Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

NOAA’s Data, Information, and Change Detection Strategy for the IPY  (NOAA Data Management and Change Detection)

Outline
NOAA's fundamental data management responsibilities will be to securely archive IPY datasets and ensure that these and relevant polar data are easily accessible for current and future users. NOAA will utilize the existing World Data Center (WDC) System and NOAA National Data Centers (NNDC) in order to serve as a clearinghouse and facilitator for data-management issues and will work with IPY participants to ensure that ICSU/WMO IPY Data Committee guidelines are followed. NOAA will also ensure that international standards such as the Open Archival Information System Reference Model and the ISO19115 metadata standards are met.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
To determine the present status of the polar regions (Theme 1), we must establish a baseline set of observations. The Data Management infrastructure proposed here follows principles set forth in the ICSU “Framework” document to ensure preservation of and access to these records for the long term. Understanding present change and improving projections of change (Theme 2) are advanced with baseline data and information products for decision makers and climate modelers. The pan-Arctic, multi-variable perspective of Climate Change Detection presents a graphical analysis that advances our understanding on all scales of links between polar regions (Theme 3).

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Change detection activities build on the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment work of the Arctic Council. Data management will call for utilization and enhancement of existing World Data Centers. Data archeology and rescue for baseline data sets will involve a number of international collaborations, e.g. with Russia and Poland for 19th century weather data.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
This proposal does not directly involve field work. It will use and archive data that results from field work.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
NOAA National Data Centers host six co-located World Data Centers. The World Data Center system is a legacy of the 1957-1958 IGY. WDCs are an existing infrastructure upon which to build to meet IPY data management objectives.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Data management, information products, and change detection programs will leave an infrastructure that is needed to continually assess arctic changes for societal relevance. IPY will be a catalyst for a system of data management that makes it easy for scientists to continue to store, find, access, retrieve, and distribute scientific data for the long term.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium
Own national polar operator
Another national polar operator
National agency
Military support
Commercial operator
Own support
Other sources of support

The end-to-end data streams required for decision support and climate change detection have many sources that may include any of the above, depending on the particular data product.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
No, This Expression of Intent is in the process of being considered by the US National Committee for the IPY.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
No

These projects build on existing programs within NOAA, but if carried out, it would involve substantial enhancements to them or new directions for them.

How will the project be organised and managed?
This proposal is a partnership between a number of NOAA entities (see 3.6). A NOAA IPY Data Management and Change Detection committee is envisioned to guide and advise on managing activities within the larger NOAA organizational and programmatic structure. Overall coordination will be accomplished through periodic meetings.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The Climate Change Detection effort raises awareness of arctic change through a well-designed Web site, thereby supporting IPY education, outreach and communication activities. Data management outreach could be addressed by the development of integrated, quality-controlled databases that would service as the baseline for climate change research. These projects would work with UNESCO and other national and international educational programs to ensure that materials and data are provided for inclusion in various educational and training manuals, websites, etc., in accordance with the ICSU's education and outreach guidelines.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The activities proposed here will address the data management issues outlined in the Framework, for IPY data handled by NOAA National Data Centers and NOAA-housed WDCs. We will work the IPY designated Data and Information System.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The proposed activities substantially leverage existing programs funded by NOAA. However additional funding will be required in all three areas. Funding will be requested through the NOAA budget planning process.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Proposed activities would involve at a minimum the following NOAA organizations: • NOAA National Data Center/World Data Centers o National Climatic Data Center/ World Data Centers for Meteorology and Paleoclimatology, Asheville o National Oceanographic Data Center/World Data Center for Oceanography, Silver Spring o National Geophysical Data Center/ World Data Centers for Marine Geology & Geophysics, Solar Terrestrial Physics and Solid Earth Geophysics, Boulder o National Snow and Ice Data Center/World Data Center for Glaciology, Boulder • NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Seattle • The NOAA Arctic Research Office, Silver Spring • NOAA’s National Ocean Service, Silver Spring • Regional Climate Centers (RCC) • NOAA Central Library

PROPOSER DETAILS

Ms Florence Fetterer
National Snow and Ice Data Center/WDC for Glaciology, Boulder
UCB 449
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
80309
USA

Tel: +1 303 492 4421
Mobile: no
Fax: no
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation