9 Index files of the GDAC content

Index files of GDAC content provide means to retrieve, find, make statistics on GDAC files with respect to a selection of fields. There exists one index file for each of the following types of GDAC files: profile files, B-profile files, S-profile files, trajectory, tech and meta files. These index files are located at the root of the GDAC servers (both https and ftp):

Some other more detailed index files exist on https://data-argo.ifremer.fr/etc/ repository. This repository is for internal expertise, only the detailed profile and S-profile index files will be described here-below.

These index files are auto-descriptive ASCII files; each index file contains:

A header with a list of general information: title, description, project name, format version, date of update, ftp root addresses, GDAC node
A table with a header containing the names of the columns followed by a line for each file of the GDAC that falls in this category of index. The table is a comma separated list.

Each index file is also available in a compressed version (gzipped with the .gz extension), also at the root of the GDAC servers.

In addition, for each update of an index file, an MD5 signature is produced. The MD5 signature file allows the user to check that the collected file is identical to the original file. MD5 signatures are recorded under the Ifremer https://data-argo.ifremer.fr/etc/md5/ repository with the following file naming convention: {index_file_name}.gz.md5.

9.1 Index of profile files

The index of profile files describes all individual profile files on the GDAC. It is named:

ar_index_global_prof.txt

ar_index_global_prof.txt definition

# Title : Profile directory file of the Argo Global Data Assembly Center

# Description : The directory file describes all individual profile files of the argo GDAC ftp site.

# Project : ARGO

# Format version : 2.0

# Date of update : YYYYMMDDHHMISS

# FTP root number 1 : ftp://ftp.ifremer.fr/ifremer/argo/dac

# FTP root number 2 : ftp://usgodae.org/pub/outgoing/argo/dac

# GDAC node : CORIOLIS

file,date,latitude,longitude,ocean,profiler_type,institution,date_update

file : path and file name. The file name contains the float number and the cycle number.
Fill value : none, this field is mandatory
date : date of the profile, YYYYMMDDHHMISS
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
latitude, longitude : location of the profile
Fill value : 99999.
ocean : code of the ocean of the profile as described in reference table 13
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
profiler_type : type of profiling float as described in reference table 8
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
institution : institution of the profiling float described in reference table 4
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
date_update : : date of last update of the file, YYYYMMDDHHMISS
Fill value : ” ” (blank)

ar_index_global_prof.txt example

# Title : Profile directory file of the Argo Global Data Assembly Center

# Description : The directory file describes all individual profile files of the argo GDAC ftp site.

# Project : ARGO

# Format version : 2.0

# Date of update : 20260918112415

# FTP root number 1 : ftp://ftp.ifremer.fr/ifremer/argo/dac

# FTP root number 2 : ftp://usgodae.org/pub/outgoing/argo/dac

# GDAC node : CORIOLIS

file,date,latitude,longitude,ocean,profiler_type,institution,date_update

aoml/13857/profiles/D13857_001.nc,19970729200300,0.267,-16.032,A,845,AO,20260220143529

aoml/13857/profiles/D13857_002.nc,19970809192112,0.072,-17.659,A,845,AO,20260220143529

aoml/13857/profiles/D13857_003.nc,19970820184545,0.543,-19.622,A,845,AO,20260220143530

aoml/13857/profiles/D13857_004.nc,19970831193905,1.256,-20.521,A,845,AO,20260220143530

…

There is also a subset of ar_index_global_prof.txt only containing the updates from the previous week and which follows exactly the same format:

ar_index_this_week_prof.txt

Note on date or position with a bad quality control flag in index files:

When the POSITION_QC or JULD_QC of the profile is 3 or 4 (probably bad, bad), the position is reported as missing in the index. In the index file, a missing date or position is set to “,,” (empty element).

9.2 Detailed index of profile directory files

The detailed index of profiles file describes all individual profile files of the GDAC with additional fields. The detailed index of profile files is limited to temperature, salinity and oxygen observations. It is located under the ’etc’ subdirectory and is named:

argo_profile_detailled_index.txt.gz

argo_profile_detailled_index.txt.gz definition

# Title : Profile directory file of the Argo Global Data Assembly Center

# Description: The directory file describes all individual profile files of the argo GDAC ftp site.

# Project: ARGO

# Format version: 2.2

# Date of update: YYYYMMDDHHMISS

# FTP root number 1: ftp://ftp.ifremer.fr/ifremer/argo/dac

# FTP root number 2: ftp://usgodae.usgodae.org/pub/outgoing/argo/dac

# GDAC node: CORIOLIS

file,date,latitude,longitude,ocean,profiler_type,institution,date_update,profile_temp_qc,profile_psal_qc,profile_doxy_qc,ad_psal_adjustment_mean, ad_psal_adjustment_deviation,gdac_date_creation,gdac_date_update,n_levels

