Wind fetch refers to the distance over water that the wind blows in a consistent direction without any significant obstruction. It is an important concept in meteorology and oceanography, as it affects the size and energy of ocean waves. The longer the fetch, the more energy waves can gain, leading to larger and more powerful waves when the wind blows steadily over a long distance.
The World Ocean Atlas (WOA) is a comprehensive collection of data on oceanographic variables that provides valuable information for researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders interested in ocean science and marine environments. It is developed by the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), now part of the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States.
The World Ocean Database (WOD) Project is a significant initiative that aims to compile a comprehensive, publicly accessible resource of oceanographic data. Managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States, the WOD specifically focuses on gathering and standardizing oceanographic data collected from various sources, including research vessels, buoys, and other ocean monitoring systems.
World Ocean Review is a series of publications that aim to provide comprehensive and accessible information on the state of the world's oceans and the various challenges they face. These reports are produced by the non-profit organization "Wissenschaftlicher Beirat der Bundesregierung Globale Umweltveränderungen" (WBGU), which translates to the Scientific Advisory Board on Global Change of the German government.