The Great Lakes Observing System works to make real-time and historical data publicly available to the larger Great Lakes community, benefiting data users and decision makers in the Great Lakes.
GLOS also provides data services to support the region’s need for data, modeling, and other data tools or products. For more information on the benefits of GLOS data, see Focus Areas and Projects.
GLOS makes data accessible through our web based Data Portal and specialized decision support tools. Tools allow users to access (view), browse (search), and optionally download data or datasets. Data can also be accessed directly through web-services for the advanced user.
The Data Portal provides browsing access to near – real time data for:
- Point Observations (winds, waves, water temperature, water levels, air temperature, dissolved oxygen, streamflow and turbidity)
- Satellite Observations (base reflectivity including weather hazards, chlorophyll concentration, colored dissolved organic matter, dissolved organic carbon, natural color, suspended minerals and water surface temperature)
- Model Forecasts (currents, ice thickness, water level, waves, winds).
It also provides search access to metadata from numerous partner stations and from our GeoNetwork instance
Learn more about the type of data available on our Technologies and Data Categories pages
Data Portal
The GLOS Data Portal provides access to near-realtime and archived observations and the ability to model forecasts for the Great Lakes. This includes lake conditions, water levels, wave heights, air and water temperatures and more. Receive updates from the station or buoy of your choice, and even download data from the site.
Boaters Tool
Boaters Tool
The Boaters' Forecast Tool provides recreational boaters information on water currents and depth to help them have a better boating day. The easy to use, web-based format was customized to address information needs specific to boaters in the Great Lakes, including information on marina and boat launch locations.
HABS
HABS
The HABs Data Viewer provides convenient access to data used to monitor conditions and to alert those making decisions regarding harmful algal blooms and water treatment. Data is supplied by sensors through the Lake Erie HABs Monitoring Network, and includes a diverse range of water quality stakeholders.
Huron-Erie
Huron-Erie
The Huron to Erie Connecting Waterways Forecasting System provides predicted forecasts of water levels and currents through the Huron to Erie Corridor. The tool has varying applications, which include guiding spill response, search and rescue, beach health management, drinking water safety, and finding the source of fish kills, among others.
Acoustic Telemetry
Acoustic Telemetry
GLATOSWeb compiles acoustic telemetry project information and helps users learn more about ongoing acoustic telemetry projects in the Great Lakes. Scientists have been implanting Great Lakes fish with transmitters and, like the GPS on a car, have been tracking fish movement through a network of receivers placed on the bottom of the lakes.
Web Services
Web Services
GLOS data services offer data discovery, data access and data archival through widely adopted standardized protocols. In addition to viewing and downloading through our portal, users can access some data directly through our web services. Other data can be search for and linked to thorough the metadata catalog.
Nutrient Tracker
Nutrient Tracker
Coming soon.
Field Scope
Field Scope
Anyone can participate in data collection through FieldScope. This web-based mapping and graphing collaboration tool is designed to engage students, volunteers and citizens in Great Lakes science. FieldScope is part of a nationwide initiative to share, analyze and interpret data.
Point Query Tool
Point Query Tool
The NOAA Great Lakes Coastal Forecasting System is a numerical model that calculates waves, currents and temperatures for each of the Great Lakes. The GLCFS Nowcast, run four times per day, provides estimates of conditions at the time the model was run. The GLCFS Forecast runs twice per day and provides a prediction of conditions 60 hours into the future.