file: path and file name on the ftp site. The file name contains the float number and the cycle number.
Fill value : none, this field is mandatory
date: date of the profile, YYYYMMDDHHMISS
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
latitude, longitude : location of the profile
Fill value : 99999.
ocean: code of the ocean of the profile as described in reference table 13
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
profiler_type : type of profiling float as described in reference table 8
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
institution: institution of the profiling float described in reference table 4
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
date_update: date of last update of the file, YYYYMMDDHHMISS
Fill value: ” ” (blank)
profile_temp_qc,profile_psal_qc,profile_doxy_qc : global quality flag on temperature, salinity and oxygen profile.
Fill value: ” ” (blank)
ad_psal_adjustment_mean : for delayed mode or adjusted mode
Mean of psal_adjusted – psal on the deepest 500 meters with good psal_adjusted_qc (equal to 1)
Fill value: ” ” (blank)
ad_psal_adjustment_deviation : for delayed mode or adjusted mode
Standard deviation of psal_adjusted – psal on the deepest 500 meters with good psal_adjusted_qc (equal to 1)
Fill value: ” ” (blank)
gdac_date_creation : creation date of the file on GDAC, YYYYMMDDHHMISS
gdac_date_update : update date of the file on GDAC, YYYYMMDDHHMISS
n_levels :maximum number of pressure levels contained in a profile

Fill value: ” ” (blank)

argo_profile_detailled_index.txt.gz example

# Title : Profile directory file of the Argo Global Data Assembly Center

# Description : The directory file describes all individual profile files of the argo GDAC ftp site

# Project : ARGO

# Format version : 2.2

# Date of update : 20260918022801

# FTP root number 1 : ftp://ftp.ifremer.fr/ifremer/argo/dac

# FTP root number 2 : ftp://usgodae.usgodae.org/pub/outgoing/argo/dac

# GDAC node : CORIOLIS

file,date,latitude,longitude,ocean,profiler_type,institution,date_update,profile_temp_qc,profile_psal_qc,profile_doxy_qc,ad_psal_adjustment_mean,ad_psal_adjustment_deviation,gdac_date_creation,gdac_date_update,n_levels

aoml/13857/profiles/D13857_001.nc,19970729200300,0.267,-16.032,A,845,AO,20260220143529,A,,,,,20260220154030,20260220214030,112

aoml/13857/profiles/D13857_002.nc,19970809192112,0.072,-17.659,A,845,AO,20260220143529,A,,,,,20260220154031,20260220214030,112

aoml/13857/profiles/D13857_003.nc,19970820184545,0.543,-19.622,A,845,AO,20260220143530,A,,,,,20260220154032,20260220214031,111

aoml/13857/profiles/D13857_004.nc,19970831193905,1.256,-20.521,A,845,AO,20260220143530,A,,,,,20260220154033,20260220214032,109

…

9.3 Index of trajectory files

The index of trajectory files describes all trajectory files of the GDAC. It is named:

ar_index_global_traj.txt

ar_index_global_traj.txt definition

# Title : Trajectory directory file of the Argo Global Data Assembly Center

# Description : The directory file describes all trajectory files of the argo GDAC ftp site.

# Project : ARGO

# Format version : 2.2

# Date of update : YYYYMMDDHHMISS

# FTP root number 1 : ftp://ftp.ifremer.fr/ifremer/argo/dac

# FTP root number 2 : ftp://usgodae.org/pub/outgoing/argo/dac

# GDAC node : CORIOLIS

file, latitude_max, latitude_min, longitude_max, longitude_min, profiler_type, institution, date_update

file : path and file name on the ftp site
Fill value : none, this field is mandatory
latitude_max, latitude_min, longitude_max, longitude_min : extreme locations of the float
Fill values : 99999.
profiler_type : type of profiling float as described in reference table 8
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
institution : institution of the profiling float described in reference table 4
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
date_update : date of last update of the file, YYYYMMDDHHMISS
Fill value : ” ” (blank)

ar_index_global_traj.txt example

# Title : Trajectory directory file of the Argo Global Data Assembly Center

# Description : The directory file describes all trajectory files of the argo GDAC ftp site.

# Project : ARGO

# Format version : 2.2

# Date of update : 20260918072957

# FTP root number 1 : ftp://ftp.ifremer.fr/ifremer/argo/dac

# FTP root number 2 : ftp://usgodae.org/pub/outgoing/argo/dac

# GDAC node : CORIOLIS

file,latitude_max,latitude_min,longitude_max,longitude_min,profiler_type,institution,date_update

