A Marine Inforrnation System for Ocean Predictions
39
been recently developed and has assured data and forecast of the physical properties (circulation, temperature and salinity fields) of the sea.
This paper will present a general overview of marine information system concepts and then will give details on the operational observing system set up in the
Mediterranean as part of the Mediterranean Forecasting System project (Pinardi
and Flemming, 1998) developed in the framework ofthe EuroGOOS activities. In
section 3.2 the main concepts of information systems are presented, followed by
some general ideas on sampling requirements (section 3.3). A general overview of
the operational observing systems are presented in section 3.4, followed by a presentation of concepts developed for the Mediterranean Sea (section 3.5). The discussion (section 3.6) include also the lesson learned from the Mediterranean
experience.
3.2 Marine Information System
The first significant examples of Marine Information Systems were developed
during the '60s. Until the '80s the data management was composed of many independent processes (Fig 3.1) the data collection, the pre-processing by technicians,
the storage in files whose access was different from one system to another (e.g.
sequential, direct access, etc). Data analysis, graphical representation and dissemination were part of the scientific study of the ocean dynamics.
During the last 50 years, monitoring systems and oceanographic cruises have
generated a large suite of processed samples, analyses and products. An efficient
information strategy was then necessary for the use and dissemination of these data
among users and the public. Information Systems were built with the overall goal
to provide the data management and communication facilities that were necessary
for (e.g.) oceanographic data distribution from collecting centres to users, routine
monitoring, analysis and assessment ofthe state ofthe marine and coastal environment (UNESCO, 1999a, 1999b, 1999c).
An "Information System" is then defined as a system that manages all information and not just that directly associated with measured variables (Fig. 3.2). More
generally, "information" includes raw and processed data, information on measurements methods, information on analysis and data analysis (metadata); "management" includes communications from instruments to responsible centres, quality
control, data storage and exchange, data sharing policies and dissemination.
All these aspects are becoming more and more important for the 'near-real-time'
data, which need to be analysed in a short delay after data collection.
The understanding of environmental changes requires the establisbment of effective mechanisms for the request and distribution of data as well as for the quality
assurance determination. Since the early 1960's data centres and designated
national agencies were established in the framework of lOC programmes, to support both national and international organizations with oceanographic data and
information services (UNESCO, 1997).
39
been recently developed and has assured data and forecast of the physical properties (circulation, temperature and salinity fields) of the sea.
This paper will present a general overview of marine information system concepts and then will give details on the operational observing system set up in the
Mediterranean as part of the Mediterranean Forecasting System project (Pinardi
and Flemming, 1998) developed in the framework ofthe EuroGOOS activities. In
section 3.2 the main concepts of information systems are presented, followed by
some general ideas on sampling requirements (section 3.3). A general overview of
the operational observing systems are presented in section 3.4, followed by a presentation of concepts developed for the Mediterranean Sea (section 3.5). The discussion (section 3.6) include also the lesson learned from the Mediterranean
experience.
3.2 Marine Information System
The first significant examples of Marine Information Systems were developed
during the '60s. Until the '80s the data management was composed of many independent processes (Fig 3.1) the data collection, the pre-processing by technicians,
the storage in files whose access was different from one system to another (e.g.
sequential, direct access, etc). Data analysis, graphical representation and dissemination were part of the scientific study of the ocean dynamics.
During the last 50 years, monitoring systems and oceanographic cruises have
generated a large suite of processed samples, analyses and products. An efficient
information strategy was then necessary for the use and dissemination of these data
among users and the public. Information Systems were built with the overall goal
to provide the data management and communication facilities that were necessary
for (e.g.) oceanographic data distribution from collecting centres to users, routine
monitoring, analysis and assessment ofthe state ofthe marine and coastal environment (UNESCO, 1999a, 1999b, 1999c).
An "Information System" is then defined as a system that manages all information and not just that directly associated with measured variables (Fig. 3.2). More
generally, "information" includes raw and processed data, information on measurements methods, information on analysis and data analysis (metadata); "management" includes communications from instruments to responsible centres, quality
control, data storage and exchange, data sharing policies and dissemination.
All these aspects are becoming more and more important for the 'near-real-time'
data, which need to be analysed in a short delay after data collection.
The understanding of environmental changes requires the establisbment of effective mechanisms for the request and distribution of data as well as for the quality
assurance determination. Since the early 1960's data centres and designated
national agencies were established in the framework of lOC programmes, to support both national and international organizations with oceanographic data and
information services (UNESCO, 1997).