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Live Dashboard Technical Specification

The Observatory Almanac — Real-Time Data Integration

Version 1.0 | For implementation reference

Overview

The Observatory Almanac Live Dashboard aggregates real-time planetary, environmental, and economic data into a unified display. It is designed to give the reader an immediate sense of the world's current state: the atmosphere, the oceans, the ground beneath us, and the markets humans have built upon it.

This document specifies every data source, API endpoint, authentication method, refresh rate, and display concept needed to build the dashboard.

Architecture Philosophy

  • Pull-based updates: Most feeds are polled on a schedule; push/WebSocket where available
  • Graceful degradation: Each widget is independent; one failure doesn't break others
  • Caching layer: All data cached locally with TTL matching refresh rate
  • Rate limit awareness: All API calls designed to stay within free/standard tier limits

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MODULE 1: ATMOSPHERIC & EARTH SCIENCE

═══════════════════════════════════════

1.1 NOAA — Tide Tables

Purpose: Real-time and predicted tide heights for coastal locations

API Base URL: 

https://api.tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/api/prod/datagetter

Authentication: None required (public API)

Example Request — Water Level (6-minute intervals): 

GET https://api.tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/api/prod/datagetter
  ?begin_date=20240101
  &end_date=20240102
  &station=8418150
  &product=water_level
  &datum=MLLW
  &time_zone=GMT
  &units=english
  &format=json

Example Request — Tide Predictions: 

GET https://api.tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/api/prod/datagetter
  ?begin_date=20240101
  &end_date=20240102
  &station=8418150
  &product=predictions
  &datum=MLLW
  &interval=hilo
  &time_zone=GMT
  &units=metric
  &format=json

Response Format (JSON): 

{
  "predictions": [
    {"t": "2024-01-01 00:00", "v": "1.234", "type": "L"},
    {"t": "2024-01-01 06:13", "v": "3.456", "type": "H"}
  ]
}

Key Parameters: - station: Station ID (find at https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/stations.html) - datum: MLLW (Mean Lower Low Water) standard for US - product: water_level (real-time), predictions (forecasts), currents

Refresh Rate: Every 6 minutes (matches NOAA's own update interval)

Display Concept: - Animated tide curve showing current height and 24h forecast - Visual indicator: rising/falling/high/low - Color-coded safety zones (navigation safe/caution/unsafe for draft depth) - Next high/low time prominently displayed

Station Search API: 

GET https://api.tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/mdapi/prod/webapi/stations.json
  ?type=tidepredictions
  &units=english

1.2 NOAA — Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa Observatory)

Purpose: Real-time atmospheric CO₂ concentration from the Keeling Curve

Primary Data Source: 

https://gml.noaa.gov/webdata/ccgg/trends/co2/co2_daily_mlo.txt

Format: Plain text, space-delimited 

# year   month    day   decimal   co2(ppm)   days   1-day   7-day   31-day
2024     1        1     2024.001  421.47     0      -0.23   0.12    0.34

Alternative JSON-compatible endpoint: 

https://global-warming.org/api/co2-api
(Third-party but reliable; returns JSON with historical and current data)

NOAA GML Direct Access: 

https://gml.noaa.gov/aftp/data/trace_gases/co2/flask/surface/co2_mlo_surface-flask_1_ccgg_month.txt

Refresh Rate: Daily (Mauna Loa updates once per day)

Display Concept: - Large prominent readout: current ppm value - Trend line: 1958 (Keeling baseline ~315 ppm) to present - Year-over-year delta highlighted - Contextual marker: pre-industrial baseline (~280 ppm) and climate targets (350 ppm safe zone, 450 ppm 2°C threshold) - Seasonal oscillation visible (northern hemisphere winter = higher due to less plant absorption)

Keeling Curve Historical Archive: 

https://scrippsco2.ucsd.edu/data/atmospheric_co2/primary_mlo_co2_record.html

1.3 NOAA — Satellite Imagery

NOAA GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites)

Image Access: 

https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES16/ABI/CONUS/GEOCOLOR/{timestamp}_GOES16-ABI-CONUS-GEOCOLOR-{resolution}.jpg

Live Image Feed: 

https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES/fulldisk.php?sat=G16

Full Disk GeoColor (GOES-16, Americas): 

https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES16/ABI/FD/GEOCOLOR/latest.jpg

Full Disk (GOES-18, Pacific): 

https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES18/ABI/FD/GEOCOLOR/latest.jpg

