Exploring with the Gulf Data Atlas

Boats in the Biloxi, MS Small Craft Harbor at night.

Courtesy of NOAA and A. Sallis

For decades, Gulf Coast residents, scientists, businesses, and natural resource managers have relied on NOAA for comprehensive data on our coastal and marine environments. For information on ecosystems to economies, NOAA’s data has been key for supporting Gulf communities. While the 1985 Coastal and Ocean Zones: Strategic Assessment Data Atlas served as the definitive print source for years, NOAA now provides access to similar data in digital form for easy discovery and ready access. Enter the Gulf of America Data Atlas.

Launched in 2011 by National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), the Gulf Atlas is a collection of over 200 maps in six core categories to define the baseline conditions of the Gulf of America ecosystem. An interactive, cloud-based platform, the Atlas serves as a resource for understanding the value of the Gulf to the nation.

Map of the Gulf of America Region showing near-surface ocean currents and highlights the Loop Current. — This layer displays the annual climatology of near-surface ocean currents, including both magnitude and direction, based on satellite-tracked drifting buoy observations from the NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML). It also highlights the Loop Current in the U.S. Gulf. Current magnitude is shown in meters per second (m/s), while direction is represented by arrows in geographic degrees. (Credit: NOAA NCEI.)

A Collaborative Foundation

The strength of the Gulf Atlas lies in its collaboration. NCEI brought together data providers from international, federal, state, and nongovernmental organizations to form a steering committee to guide the development of the Gulf Atlas as well as to contribute data and expertise. The Atlas empowers users to explore environmental, biological, and economic data from all five Gulf States.

Beyond the Maps

While the Atlas centers on mapping, its utility extends well beyond visualization. The platform helps users better understand the Gulf and its value to the Nation.

Information is organized into categories such as “Living Marine Resources” and “Economic Resources.” Descriptions for each map topic explain not only what the data shows, but how it was gathered and why it matters to coastal communities. Whether a user is looking for native shrimp population data or statistics on trade at Gulf ports, the Atlas provides answers.

Layer description of the map layer of verified reports of Asian tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) in the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database, from 2006 to 2023 with small image of the map in the upper right corner. — Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Asian Lionfish 2006–23: Layer description of the map of verified reports of lionfish (Pterois volitans, Pterois miles) in the U.S. Geological Survey's Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database from 2006 to 2013. (Credit: NOAA NCEI.)

Users can layer multiple maps to compare different datasets, such as historic data on various fish habitats, oxygen levels, and other features. Beyond simple viewing, the Atlas includes measurement tools for distance and area, as well as the ability to generate elevation profiles across lines drawn on the map. Users can also annotate maps themselves by adding points, lines, polygons, and text.

When finished, users can easily save their work as a PDF, PNG, or JPG screenshot. More technical users can also download source data directly, view comprehensive metadata records, and access WMS/REST services for exporting map layers. It even has high resolution images of the original 1985 Atlas maps.

The Gulf of America provides vital economic and ecological benefits to the United States, and researchers have collected valuable data about the Gulf. NCEI is dedicated to preserving this data for future generations and enhancing its usefulness by developing products like the Gulf of America Data Atlas that provide essential context.