Streamlining SeaExplorer Data Workflows: From Raw Measurements to FAIR-compliant Datasets

Autonomous underwater gliders have revolutionized our ability to monitor the ocean, providing high-resolution vertical sections across vast spatial and temporal scales. Among these platforms, gliders stand out for its high-performance buoyancy-driven design, making it an essential tool for continuous monitoring along programmed routes and effectively bridging the gap between satellite observations and ship-based sampling. However, the transition from raw data collection to standardized, analysis-ready products remains a significant bottleneck due to fragmented and often manual processing workflows. These challenges hinder the rapid integration of glider data into international networks and limit their utility for real-time operational applications.

We present a methodology that automates the transformation of raw data into NetCDF files, incorporating rigorous quality control (QC) protocols and TEOS-10 unit compliance. These protocols align with the established international glider community standards and best practices, ensuring consistency and interoperability of datasets across research programs and observing systems. A key pillar of this approach is a multi-tiered data validation strategy that preserves the original scientific signal while providing transparent diagnostic data files for expert assessment. The developed workflow will enhance the immediacy of analysis and the usability of data acquired by SeaExplorer gliders in accordance with FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles. 

By reducing the time between data acquisition and availability, this standardized approach supports the increasing demand for high-fidelity in situ data in modern oceanography. Such frameworks are essential for building a more integrated and reliable global ocean observing system, capable of addressing the urgent challenges of a rapidly changing marine environment.