Submit Data

Thank you for considering archiving your data at the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC). NODC provides data management services (acquisition, processing, quality control, archival, distribution) for physical, chemical and biological data from the world's oceans and adjacent waters. NODC will also keep an exact copy of any data that you submit, regardless of how it may be used in other processing steps.

1. Metadata and Data Files - Gather your data files and describe your data using one of these methods:

   • Use NODC's Electronic Data Documentation Form (EDDF), an Adobe Acrobat form you can fill in and send with your data files.
   • Use NODC's Metadata Enterprise Resource Management Aid (MERMAid), an interactive web-based metadata authoring application.
   • Use NODC's Submission Information Form (SIF), an Adobe Acrobat form or MS Word document or to describe recurring data submissions.

   NOTE: When using the PDF version of the EDDF or SIF, you will need Adobe Acrobat installed on your computer in order to save a completed version of the form.

   For other standard metadata authoring tool options, see the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) [Metadata tools page].

2. Send your data to NODC using one of these methods:

   • FTP
   • EMAIL
   • REGULAR MAIL
   • CALL NODC

   Don't forget to send both your metadata and data files.

   • Enter "ftp ftp.nodc.noaa.gov".
   • When prompted for name, enter "anonymous" (use lower case).
   • When prompted for password, enter your e-mail address.
   • When logged on, change directory to "incoming" by entering: "cd pub/incoming".
   • Check that you are in the correct directory (pub/incoming) by entering the command "pwd" (print working directory). Note: You will not be able to create a new directory. Please add your files to the incoming directory.
   • Change transfer type to ASCII by entering "ascii" if the data files are text and you are not sending it from a UNIX machine. If the file is an image file, or a special PC format (word processor, spread sheet, presentation graphics) do not change the type to ascii, but make sure the transfer type is binary by entering "bin".
   • Use "put filename", where "filename" is the name of your file, or for multiple files use "mput *.*" or "mput *" to transmit the data. When transferring multiple files you can turn off the prompt for each filename by typing "prompt" before you type the "mput" command.
   • After completion of file transmission, enter "ls" to obtain a list of files that were sent, both by you and other recent data submitters.
   • Enter "bye" to log off.
   • Send an e-mail message to: NODC.DataOfficer@noaa.gov to let us know that data was submitted. Please describe your exact submission procedures and anything else you would like us to know about the data.

   Sample FTP Data Submission

   Don't forget to send both your metadata and data files.

   Attaching data sets to email:

   • You can ask questions about archiving data at NODC or attach data and metadata files to an email to NODC.DataOfficer@noaa.gov
   • Keep in mind that there are obvious restrictions on the size of datasets that can be attached to email messages. Generally, file sizes larger than 2 or 3 Mb should be sent by another method. See FTP above. You can email your metadata files to the Data Officer and FTP the actual data if you wish; just please describe what you did (including which filenames you used) as completely as possible.

   Don't forget to send both your metadata and data files.

   Send data to:

   Data Officer
   SSMC3 E/OC1 4th Floor
   1315 East-West Highway
   Silver Spring, MD 20910
   USA

   Please include a description of what you are sending and your contact information (name, address, telephone number, email address). Copy your data and metadata files to a transfer medium, such as a DVD-ROM or CD-ROM; and include these in your mailing package.

   The NODC Data Officer will contact you about your submission once it is received.

   NODC Customer Service:

   • tel: 301-713-3277
   • fax: 301-713-3302

   Remember that these data may be used well into the future. Submit as much information about your data as possible. Please contact NODC if you need assistance. We are eager to help you in submitting your data files.