Convert WOD metadata to GPX format.
For a description of the WOD "CSV" format, see https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/world-ocean-database-select/csv_info.html. Unfortunately, it cannot be read using Excel. The purpose of this program is to read the format, then translate it into GPX, which can be readily injested into any number of plotting programs.
usage: wod2gpx [-h] [--comment COMMENT] [--symbol SYMBOL] [infile] [outfile]
Convert WOD metadata to GPX format.
positional arguments:
infile File to process. Use '-' for stdin.
outfile File to write GPX data to. Use '-' for stdout.
optional arguments:
-h, --help show this help message and exit
--comment COMMENT Comment to be added to the GPX 'desc' field.
--symbol SYMBOL Symbol to use. Default is a small red x.
Here is a typical WOD CSV record.
#--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAST ,,595182,WOD Unique Cast Number,WOD code,
NODC Cruise ID ,,US-1908 ,,,
Originators Station ID ,,PL 90 ,,,alpha
Originators Cruise ID ,,31701908,,,
Latitude ,,24.893,decimal degrees,,
Longitude ,,-108.925,decimal degrees,,
Year ,,1970,,,
Month ,,3,,,
Day ,,19,,,
Time ,,17.3,decimal hours (UT),,
#--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assuming it is in a file input_file.csv, to convert it to GPX:
wod2gpx.py input_file.csv output_file.gpx --comment="Example"
This would result in the file output_file.gpx with a single <wpt> record:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<gpx version="1.1" creator="Python GPX Generator" xmlns="http://www.topografix.com/GPX/1/1">
<wpt lat="24.893" lon="-108.925">
<name>PL 90</name>
<desc>Example
CAST: 595182
NODC Cruise ID: US-1908
Originators Cruise ID: 31701908</desc>
<time>1970-03-19T17:18:00+00:00</time>
<sym>Symbol-X-Small-Red</sym>
</wpt>
</gpx>