A new showcase for over 20 years of Canadian ocean data
In collaboration with the Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System (CIOOS), Amundsen Science announces the integration of its oceanographic datasets into an Open Data Catalog, marking a key milestone in the dissemination, sustainability, and promotion of scientific data collected in the marine environment. The Amundsen Science Catalog is based on the system developed by CIOOS and is therefore integrated into the CIOOS national data portal.
This national portal provides a centralized and harmonized platform to showcase oceanographic data from the Pacific, Atlantic, St. Lawrence, and Arctic regions. It integrates data collected aboard the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Amundsen, a Canadian icebreaker dedicated to science for the past twenty years.
A major transition for access to oceanographic data
For several years, Amundsen Science has been making data from its central oceanographic equipment pool available to the public and contributing to the expansion of knowledge about marine ecosystems and maritime safety in the Canadian Arctic. This transition to the CIOOS platform represents a significant improvement in the user experience for the entire scientific community and users of data from Amundsen‘s central equipment pool.
This platform brings together data from the Amundsen central scientific equipment pool and data from partner research programs, while ensuring their interoperability within the national ocean observation network. Thanks to a proven and standardized infrastructure, the portal makes it possible to better organize, document, and disseminate data, making it easier to find and use. It is intended for students, researchers, and managers working in the fields of marine science, the environment, and public policy.
Amundsen Science data is now accessible through two complementary and interconnected platforms, each designed to meet specific exploration and analysis needs: the Catalog and the ERDDAPTM server.
Catalog: finding the dataset you need
The Catalog acts as a specialized search engine, providing quick access to one or more datasets. Users can search according to various criteria, including thematic keywords, year of shipment, or even geographic region of interest.
The Catalog is freely accessible and makes it easy to identify relevant datasets for a research project, analysis, or academic work. The platform also hosts the complete metadata associated with each dataset. This information describes the collection conditions and research programs (date and time, latitude, longitude, depth, instruments used, etc.) associated with each dataset.
The new Amundsen Science Data Catalog is available online.
ERDDAPTM: explore, view, and download data
ERDDAPTM is a freely accessible data server containing datasets collected since 2003, to which data from future expeditions aboard the CCGS Amundsen will soon be added.
ERDDAPTM offers advanced features that allow you to:
- Filter datasets according to a variety of spatial, temporal, and environmental parameters;
- Generate dynamic graphs online, facilitating quick and visual exploration of the data;
- Download data or specific segments according to filters, in several formats compatible with the main analysis tools.
ERDDAPTM is also available online.
A commitment to open science and informed decision-making
By integrating data from its central equipment pool into the CIOOS national platform, Amundsen Science is strengthening its commitment to open science by improving the visibility, accessibility, and reuse of its oceanographic data. This initiative is a key step forward in supporting research, training, innovation, and data-driven decision-making in the context of rapid changes in marine environments, including those in the Canadian Arctic.
To learn more about Amundsen Science’s data, visit the “Data” page.
