FAQ

1. Why could floats never be handled by any Argo Data Assembly Center?
Some Argo float providers publish float data on the WMO Global Telecommunications System (GTS), while they are in the process of providing float data via standard Argo data dissemination. The Global Argo Data Assembly Center (GDAC) extracts data files from the GTS and converts the data files to the standard GDAC format. When the formal data submission is achieved, the associated GTS files will be removed from the GDAC.
2. What is Google Earth™?
Google Earth™ is a sofware application that allows you to view a wide range of geographic information on a three-dimensional spinning globe.
3. Are the Argo data actually in Google Earth™?
No. You have to download the visualization file (KML or KMZ) from NODC to view the Argo data through Google Earth.
4. What is KML?
KML (Keyhole Markup Language) is a file format used to display geographic data in an Earth browser, such as Google Earth, Google Maps, and Google Maps for mobile. KML uses a tag-based structure with nested elements and attributes and is based on the XML standard. KML files are very often distributed as KMZ files, which are zipped KML files with a .kmz extension.
5. What is the difference between KML and KMZ?
A KMZ file is a compressed KML file.