China Argo Data Center (CADC)

China Argo Data Center (CADC) was authorized to set up in NMDIS(National Marine Data & Information Service) by SOA in Nov. 2002.Its major duty is the Argo data management and sharing service.

Until now,

   The integrate operational work flow of China Argo Data Center has been set up;

   The operational Argo processing system has been finished, by which the Global Argo real-time data are downloaded from the Global Data Center ( Ifremer ), quality controlled, archived every day. Both website and FTP provide data service;

   Global Argo data base has been finished, the Argo floats' trajectories, waterfall map, and T-S diagrams map can be got on-line;

   Based on WJO delayed-mode QC software, BS software and the shipboard CTD casts near the floats , the Chinese floats salinity data have been calibrated. Now we are still studying the effect of the sliding window, mapping scale, reference dataset, different software to the Argo salinity calibrated results.

   Based on the OI method , objectively analyzed monthly mean products in Pacific are made from ARGO profile and ship-based CTD data .

Our Work

1. Receiving and Service of Near Real time Argo Data

   An operational system has been set up, by which the Global Argo data are downloaded from the Global Data Center (Ifremer), quality controlled, archived every day, and provide data service on website and FTP. Until now, we have collected about 4GB global Argo data from 1996 to October 2005, All Argo data are processed and quality controlled by Argo China Data Center.

2. Receiving and Service of Delayed-mode Argo Data

  The China Argo Data Center (CADC) makes full use of the established and possible international data cooperation to improve the exchange and cooperation with the relevant bodies related to international Argo project, the Argo Global Data Assembly Centers, the regional and national Argo data centers, so as to collect the delayed-mode Argo data in worldwide. The data will firstly be distributed to relevant users and released on the CADC website within a week after collection.

  The CADC processes and quality controls the collected data by the delayed-mode quality control system we developed,based on WJO delayed-mode QC software, BS software and the shipboard CTD casts near the floats, the Chinese floats salinity data have been calibrated. Now we are still studying the effect of the sliding window, mapping scale, reference dataset, different software to the Argo salinity calibrated results. The data from the floats deployed by China and from the global floats are distributed to relevant users, uploaded into the China delayed-mode Argo dataset and released on the CADC website within 60 days after processing.

3. Data Product Making and Distribution

  In each quarter, the China Argo Data Center (CADC) generates the data products of last quarter and releases them on its website.

The Products
Waterfall
Float Trajectory Map
T-S Diagrams Map

  The waterfall map and trajectory map of each float are all on-line . The CADC periodically provides Argo data products for relevant users by specific network system and other ways. The dataset CDs are made every 3 months and delivered to the users, which include 55 oceanographers and 29 colleges and institutes now.

4. Collection and Service of Information Related to Argo Data

  Information on the progress of the Argo projects at home and abroad is collected via various ways to update and maintain the China Argo database on comprehensive management information and to be released on the website.

The integrate operational work flow of CADC