aoml/13857/13857_Rtraj.nc,6.931,0.008,-15.014,-33.808,845,AO,20210428200335

aoml/13858/13858_Rtraj.nc,5.213,-0.363,-9.498,-17.793,845,AO,20210428200337

aoml/13859/13859_Rtraj.nc,5.929,-0.939,-18.642,-33.677,845,AO,20181011200025

aoml/15819/15819_Rtraj.nc,-2.659,-9.186,-16.427,-39.959,845,AO,20210428200342

…

9.4 Index of metadata files

The index of metadata files describes all metadata files of the GDAC. It is named:

ar_index_global_meta.txt

ar_index_global_meta.txt definition

# Title : Metadata directory file of the Argo Global Data Assembly Center

# Description : The directory file describes all metadata files of the argo GDAC ftp site.

# Project : ARGO

# Format version : 2.0

# Date of update : YYYYMMDDHHMISS

# FTP root number 1 : ftp://ftp.ifremer.fr/ifremer/argo/dac

# FTP root number 2 : ftp://usgodae.org/pub/outgoing/argo/dac

# GDAC node : CORIOLIS

file, profiler_type, institution, date_update

file : path and file name on the ftp site
Fill value : none, this field is mandatory
profiler_type : type of profiling float as described in reference table 8
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
institution : institution of the profiling float described in reference table 4
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
date_update : date of last update of the file, YYYYMMDDHHMISS
Fill value : ” ” (blank)

ar_index_global_meta.txt example

# Title : Metadata directory file of the Argo Global Data Assembly Center

# Description : The directory file describes all metadata files of the argo GDAC ftp site.

# Project : ARGO

# Format version : 2.0

# Date of update : 20260918002101

# FTP root number 1 : ftp://ftp.ifremer.fr/ifremer/argo/dac

# FTP root number 2 : ftp://usgodae.org/pub/outgoing/argo/dac

# GDAC node : CORIOLIS

file,profiler_type,institution,date_update

aoml/13857/13857_meta.nc,845,AO,20181011200014

aoml/13858/13858_meta.nc,845,AO,20181011200015

aoml/13859/13859_meta.nc,845,AO,20181011200025

aoml/15819/15819_meta.nc,845,AO,20181011200016

…

There is also a subset of ar_index_global_meta.txt only containing the updates from the previous week and which follows exactly the same format:

Ar_index_this_week_meta.txt

9.5 Index of technical files

The index of technical files describes all tech files of the GDAC. It is named:

ar_index_global_tech.txt

ar_index_global_tech.txt definition

# Title : Technical directory file of the Argo Global Data Assembly Center

# Description : The directory file describes all technical files of the argo GDAC ftp site.

# Project : ARGO

# Format version : 2.0

# Date of update : YYYYMMDDHHMISS

# FTP root number 1 : ftp://ftp.ifremer.fr/ifremer/argo/dac

# FTP root number 2 : ftp://usgodae.org/pub/outgoing/argo/dac

# GDAC node : CORIOLIS

file,institution,date_update

file : path and file name on the ftp site
Fill value : none, this field is mandatory
institution : institution of the profiling float described in reference table 4
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
date_update : date of last update of the file, YYYYMMDDHHMISS
Fill value : ” ” (blank)

ar_index_global_tech.txt example

# Title : Technical directory file of the Argo Global Data Assembly Center

# Description : The directory file describes all technical files of the argo GDAC ftp site.

# Project : ARGO

# Format version : 2.0

# Date of update : 20260917162201

# FTP root number 1 : ftp://ftp.ifremer.fr/ifremer/argo/dac

# FTP root number 2 : ftp://usgodae.org/pub/outgoing/argo/dac

# GDAC node : CORIOLIS

file,institution,date_update

aoml/13857/13857_tech.nc,AO,20210428200335

aoml/13858/13858_tech.nc,AO,20210428200337

aoml/13859/13859_tech.nc,AO,20181011200025

aoml/15819/15819_tech.nc,AO,20210428200342

…

9.6 Index of B-profile files

The index of B-profile files describes all individual biogeochemical profile files on the GDAC. It is named:

