Global Drifter Program Real-Time, Global Time-Series Data
DESCRIPTION
The Global Drifter Program (GDP) conducts research and supports scientific interpretation of drifter data, including measurements of near-surface ocean velocity, sea surface temperature, horizontal wind, waves, and atmospheric pressure. It provides most of the drifters needed to maintain the Global Drifter Array and has been in existence at Scripps Institution of Oceanography for more than 40 years.
The following data encompass the observations sent via the Global-Telecommunication System (GTS) as publicly available data to support weather forecasts, satellite ground truth, and current and past scientific research projects. They have been funded by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under grants NA20OAR4320278 and NA20OAR4600265_932F5A. As part of the Data Management Plan for the GDP, these real-time, global time-series data are made available from four different drifter types: Surface Velocity Program (SVP) drifters, equipped with sea-surface temperature (SST) and, at times, with barometers (SVPB) to report sea- level pressure (SLP); the Directional Wave Spectra Drifter (DWSD) that measures directional wave energy, reporting bulk wave parameters of significant wave height, mean wave period, peak wave period, and dominant wave direction; and the Autonomous Drifting Ocean Station (ADOS), equipped to measure surface-winds, sea surface temperature, SLP and subsurface temperature.
The datasets listed below are based on the satellite data feed from the drifters. No quality control has been implemented. These datasets are a work in progress, with data from earlier years to be reprocessed. Additional datasets will be added as time and funding allow.
HOW TO USE THESE DATA
The data are available via the ERDDAP framework, with links for each of the citations.
- The data are available for your use only.
- As you proceed with your analysis, please track the portion of the data that will be used in publications and communicate that information to us.
- Please cite the data as in CITATION and provide us with the full reference(s) associated with the data DOI.
ON THIS PAGE
DESCRIPTION
HOW TO USE THESE DATA
GLOBAL DATASETS
• Position from 15 m Depth Drogued Drifters
• Sea Surface Temperature
• Sea Level Pressure
• Significant Wave Height
• Mean Wave Period
• Peak Wave Period
• Dominant Wave Direction
HURRICANE DATASETS
• Hurricane Sea Level Pressure
• Hurricane Sea Surface Temperature
• Hurricane Wind Speed and Direction
• Hurricane Subsurface Temperature
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Global Datasets
Position from 15 m Depth Drogued Drifters
CITATION: Centurioni, L.R., L. Braasch, and M.C. Schönau. 2025. Global Drifter Program Hourly, Real-Time, Global Time Series of Lagrangian Drifter Locations from which Currents at 15 m Depth can be Computed. 2015–Present. Lagrangian Drifter Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.57969/S95P4D
Sea Surface Temperature
CITATION: Centurioni, L.R., L. Braasch, and M.C. Schönau. 2025. Global Drifter Program Hourly, Real-Time, Global, Time Series of Sea Surface Temperature, 2015–Present. Lagrangian Drifter Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.57969/S9201F
Sea Level Pressure
CITATION: Centurioni, L.R., L. Braasch, and M.C. Schönau. 2025. Global Drifter Program Hourly, Real-Time, Global, Time Series of Atmospheric Pressure at Sea Level, 2015–Present. Lagrangian Drifter Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.57969/S9X59Z
Significant Wave Height
CITATION: Centurioni, L.R., L. Braasch, and M.C. Schönau. 2025. Global Drifter Program 3-Hourly, Real-Time, Global, Time Series of Significant Wave Height, 2015–present. Lagrangian Drifter Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.57969/S9SG6P
Mean Wave Period
CITATION: Centurioni, L.R., L. Braasch, and M.C. Schönau. 2025. Global Drifter Program 3-Hourly, Real-Time, Time Series of Mean Wave Period, 2015–Present. Lagrangian Drifter Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.57969/S9J01S
Peak Wave Period
CITATION: Centurioni, L.R., L. Braasch, and M.C. Schönau. 2025. Global Drifter Program 3-Hourly, Real-Time, Global Time Series of Peak Wave Period, 2015–Present. Lagrangian Drifter Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.57969/S9RG6C
Dominant Wave Direction
CITATION: Centurioni, L.R., L. Braasch, and M.C. Schönau. 2025. Global Drifter Program 3-Hourly, Real-Time, Global Time Series of Peak Wave Direction, 2015–Present. Lagrangian Drifter Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.57969/S9D599
Hurricane Datasets
Hurricane Sea Level Pressure
CITATION: Centurioni, L.R., L. Braasch, and M.C. Schönau. 2025. Global Drifter Program 15 min Real-Time, NW Atlantic, Time Series of Atmospheric Pressure at Sea Level During the Hurricane Seasons, 2018–Present. Lagrangian Drifter Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.57969/S9W889
Hurricane Sea Surface Temperature
CITATION: Centurioni, L.R., L. Braasch, and M.C. Schönau. 2025. Global Drifter Program Real-Time, NW Atlantic, Time Series of Sea Surface Temperature During the Hurricane Seasons, 2016–Present. Lagrangian Drifter Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.57969/S94S3R
Hurricane Wind Speed and Direction
CITATION: Centurioni, L.R., L. Braasch, and M.C. Schönau. 2025. Global Drifter Program Real-Time, NW Atlantic, Time Series of Wind Speed and Direction During the Hurricane Seasons, 2016–Present. Lagrangian Drifter Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.57969/S98G61
Hurricane Subsurface Temperature
CITATION: Centurioni, L.R., Braasch, and M.C. Schönau. 2025. Global Drifter Program Real-Time, NW Atlantic, Time Series of Subsurface Temperature During the Hurricane Seasons, 2016–Present. Lagrangian Drifter Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.57969/S91014
Additional Information
CREATORS: Luca R. Centurioni, Lancelot Braasch, and Martha C. Schönau
PUBLISHER: Lagrangian Drifter Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
RESOURCE TYPE: Dataset
GEOLOCATIONS: Global Ocean (90°S–90°N and 180°W–180°E)
FUNDING REFERENCES:
- National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) NA20OAR4320278 and NA20OAR4600265_932F5A
RELATED LITERATURE
Centurioni, L.R. 2018. Drifter technology and impacts for sea surface temperature, sea-level pressure, and ocean circulation studies. Pp. 37–57 in Observing the Oceans in Real Time, R. Venkatesan, A. Tandon, E. D’Asaro, amd M.A. Atmanand. eds, Springer International Publishing.
Centurioni, L., L. Braasch, E. Di Lauro, P. Contestabile, F. De Leo, R. Casotti, L. Franco, and D. Vicinanza. 2017. A new strategic wave measurement station off Naples port main breakwater. Coastal Engineering Proceedings 1(35):waves.36, https://doi.org/10.9753/icce.v35.waves.36.
Centurioni, L.R., J. Turton, R. Lumpkin, L. Braasch, G. Brassington, Y. Chao, E. Charpentier, Z.H. Chen, G. Corlett, K. Dohan, and others. 2019. Global in situ observations of essential climate and ocean variables at the air-sea interface. Frontiers in Marine Science 6:419, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00419.
Lumpkin, R., L. Centurioni, and R.C. Perez. 2016. Fulfilling observing system implementation requirements with the global drifter array. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology 33(4):685–695, https://doi.org/10.1175/jtech-d-15-0255.1.
CONTACT US
Lagrangian Drifter Laboratory
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
ldl_drifter@ucsd.edu
Lagrangian Drifter Laboratory
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093 USA
ldl_drifter@ucsd.edu