Refresh Rate: Every 10 minutes (full disk), every 5 minutes (CONUS)

Display Concept: - Auto-refreshing Earth image widget - Selectable overlays: storm tracking, fire detection, sea surface temperature - Animation loop: last 24 hours in 10-minute steps

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MODULE 2: NASA GIBS — EARTH IMAGERY

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2.1 NASA GIBS (Global Imagery Browse Services)

Purpose: Daily high-resolution Earth satellite imagery from multiple sensors

API Base URL (WMTS): 

https://gibs.earthdata.nasa.gov/wmts/epsg4326/best/wmts.cgi

OGC WMTS GetTile Request: 

GET https://gibs.earthdata.nasa.gov/wmts/epsg4326/best/wmts.cgi
  ?SERVICE=WMTS
  &REQUEST=GetTile
  &VERSION=1.0.0
  &LAYER=MODIS_Terra_CorrectedReflectance_TrueColor
  &STYLE=default
  &TILEMATRIXSET=250m
  &TILEMATRIX={zoom}
  &TILEROW={row}
  &TILECOL={col}
  &TIME=2024-01-01
  &FORMAT=image/jpeg

Available Layers (selection): | Layer ID | Description | Resolution | |----------|-------------|------------| | MODIS_Terra_CorrectedReflectance_TrueColor | True-color daily global | 250m | | MODIS_Terra_Thermal_Anomalies_Day | Active fire detections | 1km | | MODIS_Aqua_SurfaceReflectance_Bands721 | False-color (vegetation) | 500m | | VIIRS_SNPP_CorrectedReflectance_TrueColor | Daily true-color (NOAA-20) | 375m | | BlueMarble_NextGeneration | Monthly composite (no clouds) | 500m | | ASTER_GDEM_Greyscale_Shaded_Relief | Elevation (static) | 15m |

Layer Capabilities (full list): 

https://gibs.earthdata.nasa.gov/wmts/epsg4326/best/wmts.cgi?SERVICE=WMTS&REQUEST=GetCapabilities

Authentication: None required (public NASA dataset)

Refresh Rate: Daily (MODIS/VIIRS imagery available ~3-4 hours after satellite pass)

Display Concept: - Slippy map widget (Leaflet.js + GIBS tile layers) - Date slider: browse any day back to 2000 - Layer selector: true color, fire, vegetation index, sea ice - Split-screen: compare any two dates

NASA Worldview (reference implementation): 

https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov/

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MODULE 3: USGS — EARTHQUAKES & RIVERS

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3.1 USGS Earthquake Feeds

Purpose: Real-time seismic activity worldwide

Base URL: 

https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/feed/v1.0/

GeoJSON Feeds: 

# Past hour, all magnitudes
GET https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/feed/v1.0/summary/all_hour.geojson

# Past day, magnitude 2.5+
GET https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/feed/v1.0/summary/2.5_day.geojson

# Past 7 days, magnitude 4.5+
GET https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/feed/v1.0/summary/4.5_week.geojson

# Past 30 days, significant quakes
GET https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/feed/v1.0/summary/significant_month.geojson

Response Format (GeoJSON): 

{
  "type": "FeatureCollection",
  "metadata": {
    "generated": 1704067200000,
    "count": 42
  },
  "features": [
    {
      "type": "Feature",
      "properties": {
        "mag": 5.3,
        "place": "123km NNE of Tonga",
        "time": 1704067200000,
        "updated": 1704067800000,
        "url": "https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us7000lmfp",
        "detail": "...",
        "felt": null,
        "cdi": null,
        "mmi": 3.2,
        "alert": "green",
        "status": "reviewed",
        "tsunami": 0,
        "depth": 10.0
      },
      "geometry": {
        "type": "Point",
        "coordinates": [-175.38, -18.97, 10.0]
      }
    }
  ]
}

API Query (custom parameters): 

GET https://earthquake.usgs.gov/fdsnws/event/1/query
  ?format=geojson
  &starttime=2024-01-01
  &endtime=2024-01-02
  &minmagnitude=4.0
  &orderby=time

Authentication: None required

Refresh Rate: Every 5 minutes (hour feeds), every 15 minutes (day feeds)

Display Concept: - Global map with magnitude-scaled, color-coded dots - Magnitude filter slider - Alert levels: green/yellow/orange/red (PAGER scale) - Tsunami warning flag - 24h activity histogram - Click to expand: depth, fault type, ShakeMap

