AOML GDP ERDDAP™


The AOML GDP launched their ERDDAP™ server on May 19, 2023, in an effort to increase access to drifter data for the scientific community. ERDDAP™, or Environmental Research Division Data Access Program™, is a scientific data server using free and open-source software created by the Environmental Research Division of NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center.

Currently, the AOML GDP ERDDAP™ features nine datasets, including the 6-hour and hourly quality-controlled interpolated datasets, as well as near real-time drifter data from the Global Telecommunications System. Users can quickly retrieve these datasets in their desired file format, as well as filter their query by constraining drifter variables such as time, location, drifter identification number, and/or World Meteorological Organization number.

Distributing publicly-available data through ERDDAP™ provides many advantages, including compliance with NOAA's Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) standards, the flexibility of offering numerous output file formats, and the minimal need to reformat data on the user's end. ERDDAP™ provides an additional benefit for data analysts, web application developers, and numerical modelers interested in retrieving drifter data through computer programs, rather than the ERDDAP™ webpage interface.


Datasets within the AOML GDP ERDDAP™:


The Global Drifter Program at AOML plans to add additonal datasets to the ERDDAP™!

Federated ERDDAP™

The AOML GDP ERDDAP™ belongs to a federation of ERDDAP™ servers. A federated system describes an efficient and decentralized data distribution approach in which multiple ERDDAPs reference a shared dataset, or datasets. Specifically, one ERDDAP™ hosts a dataset, and another ERDDAP™ references the dataset from the host ERDDAP™.


The AOML GDP ERDDAP™ Federation includes our own ERDDAP™, as well as NOAA's OSMC ERDDAP™ and Ifremer's Coriolis ERDDAP™.



Representation of the AOML GDP Federated ERDDAP™


A federated ERDDAP™ provides multiple benefits to data users and data providers, championing the FAIR data standards! Aside from minimizing data storage costs, a federated ERDDAP™ also eliminates the need to transfer data files from OSMC to the AOML GDP, and from the AOML GDP to Ifremer/Coriolis and to OSMC.

  • By redirecting ERDDAP™ data requests to the host ERDDAP™, data requests are timely and efficient.
  • Additionally, federated ERDDAPs allow for dataset version control. For example, when the AOML GDP pushes the latest hourly QC update to the ERDDAP™, the referenced dataset on Ifremer's ERDDAP™ and OSMC's ERDDAP™ is automatically updated.
  • Since ERDDAP™ is a web server, data providers can monitor the server's traffic and extract key metrics about who is using the data. With a federated ERDDAP™, a host ERDDAP™ logs requests made to the server, and any server referencing the host's data. Thus, allowing all members of the federated system to generate metrics and identify key KPIs for their respective ERDDAP. The AOML has created an ERDDAP™ Dashboard to display key metrics, including historic monthly reports since the ERDDAP's creation.



GDP metrics report available on the ERDDAP™ Dashboard



ERDDAP™ Tutorials

The AOML GDP has created tutorials and step-by-step instructions to guide you through the ERDDAP™ data request process.
See available resources below:

Written Instructions

Video Tutorials

With the growing importance for strong data management principles, there is great demand for estblishing ERDDAP™ servers. For great insight, links, and additional resources, reference Samantha Ouertani's presentation below:


For additional data related questons, visit the GDP Data Homepage and/or the Data FAQs webpage.

For specific questions related to ERDDAP™, contact Samantha Ouertani.