Surface meteorological data are collected on many WOCE cruises, and range from high quality near-continuous recording systems, to ship bridge observations. These data are collected, quality controlled, archived and distributed by the Surface Meteorological DAC. Maps show data assembled by the DAC for 82% of the WHP cruises. Another 6% of the data had fatal errors that did not allow inclusion on this DVD, while the holders of the remainder of the data are unknown.

Associated with the DAC is the WOCE SAC for surface fluxes. The SAC produces regularly gridded fields of ocean surface forcing fields (e.g. winds, temperatures, humidity, turbulent fluxes of momentum, moisture, and heat) suitable for use by ocean models and intensive diagnostic studies. These products can be found on the WOCE Surface Fluxes CD.

WOCEMET was established at the Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies (COAPS) at Florida State University in 1994. The DAC assembled and produced a uniformly-processed, high-quality set of historical and WOCE underway surface meteorogical data. All current records in the database were examined using a two-step (automated and visual) quality control system. A full report of procedures is included in the Surface Meterology Directory. Funding for the production of this collection was provided by the U.S. National Science Foundation.