NODC Privacy Policy

Introduction
The NODC website is provided as a public service by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service. Information presented on these webpages is considered public information and may be distributed or copied. Use of appropriate byline/photo/image credits is requested. This policy covers privacy, disclaimers, security, and information collection practices.

When you visit our website
We do not collect personally identifiable information (e.g., name, address, phone number, e-mail address) from users, regardless of age, unless you provide it to us (see "Information Submitted by NODC Web Forms" below).

We collect standard NODC Web-log data:

Name of domain (for example,"xyzfirm.com" if you use a private Internet access account, or "yourschool.edu" if you are connecting from a university's domain).
IP address from which you access our Web site.
Type of browser and operating system used to access our Web site.
Date and time you accessed our Web site.
Internet address of the Web site from which you linked directly to us.
Webpages that you visit on our Web site.
Status code indicating success or failure in rendering a webpage for the browser.

Our site captures and uses this information so we can provide better services to our visitors. For example, we use the browser information to improve the functionality and format of our webpages. For Web site management and statistical purposes, we collect information such as which domains access our pages, which pages are accessed most frequently, and what time of day or week access to our pages is heaviest.

Use of Cookies
A small number of data systems at NODC may use session cookies (one example is the online store, which is a joint application between three NOAA data centers). Cookies are used for the user's convenience to maintain "state" between pages and to coordinate search results from multiple programs within a session. The cookies disappear after the session is completed (the session cookie on the client machine is set to expire when the user's session ends). NODC does not maintain a historical database of cookies, nor does it use any other tracking method to profile customers.

Email Sent to NODC
By sending NODC an electronic mail message (email), you may be sending personal information. In these cases, we may retain the information not only to respond to your request, but also as a record of correspondence according to Department of Commerce guidelines.

Information Submitted to NODC through Web Forms
If you use our Web site forms to contact us, we capture the information you provide and use it to respond to your comments, requests, and inquiries. This information may be maintained for future NODC communications, but to the maximum extent of the law is not provided to any other organizaton or entity. We also capture the address of the server from which you sent the form.

Providing any information to the NODC is voluntary. Submitting voluntary information constitutes your consent to the use of the information for the stated purpose. In the case of Web site forms, you grant consent by clicking the "Submit" (or "Send the Form") button.

Sharing and Protection of Information
NODC does not share any of the personal information you provide with agencies outside of the Department of Commerce. To the maximum extent of the law NODC does not distribute the information collected from this Web site, except for information or data you may have explicitly submitted for redistribution. Oceanographic data submitted to NODC for archiving will be made available to customers and other public entities.

Interaction with Children
Children may find educational data and information on the NODC Website, and they may interact with User Services personnel through electronic or other means. However, no personally indentifiable information is collected from any website visitor unless it is voluntarily submitted to us as a request for services. Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 - http://www.ftc.gov/ogc/coppa1.htm

Web Site Security
For Web site security purposes, and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, all traffic is monitored to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, otherwise cause damage, or to conduct criminal activity. To protect the NODC Web site from unauthorized use and to ensure its proper function, activities of all users are subject to monitoring and recording. Safeguards are in place to identify and prevent unauthorized attempts to access or harm our information systems. Anyone using the NODC Web site may be subject to such monitoring and is advised that if there is evidence of possible abuse or criminal activity, the results of this monitoring shall be made available to the appropriate officials for possible prosecution. Unauthorized attempts to upload or change information (or otherwise cause damage to the NODC Web site) are strictly prohibited, and may be punishable under applicable federal law.

Scope of the NODC Privacy Policy
The NODC Privacy Policy applies only to the webpages of the National Oceanographic Data Center. Other NOAA and Department of Commerce organizations may have different Privacy Policies and/or information collection practices. You are encouraged to check the Privacy Statements when going to other NOAA webpages, or when following links to external webpages.

Web site visitors can view their rights under the Privacy Act by following this link: http://www.cftc.gov/foia/foiprivacyact.htm

Disclaimer of Liability
While NODC makes every effort to ensure that its databases are error-free, errors do occur. We ask that you notify us immediately of any errors that you discover in our data. We will make every effort to correct them.

With respect to documents available from this server, neither the United States Government nor any of its employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose; nor assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed; nor represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.

Disclaimer of Endorsement
Reference to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government. The views and opinions of authors expressed on the NODC Website do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.

Disclaimer for External Links
The appearance of external links on the NODC Web site does not constitute endorsement of external Web sites or the information, products, or services contained therein by the Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service/National Oceanographic Data Center. The National Oceanographic Data Center does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at external Web site locations. External links are provided for your convenience, and for reasons consistent with NODC's mission.

As required by 17 U.S.C. 403, third parties producing copyrighted works consisting predominantly of the material produced by U.S. government agencies must provide notice with such work(s) identifying the U.S. Government material incorporated and stating that such material is not subject to copyright protection. The information on government web pages is in the public domain unless specifically annotated otherwise (copyright may be held elsewhere) and may therefore be used freely by the public.