GLOSS Data Access

Data Availability: Global Sea-Level Observing System (GLOSS) data and data products are available on-line from the University of Hawaii Sea Level Center (UHSLC), the Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level (PSMSL), and the British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC).

Data Overview

The GLOSS Station Handbook summarizes in tabular form the basic information on tide gauge stations (not all active) in the GLOSS Core network, providing a one-stop shop with links to the databases described below. The latest status of the Core Network (GLOSS02) is reported here and shows 290 stations. The handbook also cross references the different designators used by PSMSL, UHSLC and GLOSS to identify the same station.

Daily mean and Hourly height data from the GLOSS network  The Joint Archive for Sea Level (JASL) at UHSLC, and the  Delayed Mode Centre at the British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC) both hold data covering in some cases many decades.  The available data lags by two or more years on the present during which time quality control and adjustment to local benchmarks is done. The data are not referred to the RLR reference used by PSMSL. Plots, maps, and quality control information are available.

A subset of the stations provide data within a month to six weeks to the Fast Delivery Center at USHLC. The center makes this data available online in ASCII format and through a DODS (OPeNDAP) server. The earliest data are from 1985. When quality controlled data from JASL become available they replace the original data in the fast dataset.

Monthly and Annual Mean Data  are available from PSMSL.  The data have been quality controlled and where possible placed in  datasets with a common reference (RLR) otherwise they are in Metric datasets referred to local benchmarks (as are the UHSLC and BODC databases). There are maps, plots, and documentation for many stations. This database is not limited to the GLOSS stations. However the site does contain an identifier for the GLOSS stations from which users can cross-reference to the GLOSS Station Handbook.

Note that the JASL and BODC also act in similar capacities for the Clivar research program and may be referred to variously as GLOSS, PSML, WOCE, or Clivar Centers.

Access the Databases

The GLOSS Station Handbook provides a centralized table of GLOSS stations including links to all the databases below:

• University of Hawaii Sea Level Center (UHSLC) "Fast Delivery" sea level station data - This database contains data from 135 stations, mostly included in the GLOSS networks. These stations report in real or near real time. The database contains hourly, daily, and monthly data from 1985 to the present. 

| Access GLOSS Database at UHSLC |
| Access the DODS (OPeNDAP) server |
| GCMD metadata record |

• The BODC delayed mode Sea Level Data - The British Oceanographic Date Centre (BODC) continues the assembly, quality control and dissemination of the hourly sea level data set. started for WOCE. This work is complementary to that of the UHSLC 'Fast-Delivery' Center and parallels that of JASL below. The database contains hourly height data from  166 tide gauge sites. (map)

| Access the Hourly delayed mode Data |
| GCMD metadata record |

• Joint Archive for Sea Level (JASL) Research Database - contains hourly sea level data of research quality - a scientifically valid, well-documented archive of hourly, daily, and monthly sea level values in standardized formats - As of November 28, 2000 the holdings consisted of 474 stations with 8216 station-years of quality- assured data. (Re-installed tide gauges at adjacent sites are distinct stations).

| Access the JASL Database |
| GCMD metadata record

• Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level (PSMSL) Database has scientifically valid Annual and Monthly Mean Sea level data corrected as far as possible for benchmark and datum changes. The data referred to RLR are preferred when available. Note the cautionary notes on the use of Metric datasets. There are some 49000 station years covering 1800 past and present stations. A number of datasets extend over a century.

| Access the PSMSL Database |
| GCMD metadata record |

Data Products

• UHSLC also hosts the JCOMM project Sea Level Program in the Pacific (SL-Pac) and provides in near real-time a series of maps of sea level conditions including anomalies, indices of the equatorial Pacific currents, estimates of the equatorial ridge and trough topography, deviations of sea level, pressure-corrected deviations, and variations in the upper layer volume.

| SL-Pac Database |

• UHSLC also provides plots of real time data from 40- 50 stations worldwide, mostly with data in the last 10 days, and with a concentration in the Pacific.

Data Flow Information

Latest Data Received by the PSMSL

• The British Oceanographic Data Centre provides summaries of the latest data received by the PSMSL for each station in the GLOSS core network.

| Status of GLOSS Data Submission |

Other Information

• Bottom Pressure Measurements:
  Global Undersea Pressure Group (GLOUP) has assembled and tidally analyzed the data from hourly bottom pressure records. The original data and analyses are on this site and contribute also to:

| IAPSO pelagic constants |
| Tidal Constants from GLOSS station data |

Page reviewed or revised November 27, 2007