3.5 Developing the WOCE Global Data System
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Lindstrom and Legler
WOCE archive, but have yet to develop an effective plan.
Model results and derived products
While needed logically by the WOCE data and
information structure, a specific assembly and distribution point for WOCE model results has not
been established. PIs have been encouraged to
make their results publicly accessible through web
sites and the DIU has attempted some compilation
of these web sites. Other products that may derive
from the WOCE Synthesis (e.g. atlases, gridded
products, etc.) would also benefit from assembly
and documentation at a central site. However, it is
most likely that they will also be made available
through PI web sites or as part of WOCE Global
Data Set on CD-ROM.
WOCE Data Archive
The US National Oceanographic Data Center
(NODC) serves as the host for the World Data
Center, Oceanography, in Silver Spring. That centre archives the records of WOCE observations.
The NODC provides a focal point that brings
WOCE data streams to a common end point. The
archive assures the safekeeping of the data and
necessary transition to alternative media of the
future. It is expected that this will ultimately serve
as the online source for all WOCE data long after
DACs have evolved and grown into other projects.
NODC has ensured mass production and wide
distribution of the WOCE Global Data Set.
3.5.3 The WOCE Global Data Set and
future developments
3.5.3.1 WOCE Global Data version 1.0
The WOCE data resource is being built upon the
already existing data streams. All DACs have
established interfaces that allow the selection and
search of their own individual data streams. These
data streams will be linked in a more systematic
way to create one cross-linked searchable data set.
This is being accomplished in several stages, the
initial phase of which has already been achieved.
The World Wide Web has enabled the creation of
an embryonic virtual data resource through which
the DACs offer access to data and products.
A major step towards the WOCE Data Resource
has been the recent production of version 1.0 of
the WOCE Global Data on CD-ROMs. These
platform-independent CD-ROMs can be read
with free software (Web browsers) and contain
all available data, metadata and products at the
DACs in February 1998. However, the CD-ROMs
do not represent the complete WOCE Data
Resource since it is continually expanding as more
data become available through completion of
quality control or public release by investigators.
Data products are evolving as scientific issues are
addressed and as synthesis proceeds. Many initial
products could become redundant as new data are
added and new ideas for forming products are
developed.
3.5.3.2 Future versions and directions
The penultimate phase of implementation of the
WOCE Data Resource will be the integration of
the data sets, documentation and products from
the individual data streams into a single logical
virtual site or volume. To achieve this level of integration, the WOCE Data System will develop and
adopt a set of conventions for data formats and
data/metadata content. This level of uniformity
should be evident in WOCE Global Data V2.0,
scheduled for publication in September 2000. It
will facilitate searching, gathering, and synthesis
actions across the entire WOCE data system.
WOCE Global Data V3.0 represents the integration of the complete WOCE Data Resource,
thereby becoming the legacy of the WOCE field
programme. It may include gridded or self-gridding products suitable for forward models as well
as products suitable for data-assimilation and
inverse models. For example one can envision that
queries to produce three-dimensional gridded temperature fields will result in tagged analyses based
on data from multiple instruments (e.g. XBT,
CTD, profilers) within the user-defined spatial and
temporal domains.
3.5.3.3 Evaluation and transition to future
programmes
The WOCE data system has developed into a
distributed resource providing quality-controlled
oceanographic data. While other attempts to
create distributed data systems have met with
mixed success, the WOCE system has proven
successful and could serve as a model for other
elements within WCRP (World Climate Research
Programme) and IGBP (International Geosphere–
Biosphere Programme). The WOCE DACs and
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Lindstrom and Legler
WOCE archive, but have yet to develop an effective plan.
Model results and derived products
While needed logically by the WOCE data and
information structure, a specific assembly and distribution point for WOCE model results has not
been established. PIs have been encouraged to
make their results publicly accessible through web
sites and the DIU has attempted some compilation
of these web sites. Other products that may derive
from the WOCE Synthesis (e.g. atlases, gridded
products, etc.) would also benefit from assembly
and documentation at a central site. However, it is
most likely that they will also be made available
through PI web sites or as part of WOCE Global
Data Set on CD-ROM.
WOCE Data Archive
The US National Oceanographic Data Center
(NODC) serves as the host for the World Data
Center, Oceanography, in Silver Spring. That centre archives the records of WOCE observations.
The NODC provides a focal point that brings
WOCE data streams to a common end point. The
archive assures the safekeeping of the data and
necessary transition to alternative media of the
future. It is expected that this will ultimately serve
as the online source for all WOCE data long after
DACs have evolved and grown into other projects.
NODC has ensured mass production and wide
distribution of the WOCE Global Data Set.
3.5.3 The WOCE Global Data Set and
future developments
3.5.3.1 WOCE Global Data version 1.0
The WOCE data resource is being built upon the
already existing data streams. All DACs have
established interfaces that allow the selection and
search of their own individual data streams. These
data streams will be linked in a more systematic
way to create one cross-linked searchable data set.
This is being accomplished in several stages, the
initial phase of which has already been achieved.
The World Wide Web has enabled the creation of
an embryonic virtual data resource through which
the DACs offer access to data and products.
A major step towards the WOCE Data Resource
has been the recent production of version 1.0 of
the WOCE Global Data on CD-ROMs. These
platform-independent CD-ROMs can be read
with free software (Web browsers) and contain
all available data, metadata and products at the
DACs in February 1998. However, the CD-ROMs
do not represent the complete WOCE Data
Resource since it is continually expanding as more
data become available through completion of
quality control or public release by investigators.
Data products are evolving as scientific issues are
addressed and as synthesis proceeds. Many initial
products could become redundant as new data are
added and new ideas for forming products are
developed.
3.5.3.2 Future versions and directions
The penultimate phase of implementation of the
WOCE Data Resource will be the integration of
the data sets, documentation and products from
the individual data streams into a single logical
virtual site or volume. To achieve this level of integration, the WOCE Data System will develop and
adopt a set of conventions for data formats and
data/metadata content. This level of uniformity
should be evident in WOCE Global Data V2.0,
scheduled for publication in September 2000. It
will facilitate searching, gathering, and synthesis
actions across the entire WOCE data system.
WOCE Global Data V3.0 represents the integration of the complete WOCE Data Resource,
thereby becoming the legacy of the WOCE field
programme. It may include gridded or self-gridding products suitable for forward models as well
as products suitable for data-assimilation and
inverse models. For example one can envision that
queries to produce three-dimensional gridded temperature fields will result in tagged analyses based
on data from multiple instruments (e.g. XBT,
CTD, profilers) within the user-defined spatial and
temporal domains.
3.5.3.3 Evaluation and transition to future
programmes
The WOCE data system has developed into a
distributed resource providing quality-controlled
oceanographic data. While other attempts to
create distributed data systems have met with
mixed success, the WOCE system has proven
successful and could serve as a model for other
elements within WCRP (World Climate Research
Programme) and IGBP (International Geosphere–
Biosphere Programme). The WOCE DACs and