3.5 Developing the WOCE Global Data System
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quality-control oversight in the hands of experts
intimately familiar with that data type. It recognized the need for centralized access to coordination and management information through the
development of the WOCE Data Information
Unit. It also recognized the need to develop mechanisms for improving access and integration of
the data sets for ease of use by the scientific
community. It has consequently evolved into a
remarkably robust data system capable of delivering needed data, information, and products to
meet community needs.
3.5.1.2 WOCE data policies and practices
Role of the Data Products Committee
A forum for interaction of the scientific community and data managers was essential for the development of WOCE, as data management was one
Table 3.5.1 Elements of the WOCE Data System
Data streams
a
Elements
b
Metadata and programme information
Data information unit
UDEL, USA
Hydrographic programme
WHP office
SIO, USA
WHP special analysis centre
BSH+, FRG
Surface drifters
Global drifter centre
AOML, USA
Archive
MEDS, CAN
Upper ocean thermal data
Data assembly (GTS)
MEDS, CAN
Data assembly (delayed mode)
NODC, USA
Regional quality control centres
Atlantic
AOML, USA
Pacific
SIO, USA
Indian
AODC/CSIRO, AUS
Global UOT data centre
IFREMER, FR
Sea level
Fast delivery
UH, USA
Archive
BODC, UK
Subsurface floats
WHOI, USA
Moored measurements
OSU, USA
Surface meteorology/air–sea flux
FSU, USA
Surface salinity
IFREMER, FR
Satellite altimetry and SST
JPL, USA
Bathymetry
NGDC, USA
Acoustic Doppler current profiler
Global data assembly centre
JODC, Japan
US data assembly and online access
UH, USA
Model results and derived products
Not established
WOCE data archive
WDC, Oceanography, USA
a Abbreviations: GTS, Global Telecommunications System; SST, Sea Surface Temperature; UOT, Upper
Ocean Thermal;WHP, WOCE Hydrographic Programme.
b Abbreviations for WOCE Data System elements:
UDEL, USA – University of Delaware; BSH, Germany – Bundesamt für Seeschiffahrt und
Hydrographie; MEDS, Canada – Marine Environment Data System; UH, USA – University of Hawaii;
WHOI, USA – Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; JPL, USA – Jet Propulsion Laboratory; JODC,
Japan – Japan Oceanographic Data Center; WDC-Oceanography, USA – World Data CenterOceanography, Silver Spring (NODC); SIO, USA – Scripps Institute of Oceanography;AOML, USA –
Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory; NODC, USA – National Oceanographic
Data Center, USA; IFREMER, FR – Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Mer;
BODC, UK – British Oceanographic Data Centre; FSU, USA – Florida State University; NGDC,
USA – WDC-Marine Geophysics (NGDC).