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COOL News

Ocean Weather on your TV -- May 25, 2001

Just in time for the Memorial weekend, scientists from the Rutgers University Coastal Ocean Observation Lab and meteorologists from NBC10 in Philadelphia have teamed up to bring you the latest Ocean Weather forecasts right to your TV. Now you will have the latest weather and ocean weather information to help you best prepare for your summer trips down to the shore.

The COOL lab collects data from the ocean along the entire coasts of New Jersey and Delaware. The two most important instruments are Satellites and Coastal Radars.

Kathy Orr, a meteorologist for NBC10, says the partnership is "Really Exciting. The station "will be incorporating this data into our daily weather cast."

Satellites are able to measure the temperature of the ocean. "You may be surprised by how much the temperature can change from town to town, says Orr. Luckily, the weather team "will be highlighting the major destinations down the shore or your favorite destinations" to give you the latest in ocean weather.

The first of two special reports on the COOL lab aired on May 24th. The story, by Kathy Orr, featured the instruments scientists in the COOL Lab use to measure Ocean Temperatures. It also explained the phenomenon of Upwelling, a feature of many New Jersey beaches that can cause the water to be cold even while the rest of the New Jersey coast is warm. Also included were Satellite Oceanographer Mike Crowley, and Commander Cari Thomas of the US Coast Guard.

See NBC 10's report on Beach Temperatures from Satellites

The second report will air next week.

Stay tuned to NBC10 for the latest Ocean Weather forecasts from the EarthWatch weather team. NBC10 and the COOLroom.org look forward to bringing you this information all summer long.