Click on a web service to learn more.

Metadata Web Service

This service provides an API to download MPLNET site or instrument metadata. Download formats include:

• CSV
  
• KML
  
• JSON
  
• GALION (JSON)

 
The metadata web service end point is:
https://mplnet.gsfc.nasa.gov/operations/sites?api&

 
The metadata parameters are format, sites, instruments, year, month, day, and GALION specific parameters. Format is the only required parameter.

• format=value: where value is one of the following
  
  • csv: produces a CSV text file based on other search parameters
  • kml: produces a KML file based on other search parameters
  • json: produces a JSON response based on other search parameters
  • galion: produces a JSON response in GALION format based on other search parameters

• sites=value: where value is one of the following
  
  • all: produces output file containing all sites (active and inactive). May also omit sites parameter if all sites are desired (this is a default)
  • active: produces output file containing only active sites (if year, month, or day are not set then uses today's date)
  • inactive: produces output file containing only inactive sites (if year, month, or day are not set then uses today's date)
  • active:inactive: produces output file containing both active and inactive sites (if year, month, or day are not set then uses today's date)
  • planned: produces output file containing only planned sites
  • Site Name: produces output file containing only requested site
  • collection;value: produces output file containing sites in pre-selected collections defined by value, where value is one of:
    • MPLCAN: Canadian sites in the MPLCAN sub-network of MPLNET
    • TAIWAN: Taiwan sub-network of MPLNET
    • CAMPAIGNS;7SEAS: Field Campaign sites in the Seven South East Asian Studies (7-SEAS)
    • CAMPAIGNS;CAHN: Field Campaign sites in the Caribbean Aerosol Health Network (CAHN)
    • ICAP;NIOSEA: International Cooperative for Aerosol Prediction (ICAP) region of Northern Indian Ocean and South East Asia
    • ICAP;BYZANTIUM: International Cooperative for Aerosol Prediction (ICAP) region of Byzantium
    • ICAP;EASTASIA: International Cooperative for Aerosol Prediction (ICAP) region of East Asia
    • ICAP;SUBTROPATL: International Cooperative for Aerosol Prediction (ICAP) region of Subtropical Atlantic
    • ICAP;PACIFIC: International Cooperative for Aerosol Prediction (ICAP) region of Pacific
    • ICAP;CONUS: International Cooperative for Aerosol Prediction (ICAP) region of CONUS
    • ICAP;SATLANTIC: International Cooperative for Aerosol Prediction (ICAP) region of South Atlantic
    • ICAP;SIOAUS: International Cooperative for Aerosol Prediction (ICAP) region of Southern Indian Ocean and Australia
    • ICAP;NPOLAR: International Cooperative for Aerosol Prediction (ICAP) region of North Polar
    • SDS;NAMEE: WMO Sand and Dust Storm Warning and Advisory System (SDS-WAS) region of North Africa, Middle East, and Europe
    • SDS;EASTASIA: WMO Sand and Dust Storm Warning and Advisory System (SDS-WAS) region of East Asia
    • SDS;PANAM: WMO Sand and Dust Storm Warning and Advisory System (SDS-WAS) region of Pan-America
    • DUSTBELT: MPLNET sites in the Northern Hemisphere Dust Belt
    • NAAPS: MPLNET sites selected for the Navy Aerosol Analysis and Prediction System (NAAPS)

• instruments=value: optional parameter will return instrument metadata in JSON format only (not compatible with sites). Where value is one of the following:
  
  • all: produces instrument history for all MPLNET instruments based on date and geomsmap and serial parameters
  • instrument: produces history for selected instrument (e.g. MPL44258) based on date and geomsmap and serial parameters
  • NOTE: instrument option only works with geomsmap and serial parameters

• Date information, these are optional. If none are provided then API response is for all time.
  
  • year=value: produces output file only containing sites active for requested year (or if month also set, then YYYY-MM period)
    
  • month=value: produces output file only containing sites active for requested month (or if year also set, then YYYY-MM period)
    
  • day=value: must be set with year and month, produces output file only containing sites active for the requested date (YYYY-MM-DD)
    

• method=value: results in simplified JSON list, where value is one of the following
  
  • station: returns result with only simplified station elements, no data element
    
  • data: returns result with simplified station and data elements (for JSON format this option excludes sites with no matching data)
    

• level=value: The level of data you are requesting metadata for, where value is one of (only for JSON format):
  • 1: Level 1
  • 15: Level 1.5
  • 2: Level 2
  • 3: Level 3

• research=value: get metadata for MPLNET research projects (not operational data), value is equal to one of the following (only for JSON format):
  • EarthCARE_Validation: EarthCARE Validation (not public)

• geomsmap=value: add GEOMS metadata mapping by specifying value below (only for JSON format):
  • no: no GEOMS mapping (default if geomsmap keyword not included)
  • yes: adds GEOMS metadata mapping

• serial=value: serialize JSON results by specifying value below:
  • no: JSON results not serialized (default if serial keyword not included)
  • yes: JSON results are serialized

 
Examples shown below: CSV and KML

 
Download All Sites in CSV
https://mplnet.gsfc.nasa.gov/operations/sites?api&sites=all&format=csv

Download All Sites in KML
https://mplnet.gsfc.nasa.gov/operations/sites?api&sites=all&format=kml

Download All Sites in CSV that were active in 2010 (can omit sites parameter if all sites are desired)
https://mplnet.gsfc.nasa.gov/operations/sites?api&format=csv&year=2010

Download All Sites in CSV that were active in July 2010
https://mplnet.gsfc.nasa.gov/operations/sites?api&format=csv&year=2010&month=7

Download Currently Active Sites in CSV
https://mplnet.gsfc.nasa.gov/operations/sites?api&sites=active&format=csv

Download All Sites in CSV that were active in the months of July (over entire project time period 2000 - current)
https://mplnet.gsfc.nasa.gov/operations/sites?api&format=csv&month=7

Download 7-SEAS Sites in CSV that were active in 2018
https://mplnet.gsfc.nasa.gov/operations/sites?api&sites=collection;campaigns;7seas&format=csv&year=2018

 
Examples shown below: JSON

 
Download JSON metadata for all sites operational on Feb 19, 2025, include GEOMS mapping
https://mplnet.gsfc.nasa.gov/operations/sites?api&format=json&sites=all&geomsmap=yes&year=2025&month=02&day=19

 
Examples shown below: GALION

 
Download GALION metadata for GSFC site on October 1, 2023
https://mplnet.gsfc.nasa.gov/operations/sites?api&format=galion&sites=GSFC&year=2023&month=10&day=1

Download GALION metadata for GSFC site on October 1, 2023, using simplified data method
https://mplnet.gsfc.nasa.gov/operations/sites?api&format=galion&sites=GSFC&year=2023&month=10&day=1&method=data

Download GALION metadata for all active sites in 2023
https://mplnet.gsfc.nasa.gov/operations/sites?api&format=galion&sites=active&year=2023

Download GALION metadata for all sites (all time), station information only
https://mplnet.gsfc.nasa.gov/operations/sites?api&format=galion&sites=all&method=station

Download GALION metadata for 7-SEAS Sites that were active in 2018
https://mplnet.gsfc.nasa.gov/operations/sites?api&format=galion&sites=collection;campaigns;7seas&year=2018