argo_bio-profile_index.txt

argo_bio-profile_index.txt definition

# Title : Bio-Profile directory file of the Argo Global Data Assembly Center

# Description : The directory file describes all individual bio-profile files of the argo GDAC ftp site.

# Project : ARGO

# Format version : 2.2

# Date of update : YYYYMMDDHHMISS

# FTP root number 1 : ftp://ftp.ifremer.fr/ifremer/argo/dac

# FTP root number 2 : ftp://usgodae.org/pub/outgoing/argo/dac

# GDAC node : CORIOLIS

file,date,latitude,longitude,ocean,profiler_type,institution,parameters,parameter_data_mode,date_update

file : path and file name on the ftp site. The file name contains the float number and the cycle number.
Fill value : none, this field is mandatory
date : date of the profile, YYYYMMDDHHMISS
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
latitude, longitude : location of the profile
Fill value : 99999.
ocean : code of the ocean of the profile as described in reference table 13
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
profiler_type : type of profiling float as described in reference table 8
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
institution : institution of the profiling float described in reference table 4
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
Parameters : list of the measured parameters, separated by white spaces

Fill value : none, this field is mandatory

Parameter_data_mode: Data mode associated to the parameter

Fill value : none, this field is mandatory

date_update : : date of last update of the file, YYYYMMDDHHMISS
Fill value : ” ” (blank)

argo_bio-profile_index.txt example

# Title : Bio-Profile directory file of the Argo Global Data Assembly Center

# Description : The directory file describes all individual bio-profile files of the argo GDAC ftp site.

# Project : ARGO

# Format version : 2.2

# Date of update : 20260918112401

# FTP root number 1 : ftp://ftp.ifremer.fr/ifremer/argo/dac

# FTP root number 2 : ftp://usgodae.org/pub/outgoing/argo/dac

# GDAC node : CORIOLIS

file,date,latitude,longitude,ocean,profiler_type,institution,parameters,parameter_data_mode,date_update

aoml/1900722/profiles/BD1900722_001.nc,20061022021624,-40.316,73.389,I,846,AO,PRES TEMP_DOXY BPHASE_DOXY DOXY,RRRD,20200312153230

aoml/1900722/profiles/BD1900722_002.nc,20061101064423,-40.390,73.528,I,846,AO,PRES TEMP_DOXY BPHASE_DOXY DOXY,RRRD,20200312153230

aoml/1900722/profiles/BD1900722_003.nc,20061111101222,-40.455,73.335,I,846,AO,PRES TEMP_DOXY BPHASE_DOXY DOXY,RRRD,20200312153230

aoml/1900722/profiles/BD1900722_004.nc,20061121075021,-40.134,73.080,I,846,AO,PRES TEMP_DOXY BPHASE_DOXY DOXY,RRRD,20200312153230

…

9.7 Index of S-profile files

The index of S-profile files describes all individual synthetic profile files on the GDAC. It is named

argo_synthetic-profile_index.txt

argo_synthetic-profile_index.txt definition

# Title : Synthetic-Profile directory file of the Argo Global Data Assembly Center

# Description : The directory file describes all individual synthetic-profile files of the argo GDAC ftp site.

# Project : ARGO

# Format version : 2.2

# Date of update : YYYYMMDDHHMISS

# FTP root number 1 : ftp://ftp.ifremer.fr/ifremer/argo/dac

# FTP root number 2 : ftp://usgodae.org/pub/outgoing/argo/dac

# GDAC node : CORIOLIS

file,date,latitude,longitude,ocean,profiler_type,institution,parameters,parameter_data_mode,date_update

file : path and file name on the ftp site. The file name contains the float number and the cycle number.
Fill value : none, this field is mandatory
date : date of the profile, YYYYMMDDHHMISS
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
latitude, longitude : location of the profile
Fill value : 99999.
ocean : code of the ocean of the profile as described in reference table 13
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
profiler_type : type of profiling float as described in reference table 8
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
institution : institution of the profiling float described in reference table 4
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
Parameters : list of the measured parameters, separated by white spaces