3.2 USGS River Flow Gauges

Purpose: Real-time streamflow and water level data for US rivers

API Base URL: 

https://waterservices.usgs.gov/nwis/iv/

Request — Current conditions, site list: 

GET https://waterservices.usgs.gov/nwis/iv/
  ?sites=01646500,14211720
  &parameterCd=00060,00065
  &format=json
(00060 = discharge in cfs; 00065 = gauge height in feet)

Request — Time series: 

GET https://waterservices.usgs.gov/nwis/iv/
  ?sites=01646500
  &parameterCd=00060
  &period=P7D
  &format=json

Site Discovery: 

GET https://waterservices.usgs.gov/nwis/site/
  ?stateCd=CA
  &parameterCd=00060
  &siteType=ST
  &format=rdb

Flood Stage Data: 

GET https://waterservices.usgs.gov/nwis/site/
  ?sites=01646500
  &hasDataTypeCd=iv
  &format=json

Authentication: None required

Refresh Rate: Every 15 minutes

Display Concept: - Selectable river/gauge by region - Sparkline: 7-day discharge trend - Flood stage indicator: normal/action/flood/major flood - Map view: all active gauges colored by stage

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MODULE 4: AIR QUALITY (AirNow)

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4.1 AirNow API

Purpose: Real-time AQI (Air Quality Index) for US locations

API Base URL: 

https://www.airnowapi.org/aq/

Authentication: Free API key required
Registration: https://docs.airnowapi.org/account/request/

Current AQI by ZIP code: 

GET https://www.airnowapi.org/aq/observation/zipCode/current/
  ?format=application/json
  &zipCode=94102
  &distance=25
  &API_KEY={YOUR_KEY}

Current AQI by lat/lon: 

GET https://www.airnowapi.org/aq/observation/latLong/current/
  ?format=application/json
  &latitude=37.7749
  &longitude=-122.4194
  &distance=25
  &API_KEY={YOUR_KEY}

Forecast (next 2 days): 

GET https://www.airnowapi.org/aq/forecast/zipCode/
  ?format=application/json
  &zipCode=94102
  &date=2024-01-01
  &distance=25
  &API_KEY={YOUR_KEY}

Historical: 

GET https://www.airnowapi.org/aq/observation/zipCode/historical/
  ?format=application/json
  &zipCode=94102
  &date=2024-01-01T00-0000
  &distance=25
  &API_KEY={YOUR_KEY}

Response Format: 

[
  {
    "DateObserved": "2024-01-01",
    "HourObserved": 14,
    "LocalTimeZone": "PST",
    "ReportingArea": "San Francisco",
    "StateCode": "CA",
    "Latitude": 37.7749,
    "Longitude": -122.4194,
    "ParameterName": "PM2.5",
    "AQI": 42,
    "Category": {
      "Number": 1,
      "Name": "Good"
    }
  }
]

AQI Category Scale: | AQI | Category | Color | Health Meaning | |-----|----------|-------|----------------| | 0–50 | Good | Green | Air quality satisfactory | | 51–100 | Moderate | Yellow | Sensitive groups may be affected | | 101–150 | Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | Orange | General public unaffected | | 151–200 | Unhealthy | Red | Everyone may experience effects | | 201–300 | Very Unhealthy | Purple | Health alert | | 301–500 | Hazardous | Maroon | Emergency conditions |

Refresh Rate: Hourly

Display Concept: - Location-based AQI gauge (large, color-coded) - Pollutant breakdown: PM2.5, PM10, O3, NO2, SO2, CO - 48-hour forecast bar chart - Health recommendation text - Map overlay: regional AQI heatmap

Global AQI Alternative (World Air Quality Index Project): 

GET https://api.waqi.info/feed/{city}/
  ?token={YOUR_TOKEN}
(Covers worldwide stations — see https://aqicn.org/api/)

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MODULE 5: MARKET DATA

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5.1 Stock Market Data

Recommended Provider: Alpha Vantage
Base URL: https://www.alphavantage.co/query
Free Tier: 25 requests/day, 5 requests/minute
API Key: Register at https://www.alphavantage.co/support/#api-key

Real-time Quote: 

GET https://www.alphavantage.co/query
  ?function=GLOBAL_QUOTE
  &symbol=AAPL
  &apikey={YOUR_KEY}

