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 NOAA > NESDIS > NCEI (formerly NGDC) > Marine Geology and Geophysics
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 Marine Geophysics   Marine Geology   Bathymetry 

Access to Marine Geology and Geophysics Data via FTP

NCEI's marine geology and geophysics data are accessible through our Web pages.

If you have arranged with an NCEI data manager to contribute data via FTP:
  1. Open a command line interface on your computer:

    • Mac: Applications > utilities > terminal
    • PC: Programs > accessories > command prompt

  2. Navigate to the directory on your computer containing the file that you wish to upload.

    • for example, on a PC if your file is in directory "upload" on your C drive:
      cd C:\upload

  3. Type: ftp   incoming.ngdc.noaa.gov
  4. When you are asked for a username, type: anonymous

  5. When you are asked for a password, enter your email address.
    (you will not receive acknowledgement of login)

  6. Type: cd pub/incoming (to navigate to the pub/incoming directory on the FTP server)

  7. Make a new directory (where "directoryname" is the name of your new directory):

    • mkdir directoryname
  8. Navigate to the new directory (where "directoryname" is the name of your directory):

    • cd directoryname

      (if the file is binary, type "bin" then press Enter before uploading the file)

  9. Type (where "filename" is the name of your file):

    • put filename

      (if you are uploading multiple files, use mput instead of put.

  10. Please email your NCEI contact to let them know that you have uploaded data. Thank you!

If you have arranged to pick up data via FTP

  1. Type: FTP  ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov
    (in a command line interface)

  2. When you are asked for a username, type: anonymous

  3. When you are asked for a password, enter your email address.
    (you will not receive acknowledgement of login)

  4. Navigate to /pub/outgoing/mgg/yourdirectoryname/
    (where "directoryname" is the name specified by the data manager)

    • cd pub/outgoing/mgg/yourdirectoryname/

      (if files are binary, type "bin" & press Enter before retrieving)

  5. Type (where "filename" is the name of your file):

    • get filename

      (if you are retrieving multiple files, use mget instead of get.

Alternatively, use HTTP link: ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/pub/outgoing/mgg/ and navigate to your specified directory


If you are an NCEI data manager and wish to post a file for FTP pickup or retrieve a file contributed via FTP, please consult the Public FTP Servers information page on the local Intranet.