To FTP the all data files (ASCII text ASCII compressed format):

Login as an 'anonymous'user to ftp.aoml.noaa.gov and proceed as follows:

At the system (e.g. unix) prompt enter commands shown after the ftp prompt (ftp>).

unix> ftp ftp.aoml.noaa.gov
ftp> binary
ftp> cd phod/pub/buoydata
ftp> prompt off
ftp> mget *
ftp> quit

All the drifter data is broken into two smaller files for easier downloading and updating.

The file "buoydata_1_5000.dat-gz" contains data from the earliest 5000 drifters. It is not updated: if you have downloaded this file before, you do not need to download it again.

The file "buoydata_5000_MMMYY.dat-gz" contains the updated data, through month MMM of year YY.

These data files are accompanied by metadata directory files containing deployment time and position, drogue off date, last time and position, death code, etc. for each drifter. The directory file for the drifters in "buoydata_1_5000.dat-gz" is called "dirfl_1_5000.dat". You only need to download this file once. The directory file for "buoydata_5000_MMMYY.dat-gz" is called "dirfl_5001_MMMYY.dat". This file is updated each time the data base is updated.

For more information, click here.