The underwater weather forecast.
Hyperlocal ocean modeling for science, defense, and recreational applications.
Two Ways to Access
Current Map
Current Map is an intuitive web app for instantly viewing high-resolution currents right in your internet browser.
GRIB files
Download GRIB files for offline/offshore use. Compatible with popular software like Expedition and LuckGrib.
Commercial, Government, and Science customers
API services, custom numerical modeling, data analysis and more.
Reach out for more information.
Sailors:
Professional ocean forecasts to win your next regatta.
“Your current prediction was spot on. So impressed with your capabilities compared to the old school advice that is out there.”
"My team and I really appreciate this tool you have created. It has led us to many podium finishes at regattas."
Stuart McNay, US Olympian
"The Brown University team were very grateful to have your current plates for the college nationals. The info was right 90% of the time, which is a huge achievement given how small the courses are."
Anderson Reggio, American Magic
"In the high-current environment of the racing area in Auckland, New Zealand, Current Lab was able to produce a model that met team needs in terms of temporal and spatial resolution which was further customized and calibrated as more knowledge was gained throughout the training period."
How it works
Current Lab’s ocean forecasts are generated by computational physics models, run using powerful cloud computing.
All of our ocean models are fully three-dimensional and include tidal currents, wind forcing, and more.
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Current Lab’s ocean forecasts are produced by computer physics models, not direct satellite measurements.
Satellite data plays a role in ocean modeling but there are several key limitations to using satellite data on its own:
Satellites (like all observational data sources) can only measure the past, not the future.
The flyover frequency is quite low, so you only get occasional snapshots. Current Lab’s ocean data is valuable for navigation because it is available at hourly timesteps to capture changes throughout the tidal cycle.
There is no presently-available way to measure high-resolution currents with satellites. Satellite altimeters can detect large-scale open ocean currents like the Gulf Stream but this approach does not work for tidal- and wind-driven currents.
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Model validation is the process of comparing the model predictions against real-world measurements. The specific data we use for this varies depending on what’s available for the given region. In general, we rely on public data from government agencies like NOAA but, rarely, we can also collect custom measurements.
If there are no active data stations in a region, we will turn to historical datasets in the peer-reviewed scientific literature. We will then run a “hindcast” simulation to see how accurate the model would have been during that time period.
Example data sources:
Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP): Typically sitting on the seafloor looking upwards. Use sound pulses to measure the speed and direction of the currents at multiple depths throughout the water column.
High Frequency (HF) Radar: Positioned on land near the coast. Scans a region of the coastal ocean and calculates the surface currents.
Drifters: Also called “Lagrangian drifters”, any of a range of devices that float and drift with the currents, using changes in GPS position to infer velocity.
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Maybe! Feel free to reach out with your suggestions. There is a list of a regions we would like to add, and will prioritize the most popular ones.
Some areas simply aren’t a good fit for this technology though. Generally, areas with strong tidal currents will yield the highest accuracy.
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The files will be emailed to you on the dates specified on the item’s page. They are not available for immediate download because Current Lab’s ocean models are run each day in order to account for the latest wind conditions and other environmental factors.
If it’s the expected delivery date and you still haven’t received a file, please check your email’s Spam folder. If it’s not in there, please contact info@current-lab.com.