An Update on the Global Observing Systems

Information Center (GOSIC) Portal: Development of New Data

Access Tools

90th AMS Atlanta, GA

17-21 January 2010

Christina J. Lief GOSIC Program Manager

NOAA/NESDIS/NCDCAsheville, NC

The GOSIC Portal offers a common point of access to datasets, data products,

and services for the Global Observing

Systems:GCOS, GOOS & GTOS

Atmospheree.g. WIGOS, AOPC

LandTOPC

OceanOOPC

Climate Observation Intersection

GCOSGlobal Climate Observing System

GOOSGlobal Ocean Observing System

GTOSGlobal Terrestrial Observing System

History of the GOSIC:

• was established in 1997 by the GCOS Joint Data and Information Management Panel (JDIMP)

• was developed at the University of Delaware

• was twice reviewed by independent panels

• is operational since 2007 at NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)

• Provides quick and user-friendly cross-system access to data and information

• Users can find data and information about GCOS, GOOS and GTOS and subsystems without having to navigate the hundreds of complex and vastly different web sites of the myriad of organizations in these global observing systems

• Provides a comprehensive inventory of datasets

What does the GOSIC offer:

• Provides documentation of datasets and program elements:

• Observing Requirements• Planning Documents• Data Management Plans• Publications

• Value added products:• Data Matrices• Data Flow Diagrams

• Allows users to determine the type and quality of the data through documentation provided by the participating data centers

What does the GOSIC offer (continued):

• Links and information are quality controlled with input from the secretariats and the World Data Centers

• Provides up to date data links

• Eliminates redundancy

What does GOSIC offer (continued):

• Provides several search mechanisms including data access matrices

• Provides results back in a standard easy-to-read, easy-to-understand format

• Allows users to obtain datasets via links to sources

What does the GOSIC offer (continued):

Developed web sites for the Pacific Islands GCOS, GOOS and HYCOS programs and some of the Pacific Islands Meteorological Services:

• Pacific Island GCOS: http://PI-GCOS.org

• Pacific Islands GOOS: http://PI-GOOS.org

• Pacific Island HYCOS: http://Pacific-HYCOS.org

• Pacific Islands Meteorological Services: http://pi-gcos.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50&Itemid=56

The GOSIC Support of the Regional Observing Systems:

Newly developed data access tools:

The GOSIC has focused on developing a variety of user friendly data access tools that provide users with an integrated overview of worldwide set of observations and derived products and quick access, through minimal amounts of clicks, to data download and metadata.

The GOSIC Data Access Tools:

• GCOS Essential Climate Variable (ECV) Matrix

• Joint Program Matrices: • GCOS & GTOS• GCOS & GOOS

• Thematic Ocean Data Access Matrix• GTOS Data and Metadata Access Matrix

• GOSIC Data Registry

Partial view of the GOSIC Main Page

Partial view of the Essential Climate Variables (ECV) Matrix

Partial view of the GCOS/GOOS Joint Program Matrix

Partial view of the GOSIC Data Registry

Data Registry Dataset Detail for WDCA Aerosol Data

Partial view of the GTOS Observing Networks Data and Metadata Access Matrix

In Conclusion: The GOSIC Portal offers easy access to data and

information for the GCOS, GTOS and GOOS by providing newly developed data access matrices that allow quick overview of the data available and minimal amount of clicks to data download and metadata.

The Essential Climate Variable (ECV) Matrix provides access to GCOS data for Atmospheric, Oceanic and Terrestrial variables.

Other matrices provide a quick overview and easy data access to joint programs of the observing systems and access to data by theme such as the Thematic Ocean Data Access Matrix.

The GOSIC, with the help of these newly developed data access tools, simplifies and unifies data, metadata and information access for the global observing systems.

Christina J. Lief

Program ManagerGlobal Observing

Systems Information Center (GOSIC)

NOAA/ NESDIS/NCDCAsheville, NC 28801

Phone: 828-271-4101

E-mail: christina.lief@noaa.gov