Science junkies, curious residents or even nervous travelers can now access a new Web site for up-to-the-minute information on real-time coastal conditions.
Stuffed with technical magic like zoom-in maps and click-on data nuggets, the site also provides background and research into the causes of persistent challenges like erosion and weak spots on the coast.
The North Carolina Coastal Hazards Decision Portal, or NC COHAZ, is focused mostly on Outer Banks sites right now, but more will be added on other areas as more information becomes available, said J.P. Walsh, a professor of geolology at East Carolina University.
"By no means are we trying to restrict the site to just the Outer Banks," he said. "Ultimately, it will be statewide."
Funded by a state grant, the Web site cost about $15,000, Walsh said. Much of the research, provided by members of ECU's Institute for Coastal Science and Policy and the school 's geology and geography departments, was funded by a separate U.S. Geological Survey grant. Support also has been provided by the RENaissance Computing Institute and research scientists across the nation have worked with ECU.
Walsh said the site is designed to be user-friendly for boaters, anglers, students, surfers, vacationers and drivers, as well as scientists and academics. Information on tornado warnings, precipitation, hurricanes, fish kills, storm surge and wave models and coastal erosion - much of it in real time - can all be found easily by viewing a map and clicking on an area of interest. Even potential and past inlets can be located on maps.
The site has links to hazard mitigation and emergency operation plans for coastal counties and two towns. Other links provided are about hurricanes - history, survival and books - current weather and water quality conditions. There are also links to research papers, ocean, river and marine data, interactive maps, GIS data and downloads and emergency response agencies.
"That's one of the things we were trying to do is to bring all the information together in one view," Walsh said. "There are other sites that have similar information, but this is one of the better examples of integrating coastal information in one site."
Visit NC COHAZ at http://tinyurl.com/6739xk.
Catherine Kozak, (252) 441-1711, cate.kozak@pilotonline.com
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