Market Indices (using ETF proxies): | Index | Symbol | Exchange | |-------|--------|----------| | NYSE Composite | NYA | NYSE | | NASDAQ Composite | COMP | NASDAQ | | S&P 500 | SPY (ETF) | NYSE | | FTSE 100 (LSE) | ISF.L | London | | Nikkei 225 (TSE) | ^N225 | Tokyo | | Shanghai Composite (SSE) | 000001.SS | Shanghai | | DAX (Frankfurt) | ^GDAXI | Frankfurt | | CAC 40 (Paris) | ^FCHI | Paris |

Response: 

{
  "Global Quote": {
    "01. symbol": "AAPL",
    "02. open": "185.23",
    "03. high": "186.74",
    "04. low": "183.87",
    "05. price": "185.92",
    "06. volume": "52847362",
    "07. latest trading day": "2024-01-02",
    "08. previous close": "184.91",
    "09. change": "1.01",
    "10. change percent": "0.5464%"
  }
}

Alternative Free Provider: Yahoo Finance (unofficial) 

GET https://query1.finance.yahoo.com/v7/finance/quote
  ?symbols=^GSPC,^IXIC,^DJI,^FTSE,^N225,000001.SS
(No API key required but terms of service unclear — use at own risk)

Polygon.io (recommended for production): 

GET https://api.polygon.io/v2/aggs/ticker/{stocksTicker}/prev
  ?adjusted=true
  &apiKey={YOUR_KEY}
Free tier: unlimited EOD data, 5 API calls/minute

5.2 Cryptocurrency Data

Provider: CoinGecko
Base URL: https://api.coingecko.com/api/v3
Authentication: No key for free tier (50 calls/minute)
Free Key: Register at https://www.coingecko.com/en/api for higher limits

Current Prices (BTC, ETH, SOL): 

GET https://api.coingecko.com/api/v3/simple/price
  ?ids=bitcoin,ethereum,solana
  &vs_currencies=usd
  &include_24hr_change=true
  &include_market_cap=true
  &include_24hr_vol=true

Response: 

{
  "bitcoin": {
    "usd": 43521.00,
    "usd_24h_change": 2.3,
    "usd_market_cap": 852000000000,
    "usd_24h_vol": 18500000000
  },
  "ethereum": {
    "usd": 2234.50,
    "usd_24h_change": -0.8
  },
  "solana": {
    "usd": 98.32,
    "usd_24h_change": 4.1
  }
}

Candlestick Data (OHLCV): 

GET https://api.coingecko.com/api/v3/coins/bitcoin/ohlc
  ?vs_currency=usd
  &days=30

Exchange Volumes: 

GET https://api.coingecko.com/api/v3/exchanges

Refresh Rate: Every 60 seconds (free tier); every 30 seconds (pro)

5.3 Commodities Data

Provider: Commodities API (commodities-api.com)
Base URL: https://commodities-api.com/api
Free Tier: 100 API calls/month
API Key: Register at https://commodities-api.com

Current Commodity Prices: 

GET https://commodities-api.com/api/latest
  ?access_key={YOUR_KEY}
  &base=USD
  &symbols=GOLD,OIL,WHEAT,COFFEE

Response: 

{
  "data": {
    "timestamp": 1704067200,
    "base": "USD",
    "rates": {
      "GOLD": 0.000510,
      "OIL": 0.013310,
      "WHEAT": 0.002050,
      "COFFEE": 0.002380
    }
  }
}
(Rates are per USD unit; invert for price in USD per unit)

Alternative: Alpha Vantage Commodities 

GET https://www.alphavantage.co/query
  ?function=BRENT
  &interval=weekly
  &apikey={YOUR_KEY}

# Other functions: WTI, NATURAL_GAS, COPPER, ALUMINUM, WHEAT, CORN, 
# COTTON, SUGAR, COFFEE

Free Commodity Prices (no key): 

# Gold (via Gold API)
GET https://www.goldapi.io/api/XAU/USD
  -H "x-access-token: {FREE_KEY}"

# World Bank commodity data (historical, no key)
GET https://api.worldbank.org/v2/en/indicator/PCOMM.BRENT?format=json

Key Commodity Codes: | Commodity | Symbol | Unit | |-----------|--------|------| | Gold | XAU / GOLD | Troy oz (USD) | | Silver | XAG | Troy oz (USD) | | Crude Oil (WTI) | OIL / WTI | Barrel (USD) | | Brent Crude | BRENT | Barrel (USD) | | Natural Gas | NATURAL_GAS | MMBtu (USD) | | Wheat | WHEAT | Bushel (USD) | | Coffee (Arabica) | COFFEE / KC | lb (USD) | | Corn | CORN | Bushel (USD) | | Cotton | COTTON | lb (USD) |

