Ferret/OPeNDAP (a.k.a. DODS)

OPeNDAP is protocol formerly known as DODS, the Distributed Oceanographic Data System. It allows users to access data anywhere from the internet using a variety of client/server methods, including Ferret. Employing technology similar to that used by the World Wide Web, OPeNDAP and Ferret create a powerful tool for the retrieval, sampling, analyzing and displaying of datasets; regardless of size or data format (though there are data format limitations).

Using OPeNDAP datasets in Ferret is just like using any other data set.
For example:
yes? SET DATA "http://www.ferret.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/nph-dods/data/levitus_climatology.nc"
yes? SHADE temp[z=0]

Documentation on use of OPeNDAP data sets in Ferret is in the Ferret User's Guide Ch2 Sec7: Access to remote data sets with OPeNDAP

Ferret and OPeNDAP demonstrations

dods_demo - html version
dods_winds_demo - html version
dods_demo.jnl - script file

Full OPeNDAP documentation can be found at http://www.opendap.org/
The features of OPeNDAP 3.2 include:

A client-side startup file (.dodsrc)
client-side caching to store data you have requested on your local computer. The size and location of the cache, and expiration dates can be set using the initialization file .dodsrc
Proxy server support, configured in the .dodsrc file
Availability of a OPeNDAP master data set list

Finding OPeNDAP datasets

Search the OPeNDAP master data set list

Search the Global Change Master Directory

Browse OPeNDAP datasets through LAS

PMEL, CDC, and FSU are sample OPeNDAP servers, e.g.
yes? use "http://www.cdc.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/nph-dods/Datasets/ncep/air.1990.nc"
See also the NVODS homepage, the National Virtual Ocean Data System.

For assistance in setting up an OPeNDAP server at your site, please see the OPeNDAP webpage

Dept of Commerce / NOAA / OAR / PMEL / TMAP

NOAA Privacy Policy for web pages