Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the NOAA Tides and Currents MCP Server

Q: What is an MCP Server?

A: MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open protocol that standardizes how applications provide context to LLMs. An MCP Server acts as a bridge, allowing AI models to access and interact with external data sources, like the NOAA Tides and Currents API in this case.

Q: What kind of data can I access through this MCP Server?

A: You can access a wide range of data, including water levels, tide predictions, currents data (real-time and historical), meteorological data (wind, air/water temperature), moon phase information, and sunrise/sunset times.

Q: What are some use cases for this server?

A: This server is valuable for maritime navigation (optimizing routes), coastal management (flood prediction), environmental monitoring (climate change studies), and recreational activities (fishing forecasts).

Q: How do I install the NOAA Tides and Currents MCP Server?

A: You can install it automatically via Smithery using the command npx -y @smithery/cli install @RyanCardin15/tidesandcurrents --client claude. Alternatively, you can perform a manual installation by cloning the repository and following the steps outlined in the documentation.

Q: What is the FastMCP framework?

A: FastMCP is a TypeScript framework for building MCP servers. It provides features like simple tool definition, sessions, image content handling, logging, and error handling.

Q: What formats does the data come in?

A: The data can be retrieved in JSON, XML, or CSV format.

Q: Can I filter the data by date?

A: Yes, you can filter data by date, time range, station ID, and other parameters to get the specific information you need.

Q: What is UBOS?

A: UBOS is a full-stack AI Agent Development Platform. It helps you orchestrate AI Agents, connect them with your enterprise data, build custom AI Agents with your LLM model and Multi-Agent Systems.

Q: Where can I find documentation for the NOAA Tides and Currents API?

A: Documentation for the NOAA Tides and Currents API can be found at:

• CO-OPS Data API: https://api.tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/api/prod/
• CO-OPS Metadata API: https://api.tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/mdapi/prod/
• CO-OPS Derived Product API: https://api.tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/dpapi/prod/

Q: What are the prerequisites for running this server?

A: You need Node.js (v18 or higher) and npm or yarn installed.