Refresh Rate: Every 15 minutes (markets open), hourly (overnight)

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MODULE 6: DISPLAY ARCHITECTURE

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6.1 Dashboard Layout Concept

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  🌍 THE OBSERVATORY — LIVE PLANETARY DASHBOARD                  │
├──────────────┬──────────────┬────────────────┬──────────────────┤
│  🌊 TIDES    │  💨 AQI      │  🌡️ CO₂ (ppm) │  🌍 EARTH NOW   │
│  High: 6.2ft │  SF: 42 GOOD │  421.47 ppm    │  [GIBS Image]   │
│  in 3h 12m  │  LA: 85 MOD  │  +2.3 vs 2023  │  GOES-16 Disc   │
│  [Tide Curve]│  [Map]       │  [Keeling Crv] │  Auto-refresh   │
├──────────────┴──────────────┴────────────────┴──────────────────┤
│  🔴 EARTHQUAKES (Last 24h)                                      │
│  M5.3 — Tonga (3h ago) | M4.1 — Japan (7h ago) | M3.8 — Chile │
│  [Global seismic map with magnitude-scaled dots]                │
├───────────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────┤
│  📈 MARKETS                       │  🌊 RIVERS                  │
│  S&P500   4,742  +0.8%  ▲        │  Mississippi at St. Louis   │
│  NASDAQ  14,831  +1.2%  ▲        │  23,400 cfs — NORMAL        │
│  LSE/FTSE  7,723  -0.3% ▼        │  Colorado at Lees Ferry     │
│  Nikkei  33,288  +0.5%  ▲        │  8,920 cfs — NORMAL         │
│  SSE/Shanghai 2,887 -0.4% ▼      │                             │
│  BTC    $43,521  +2.3%  ▲        │                             │
│  ETH     $2,234  -0.8%  ▼        │                             │
│  Gold   $2,063/oz +0.1% ▲        │                             │
│  Oil (WTI) $74.2/bbl -1.2% ▼    │                             │
└───────────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────┘

6.2 Technology Stack Recommendation

Frontend:
  - Framework: React or Vue.js
  - Maps: Leaflet.js + Leaflet.GIBS plugin for NASA imagery
  - Charts: Chart.js or D3.js for tide curves, Keeling Curve
  - CSS: Tailwind CSS for responsive layout

Backend/Proxy:
  - Node.js Express server
  - Redis for caching (TTL matched to each feed's refresh rate)
  - Cron scheduler (node-cron) for background fetches
  - API key management via environment variables

Deployment:
  - Docker container
  - Environment: .env file for all API keys

6.3 API Keys Required

Service Cost Key URL
NOAA Tides Free No key needed
NOAA CO₂ Free No key needed
NASA GIBS Free No key needed
USGS Earthquakes Free No key needed
USGS River Gauges Free No key needed
AirNow Free https://docs.airnowapi.org/account/request/
Alpha Vantage (stocks) Free/Paid https://www.alphavantage.co/support/#api-key
CoinGecko (crypto) Free/Paid https://www.coingecko.com/en/api
Commodities API Free/Paid https://commodities-api.com
Gold API Free https://www.goldapi.io

6.4 Rate Limit Management

// Refresh schedule (cron syntax)
const schedules = {
  tides:       '*/6 * * * *',     // Every 6 minutes
  co2:         '0 12 * * *',      // Daily at noon UTC
  nasaGIBS:    '0 */4 * * *',     // Every 4 hours
  goesImages:  '*/10 * * * *',    // Every 10 minutes
  earthquakes: '*/5 * * * *',     // Every 5 minutes
  riverGauges: '*/15 * * * *',    // Every 15 minutes
  airNow:      '0 * * * *',       // Hourly
  stocks:      '*/15 9-16 * * 1-5', // Every 15 min, market hours (M-F)
  crypto:      '*/1 * * * *',     // Every minute
  commodities: '*/15 * * * *',    // Every 15 minutes
};

This specification is designed to be implementable entirely within free tier API limits for a personal observatory. For commercial use or higher refresh rates, upgrade API tiers accordingly.