6  Portals

6.1 Overview

CalCOFI data is available through various portals, each serving different purposes and user needs. This document outlines the main access points and their characteristics.

6.1.1 EDI (Environmental Data Initiative)

• Complete dataset archives using DataOne software and EML metadata
• DOIs issued for all datasets ensuring citability
• Full archive allowing for any data file types
• Basic spatial and temporal filtering through web interface
• Download in original formats with metadata
• Access through DataOne API
• Links:
  • EDIrepository.org
  • CalCOFI datasets: EDI query “CalCOFI”

6.1.2 NCEI (National Centers for Environmental Information)

• Long-term archival of oceanographic data
• DOIs issued for dataset submissions
• Standardized metadata using ISO 19115-2
• Basic search interface with geographic and temporal filtering
• Data preserved in original submission formats
• Access through NCEI API services
• Links:
  • NCEI Ocean Archive
  • CalCOFI datasets: NCEI search “CalCOFI”

6.1.3 OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System)

• Specialized in marine biodiversity data
• Standardized using DarwinCore fields
• Extended measurements supported via extendedMeasurementOrFact
• Powerful filtering by space, time, and taxonomic parameters
• Multiple download formats (CSV, JSON, Darwin Core Archive)
• Full REST API access
• Links:
  • OBIS.org
  • CalCOFI datasets: obis.org/dataset + “calcofi” Keyword

6.1.4 ERDDAP (Environmental Research Division Data Access Program)

• Tabular and gridded data server
• Advanced subsetting by space, time, and parameters
• Multiple output formats (CSV, JSON, NetCDF, etc.)
• RESTful API with direct data access
• Built-in data visualization tools
• No persistent identifiers but stable URLs
• Links:
  • ERDDAP
  • CalCOFI datasets:
    • ERDDAP, OceanView - CalCOFI seabirds
    • ERDDAP, CoastWatch - CalCOFI oceanographic

6.2 Meta-Portals

6.2.1 Google Dataset Search

The JSON-LD metadata in the Portal dataset web pages get indexed by Google Dataset Search through schema.org metadata. This ensures that CalCOFI data is discoverable through Google search and other search engines.

6.2.2 ODIS (Ocean Data Information System)

ODIS uses the same technology as Google Dataset Search (schema.org, JSON-LD), but focuses on ocean data. CalCOFI curates a sitemap of authoritative datasets to server to ODIS.org

This federated approach ensures that CalCOFI data remains:

• Discoverable through multiple channels
• Properly cited and attributed
• Integrated with global ocean data systems

6.3 CalCOFI.io Tools

CalCOFI is also developing an integrated database and tools that enable efficient data access and analysis:

6.3.1 APIs

• RESTful endpoints for programmatic access
• Filtering by space, time, and taxonomic parameters
• Relationship queries across tables
• Links:
  • api.calcofi.io
  • tile.calcofi.io

6.3.2 Library

• Direct data access from R
• Built-in analysis functions
• Integration with tidyverse ecosystem
• Link:
  • calcofi.io/calcofi4r

6.3.3 Apps

• Interactive data exploration with Shiny applications
• User-friendly interfaces
• Subset and download data
• Link:
  • calcofi.io, App button