wave buoys located in areas at risk from flooding. Data from this network is used to improve the management of flood and coastal erosion risk for which Defra has policy responsibility.

Marine Environmental Real-time Observation System (MEROS) is a network of systems able to readily and rapidly collect, store and exchange environmental data and provide timely public access by end-users attempting to understand and model ecosystem behaviour. Each system is a 'Smart Buoy' composed of a suite of automated in situ instrumentation capable of deployment at a mooring for monitoring a range of physicochemical and environmental variables. Three systems are currently opperational at Liverpool Bay (as part of the Liverpool Bay Coastal Observatory), the Thames Estuary (NMMP) and the Southern North Sea (NMMP).

Marine Automatic Weather Station Network (MAWS) is a network which includes eleven moored buoys, nine of which are in open-ocean locations mostly to the west of the British Isles, and two in coastal inshore waters. and a further seven systems located on lightships and islands. These systems measure wind speed and direction, air temperature and pressure, wave height, wave period and sea temperature. Data is available on a hourly basis. This data acts as a early warning systems to help reduce the effects of natural disasters, such as flooding due to storms and abnormally high sea levels.

Atlantic Network of Interdisciplinary Moorings and Time-series for Europe (ANIMATE) is a european parnership that aims to provide a set of long term time-series data to be included in efforts to model future climate change. Data is collected from moorings at 3 sites: PAP (Porcupine Abyssal Plain), ESTOC (100km north of Canary Islands) and CIS (central Irminger Sea). Measurements include current speed and direction, CTD, nutrients, CO2 and data is available in real-time or near real time.

The Irish Marine Weather Buoy Network is a joint project designed to improve weather forecasts and safety at sea around Ireland. Measurements of wind speed and direction, wave height and period, and sea temperature are taken at 6 locations around the Irish coast and data published on the internet hourly.

The UK Tide Gauge Network records tidal elevations at 44 locations around the UK coast and makes the data available in real-time or near real-time. The Port of London Authority also provides data for tide gauges in the Thames river and estuary in real-time which can be accessed here.