Fill value : none, this field is mandatory

Parameter_data_mode: Data mode associated to the parameter

Fill value : none, this field is mandatory

date_update : : date of last update of the file, YYYYMMDDHHMISS
Fill value : ” ” (blank)

argo_synthetic-profile_index.txt example

# Title : Synthetic-Profile directory file of the Argo Global Data Assembly Center

# Description : The directory file describes all individual synthetic-profile files of the argo GDAC ftp site.

# Project : ARGO

# Format version : 2.2

# Date of update : 20260918112409

# FTP root number 1 : ftp://ftp.ifremer.fr/ifremer/argo/dac

# FTP root number 2 : ftp://usgodae.org/pub/outgoing/argo/dac

# GDAC node : CORIOLIS

file,date,latitude,longitude,ocean,profiler_type,institution,parameters,parameter_data_mode,date_update

aoml/1900722/profiles/SD1900722_001.nc,20061022021624,-40.316,73.389,I,846,AO,PRES TEMP PSAL DOXY,DDDD,20220628080801

aoml/1900722/profiles/SD1900722_002.nc,20061101064423,-40.390,73.528,I,846,AO,PRES TEMP PSAL DOXY,DDDD,20220628080813

aoml/1900722/profiles/SD1900722_003.nc,20061111101222,-40.455,73.335,I,846,AO,PRES TEMP PSAL DOXY,DDDD,20220628080826

aoml/1900722/profiles/SD1900722_004.nc,20061121075021,-40.134,73.080,I,846,AO,PRES TEMP PSAL DOXY,DDDD,20220628080839

…

9.8 Detailed index of S-profile files

The detailed index of S-profile files describes all individual S-profile files on the GDAC. It is located under the ’etc’ subdirectory and is named:

argo_synthetic-profile_detailled_index.txt

argo_synthetic-profile_detailled_index.txt definition

# Title : Synthetic-Profile directory file of the Argo Global Data Assembly Center

# Description : The directory file describes all individual synthetic-profile files of the argo GDAC ftp site.

# Project : ARGO

# Format version : 2.2

# Date of update : YYYYMMDDHHMISS

# FTP root number 1 : ftp://ftp.ifremer.fr/ifremer/argo/dac

# FTP root number 2 : ftp://usgodae.usgodae.org/pub/outgoing/argo/dac

# GDAC node : CORIOLIS

file,date,latitude,longitude,ocean,profiler_type,institution,parameters,parameter_data_mode,parameter_quality, date_update,gdac_date_creation,gdac_date_update,n_levels

file : path and file name on the ftp site. The file name contains the float number and the cycle number.
Fill value : none, this field is mandatory
date : date of the profile, YYYYMMDDHHMISS
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
latitude, longitude : location of the profile
Fill value : 99999.
ocean : code of the ocean of the profile as described in reference table 13
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
profiler_type : type of profiling float as described in reference table 8
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
institution : institution of the profiling float described in reference table 4
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
Parameters : list of the measured parameters, separated by white spaces

Fill value : none, this field is mandatory

Parameter_data_mode: Data mode associated to the parameter

Fill value : none, this field is mandatory

parameter_quality: Profile quality flag associated to the parameter

Fill value : ” ” (blank)

date_update : date of last update of the file, YYYYMMDDHHMISS
Fill value : ” ” (blank)
gdac_date_creation : creation date of the file on GDAC, YYYYMMDDHHMISS
gdac_date_update : update date of the file on GDAC, YYYYMMDDHHMISS
n_levels : maximum number of pressure levels contained in a profile

Fill value: ” ” (blank)

argo_synthetic-profile_detailled_index.txt example

# Title : Synthetic-Profile directory file of the Argo Global Data Assembly Center

# Description : The directory file describes all individual synthetic-profile files of the argo GDAC ftp site.

# Project : ARGO

# Format version : 2.2

# Date of update : 20260918022857

# FTP root number 1 : ftp://ftp.ifremer.fr/ifremer/argo/dac

# FTP root number 2 : ftp://usgodae.usgodae.org/pub/outgoing/argo/dac

# GDAC node : CORIOLIS

file,date,latitude,longitude,ocean,profiler_type,institution,parameters,parameter_data_mode,parameter_quality,date_update,gdac_date_creation,gdac_date_update,n_levels

aoml/1900722/profiles/SD1900722_001.nc,20061022021624,-40.316,73.389,I,846,AO,PRES TEMP PSAL DOXY,DDDD,AABB,20220628080801,20190425093239,20220628080801,71

aoml/1900722/profiles/SD1900722_002.nc,20061101064423,-40.390,73.528,I,846,AO,PRES TEMP PSAL DOXY,DDDD,AAAB,20220628080813,20190425093249,20220628080813,71

aoml/1900722/profiles/SD1900722_003.nc,20061111101222,-40.455,73.335,I,846,AO,PRES TEMP PSAL DOXY,DDDD,AAAA,20220628080826,20190425093301,20220628080826,71

aoml/1900722/profiles/SD1900722_004.nc,20061121075021,-40.134,73.080,I,846,AO,PRES TEMP PSAL DOXY,DDDD,AAAA,20220628080839,20190425093314,20220628080839,71

…