Welcome to the Copernicus Ocean Colour Database (OCDB) System!

Comparison between simultaneous in-situ and satellite measurements are fundamental for satellite product validation, to prove the accuracy and limitations of the data services. In addition, in-situ measurements alone or combined with satellite products are required for Ocean Colour algorithm development. Considering the need for sustained access to in situ-Fiducial Reference Measurements for the Copernicus programme, the aim of the Copernicus Ocean Colour Database (OCDB) is to provide a platform to collect, organize and make available to the ocean colour community:

1. ocean colour related in-situ measurements and

2. radiometer calibration and characterisation files

and to ensure long-term stewardship of these critical data.

The radiometer calibration and characterisation files are collected in the Fiducial Radiometer database FidRadDB, which is hosted by the OCDB.

This tool enables researchers to store their in-situ data and radiometer files in an organised Database and to share them, if elected, in standardized file formats.

Only when elected by the contributor, in-situ measurements are published into the Database and made available to the public. Quality checks on format, measurements as well as on protocol compliance are performed, and a quality flag is provided for each measurement.

Published, best quality data are used to generate Match-up files with Sentinel-3 Level 2 Ocean Colour OLCI A and B products which are also made available through the Database.

The Databases OCDB and FidRadDB have been designed in order to guarantee easy access to data, a strong search engine, automation via command line access and interoperability with other Databases (in particular NASA SeaBASS Database). The FidRadDB can be accessed by the Hyper OCR Community Processor, abbreviated HyperCP or HCP (Read more about HyperCP).

Go to the Copernicus OCDB

Contents

• User Manual for the OCDB WebUI
  • Search webpage: Search and retrieve in-situ data
  • Submit webpage: Upload Data
• The OCDB command line client (ocdb-cli) and Python API
  • Installation
  • Configure
  • Search Database with find_datasets()
  • Search Database with Lucene syntax
  • Get Datasets
  • User Management
  • Managing Submissions
  • General
• Search the OCDB using the GUI
  • Free text search
  • Lucene Syntax
  • Search examples
• Contribute Data
  • Data Submission Policy
  • Data Format
  • Example for metadata headers section
  • Documentation
  • Data Quality
• Metadata Headers
  • Required Headers
  • Optional Headers
  • Error messages
  • Warning messages
• Standard field names and units
• Field name modifiers and suffixes
  • Modifiers
  • Suffixes
• Validation configuration (admin only)
  • Header
  • Records
  • Errors and Warnings
• Copernicus OCDB Data Policy
• Investigators
• Affiliations
• Experiments
• Cruises
• The FidRadDB database
• Calibration and characterisation files (cal/char files) in FidRadDB
• Managing FidRadDb
  • Download the API
  • Use the API in you python application
  • Use the API via commandline
  • First use of the command line
  • Uploading cal/char files to the server
  • List the files on the server
  • Search information in the history.log file
  • Get the end of the history.log file
  • Download a cal/char file from the server
  • Delete a cal/char file from the server
• External datasources
  • AERONET-OC data (SEABASS compatible text files)
  • MOBY data (SEABASS incompatible text files)
  • BGC ARGO data
• Matchup Database files
  • MDB files content
  • MDB files naming convention
  • MDB files preparation
  • Preparing in situ data: other sources
  • Chlorophyll-a chl-a, Total suspended Matter TSM, Colored Detrital and Dissolved Material absorption adg
  • References