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Array Map - Google Earth
Array Evaluation
Global Deployment Value Map
Array Map - Drogue Status
Array Growth
Global Near-Surface Currents - Climatology
Drifter Illustration
Ocean Currents Schematic


Database Update Status


December 18, 2023:

The GDP database has been updated through September 30, 2023 and is now available for download via the AOML GDP ERDDAP. For instuctions how to use ERDDAP to download subsets of GDP data in common file formats and/or make graphs, visit:


The GDP database remains available for download here.
Or, using a secure FTP client, such as FileZilla, Download All

Additional resources, tutorials, and download options can be found on our 6-Hourly Interpolated Data site.

News


March 05, 2024


With the growing importance for strong data management principles, Samantha Ouertani's 'An Overview of the Global Drifter Program's ERDDAP Server: From Set-up to Metrics' seminar detailing the benefits of the Global Drifter Program's ERDDAP server is available on Youtube. For those interested in establishing an ERDDAP server, reference the presentation for great insight, links, and additional resources!


September 18, 2023


ERDDAP YouTube Tutorial is now available.

In addition to the written instructions already available, the new YouTube tutorial contains step-by-step guidance and additional information suited for all users, with content separated by chapters.

Learn how to utilize the AOML GDP ERDDAP today!

For more information about the impacts of the AOML GDP ERDDAP and how the AOML GDP ERDDAP increases access to drifting buoy data, click here.

June 26, 2023


AOML GDP ERDDAP is now live!


6-hour quality-controlled data and hourly quality controlled data are now available at the AOML GDP ERDDAP server. For instructions how to download QC drifter data, refernce the links below and query by desired parameter(s).



August 11, 2022


A new dataset of hourly drifter temperatures, locations, and velocities has been released and is available at https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/phod/gdp/hourly_data.php. The methodology to derive these data is described in “A dataset of hourly sea surface temperature from drifting buoys” by S. Elipot, A. Sykulski, R. Lumpkin, L. Centurioni, and M. Pazos (Scientific Data, https://arxiv.org/abs/2201.08289). In this hourly dataset, total, diurnal, and nondiurnal SST components and their formal error bars have now been included.



February 12, 2021


Version 1.04c of the hourly drifter data is now available (using a secure FTP client, such as FileZilla).



Oct 22, 2020


Hurricane Epsilon Drifter Deployments



On the afternoon of Thursday, Oct. 22, a C-130J of the Air Force 53rd squadron “Hurricane Hunters” deployed 12 drifters ahead of Hurricane Epsilon northeast of Bermuda. This deployment was coordinated by Rick Lumpkin (NOAA/AOML), in partnership with Luca Centurioni (SIO/LDL), CARCAH (NWS/NHC), and colleagues in HRD, EMC, and elsewhere. The drifters, designed and built at the Lagrangian Drifter Laboratory at SIO, are measuring directional wave spectra, wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, sea temperatures from the surface to 150m depth, and near-surface ocean currents. All 12 drifters are now transmitting data being placed on the GTS. The data will be analyzed as a case study of a hurricane transitioning to extratropical status, with an unusually large gale-force wind field.



Location of 6 pairs of drifters deployed ahead of Hurricane Epsilon, superimposed on Sea Surface Temperature (colors). Each pair had a wave drifter and either a Minimet (a standard GDP barometer drifter with wind speed and direction added) or ADOS drifter (replacing the 15m drogue with a thermistor chain to 150m depth).



September 21, 2020


Hurricane Teddy Drifter Deployments



Location of 8 pairs of drifters deployed ahead of Hurricane Teddy, superimposed on Sea Surface Temperature (colors). Each pair had a wave drifter and either a Minimet (a standard GDP barometer drifter with wind speed and direction added) or ADOS drifter (replacing the 15m drogue with a thermistor chain to 150m depth).

On Saturday, September 19, 16 drifters were air-deployed from an Air Force C-130J of the 53rd Reconnaissance Squadron ahead of major hurricane Teddy southeast of Bermuda. The deployment was coordinated by Rick Lumpkin (NOAA/AOML) in collaboration with Luca Centurioni (SIO/LDL), CARCAH (NWS/NHC), and colleagues in EMC, HRD, and elsewhere. The drifters, designed and built at the Lagrangian Drifter Laboratory at SIO, are measuring directional wave spectra, wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, sea temperatures from the surface to 150m depth, and near-surface ocean currents. The drifters were packaged two per box; the parachute on one box failed, but all other drifters reported good data as the storm approached and passed, including measurements within the cold wake of Hurricane Paulette that had passed over the region the week before.


Aug 3, 2020


Hurricane Isaias Drifter Deployments


Late on Sunday, August 2, an Air Force C-130J of the 53rd Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters” deployed eight drifters ahead of tropical cyclone Isaias off the Carolina coast. These deployments were coordinated by Rick Lumpkin of NOAA/AOML, working with NWS/NHC/CARCAH and Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO). The drifters, designed and built at SIO and funded by NOAA/GOMO, measure barometric pressure, sea surface temperature, ocean currents, wind speed and direction, and directional wave spectra. The data are now going onto the Global Telecommunications System for operational use by the National Weather Service and for better understanding how strong winds interact with the Gulf Stream system during wave formation and air-sea interactions. Isaias is forecast to reach Category 1 strength before reaching the array and subsequently making landfall.



April 08, 2020


New, NetCDF versions of all the 6-hour quality-controlled data are now available at the OSMC Interpolated Data ERDDAP server and at ftp://ftp.aoml.noaa.gov/phod/pub/lumpkin/netcdf/ (using a secure FTP client, such as FileZilla). These now include a large amount of additional metadata including deploying country, drogue cross-sectional area, surface buoy diameter, presence of subsurface float, starting voltage, and much more. For instructions on how to download the data, follow these Interpolated Data Request Instructions and enter the parameters of interest.




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