3.5.1 Organization and planning for
WOCE data systems
Traditionally, the collection and analysis of in-situ
oceanographic data has been the task of individual
scientists. To address larger problems, such as the
nature of the global ocean circulation, scientists
worked together to make WOCE (World Ocean
Circulation Experiment) a reality. Still, most
WOCE data have been collected by individual
Principal Investigators or small, specialized teams
under their direction. However, the task of producing a global view of the oceans depends on
assembling the contributions of all the PIs into an
easily accessible composite data set of qualityreviewed data.
The various components of WOCE combine to
form the biggest and most comprehensive oceanographic experiment to date. Satellite measurements, in-situ observations and the development of
models are all contributing to this first truly global
ocean experiment. Figure 3.5.1 shows how the
number of WOCE oceanographic stations far
exceeds previous experiments, and illustrates the
high number of ‘data years’ of direct current measurements being accumulated. In addition there
are some 60 000 XBT (eXpendablebathythermograph) profiles collected per year, and extensive sets of ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Current
Profiler) and surface salinity data. The global
satellite data sets provide a level of coverage
previously unobtainable. The accurate and quasisynoptic WOCE data set will be the definitive
baseline of the ‘state of the ocean’ against which
past and future changes will be measured. The
success of WOCE has relied on a new level of
international cooperation that is set to continue in
future climate-related projects and global ocean
observational programmes.
Investigators retain data in order to conduct
quality checks, to maintain the privilege of first
publication, or simply because of over-commitment. Thus, the first hurdle for WOCE data management was assembling the data and associated
documentation. Once assembled, the identification
of data products of general use had to be completed and resources for such production identified.
It was also recognized early that the organization
of data (largely by measurement type) for assembly
and quality control was not the most conducive to
analysis and synthesis of the results obtained. The
basin-scale circulation would ultimately have to be
described using a mix of data and information
spanning all the WOCE observing subsystems.
In this chapter we provide an overview of the
data handling by WOCE. The remainder of the
first section describes the objectives of the WOCE
Data System, the reasoning for developing the
infrastructure as it is, and the data policies and
practices used. The idea of data streams and the
functional elements necessary to manage them are
briefly described in the second section. The third
section is devoted to the future ambitions and
directions for delivery of WOCE data products
and transition to future programmes.
A detailed and updated summary of WOCE
field programmes is not the subject of this chapter.
Data status is available through the WOCE Data
Information Unit (DIU) (http://www.cms.udel.edu).
3.5
Developing the WOCE Global Data System
Eric J. Lindstrom and David M. Legler
181
OCEAN CIRCULATION AND CLIMATE
Copyright © 2001 Academic Press
ISBN 0-12-641351-7
All rights of reproduction in any form reserved
CHAPTER
WOCE data systems
Traditionally, the collection and analysis of in-situ
oceanographic data has been the task of individual
scientists. To address larger problems, such as the
nature of the global ocean circulation, scientists
worked together to make WOCE (World Ocean
Circulation Experiment) a reality. Still, most
WOCE data have been collected by individual
Principal Investigators or small, specialized teams
under their direction. However, the task of producing a global view of the oceans depends on
assembling the contributions of all the PIs into an
easily accessible composite data set of qualityreviewed data.
The various components of WOCE combine to
form the biggest and most comprehensive oceanographic experiment to date. Satellite measurements, in-situ observations and the development of
models are all contributing to this first truly global
ocean experiment. Figure 3.5.1 shows how the
number of WOCE oceanographic stations far
exceeds previous experiments, and illustrates the
high number of ‘data years’ of direct current measurements being accumulated. In addition there
are some 60 000 XBT (eXpendablebathythermograph) profiles collected per year, and extensive sets of ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Current
Profiler) and surface salinity data. The global
satellite data sets provide a level of coverage
previously unobtainable. The accurate and quasisynoptic WOCE data set will be the definitive
baseline of the ‘state of the ocean’ against which
past and future changes will be measured. The
success of WOCE has relied on a new level of
international cooperation that is set to continue in
future climate-related projects and global ocean
observational programmes.
Investigators retain data in order to conduct
quality checks, to maintain the privilege of first
publication, or simply because of over-commitment. Thus, the first hurdle for WOCE data management was assembling the data and associated
documentation. Once assembled, the identification
of data products of general use had to be completed and resources for such production identified.
It was also recognized early that the organization
of data (largely by measurement type) for assembly
and quality control was not the most conducive to
analysis and synthesis of the results obtained. The
basin-scale circulation would ultimately have to be
described using a mix of data and information
spanning all the WOCE observing subsystems.
In this chapter we provide an overview of the
data handling by WOCE. The remainder of the
first section describes the objectives of the WOCE
Data System, the reasoning for developing the
infrastructure as it is, and the data policies and
practices used. The idea of data streams and the
functional elements necessary to manage them are
briefly described in the second section. The third
section is devoted to the future ambitions and
directions for delivery of WOCE data products
and transition to future programmes.
A detailed and updated summary of WOCE
field programmes is not the subject of this chapter.
Data status is available through the WOCE Data
Information Unit (DIU) (http://www.cms.udel.edu).
3.5
Developing the WOCE Global Data System
Eric J. Lindstrom and David M. Legler
181
OCEAN CIRCULATION AND CLIMATE
Copyright © 2001 Academic Press
ISBN 0-12-641351-7
All rights of reproduction in any form reserved
CHAPTER