Finding Marine Science Data
This guide will help you find resources for marine science datasets. It includes general, subject-based, and local data repositories for oceanographic and biological data. Need assistance? Ask us! mlml-library@sjsu.edu
Government Agency Databases
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
- National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
- Use this link to access NOAA data in two ways:
- NOAA OneStop (New! all NOAA data)
- NOAA Data Access (environmental data)
- IOOS Integrated Ocean Observing System
- Data collected from buoys, high frequency radar systems and gliders
- NOAA Fisheries
- Use this link to access NOAA data in two ways:
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- NOAA Digital Coast
- Habitat and species, imagery, water quality, landcover data, and more
- NOAA Digital Coast
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- BOEM (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management)
- Habitat and species, boundary, oceanographic data and more to support marine planning.
- BOEM (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management)
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
- EPA EnviroAtlas
- Environmental data from the EPA for viewing and download. Includes over 500 data layers, including information on pollution, vulnerable species, hydrology, and much more!
- EnviroAtlas Interactive Map: This easy to use, interactive mapping application does not require any GIS skills to use and provides ready access to 500+ maps and multiple analysis tools. You can even load your own data to add the the analysis.
- Download the data in bulk or integrate with GIS tools using GIS toolboxes.
EOSDIS NASA (Earth Observing System Data and Information System)
- EOSDIS Ocean Data
- Data describing many ocean processes including ocean circulations, winds, heat exchange between the ocean and atmosphere, the interaction of solar radiation with the ocean, and sea ice.
IODE (International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange)
- IODE Ocean Data Portal
- Oceanographic data from over 80 countries
Ocean Drilling Program
- Ocean Drilling Program
- Marine geoscience data: paleontological, lithostratigraphic, chemical, physical, sedimentological, and geophysical data for ocean sediments and hard rocks.
USGS (United States Geological Survey)
- USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Data Tools
- Access to three separate data catalogs: USGS Science Data Catalog, Coastal and Marine Geology Data Catalog, and Coastal and Marine Geoscience Data System
Discipline-based Repositories
Geosciences
MGDS (Marine Geoscience Data System)
- Marine Geoscience Data System Repository
- The Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS) is a trusted data repository that provides free public access to a curated collection of marine geophysical data products and complementary data related to understanding the formation and evolution of the seafloor and sub-seafloor.
Ocean Biodiversity Information System System (OBIS)
- Search by Taxa or Map
- OBIS is a global open-access data and information clearing-house on marine biodiversity for science, conservation and sustainable development.
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility)
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility Datasets
- GBIF—the Global Biodiversity Information Facility—is an international network and data infrastructure funded by the world's governments and aimed at providing anyone, anywhere, open access to data about all types of life on Earth.
Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON)
- Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) Portal
- Search and download real-time, delayed-mode, and historical data for in situ and remotely-sensed physical, chemical, and biological observations.
Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)
- IOOS Catalog
- Global portal of oceanographic observations and forecast products. Includes CeNCOOS data.
Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center (PO.DAAC)
- Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center
- The Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center (PO.DAAC) is a NASA Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) data center managed by the Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS) Project. The PO.DAAC is operated by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. In addition to providing access to its data holdings, PO.DAAC acts as a gateway to data stored at other ocean and climate archives. This and other tools and services enable PO.DAAC to support a wide user community working in areas such as ocean and climate research, applied science and industry, natural resource management, policy making, and general public consumption.
General Data Repositories and Search Tools
DataONE
- DataONE
- Environmental data from ~45 member repositories
Figshare
- Figshare
- General repository; well-known and well-used
Dryad
- Dryad
- All disciplines (formerly biology and then general science, so science is more represented)
Zenodo
- Zenodo
- Non-profit, open science repository
Mendeley
- Mendeley Data
- Datasets Mendeley users have deposited
Local Data Resources
CeNCOOS (Central and Northern California Ocean Observing System)
MLML (Moss Landing Marine Laboratories)
MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute )
ESNERR (Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve)
Atlas of Marine Protection (MPAtlas)
USGS Protected Areas
CA Wetlands portal
Local GIS Data Resources
- CCJDC (Central Coast Joint Data Committee)
- GIS Resources for the Central Coast
- California Sea Mapping Program
- A cooperative program to create a comprehensive coastal/marine geologic and habitat base map series for all of California's State waters.
- Elkhorn Slough GIS data
- California GIS data
- Monterey County GIS data
- Santa Cruz County GIS data
- San Luis Obispo County GIS data
See Finding GIS Data library guide for more information. (Coming soon!)
Finding Other Data Repositories
Open Access Directory
Nature Scientific
- Nature Scientific Data repository list
- Includes storage limits and cost estimates
How to Cite Data and Images
Purdue OWL
- Purdue OWL
- A resource for all types of citations and many style guides. You'll find datasets in the Electronic Sources category and images in the Audiovisual category.
ESIP (Earth Science Information Partners)
USGS (United States Geological Survey)
- USGS Data Citation Guide
- This excellent guide shows required elements, examples, and has a detailed FAQ for all your thorny data citation questions.