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Introduction
A systematic and global re-occupation of select hydrographic sections is underway to quantify changes in storage and transport of heat, fresh water, carbon dioxide (CO2) and related parameters. By integrating the scientific needs of the carbon and hydrography/tracer communities, major synergies and cost savings are being achieved. The philosophy is that in addition to efficiency, a coordinated approach will produce scientific advances that exceed those of having individual carbon and hydrographic/tracer programs. These advances will contribute to the following overlapping scientific objectives:
- Data for Model Calibration and Validation
- Carbon System Studies
- Heat and Freshwater Storage and Flux Studies
- Deep and Shallow Water Mass and Ventilation Studies
- Calibration of Autonomous Sensors
Effective management and archival of data is a fundamental requirement for successful scientific research endeavors, and future oceanographic research depends on the availability and clarity of existing data. Two data offices in the US deal with reference-quality global ocean CTD, water sample, and underway data, one (CDIAC) specializing in discrete CO2 and underway surface data, and the other (WHPO/CCHDO) specializing in CTD, hydrographic, and tracer data.
CDIAC
Since 1993 CDIAC has been serving the ocean scientific community as the central repository for the carbon dioxide data measured on the WOCE/JGOFS cruises. CDIAC receives WOCE hydrographic and tracer data from the WHPO. Thus all US and most foreign WOCE hydrographic, chemical and carbon data are available now through the CDIAC Ocean data web page. Most of the data at CDIAC are available as published and electronic Numeric Data Packages (NDPs). The CDIAC_WOCE Ocean Data View (ODV) Collection that includes all WOCE sections with CO2 measurements as well as hydrographic and nutrient measurements is now available through CDIAC WWW. CDIAC communicates frequently with the scientific measurement groups and individual PIs. This has helped CDIAC build the largest atmospheric and oceanic carbon data sets in the world, with the highest quality data. As the new carbon data measurements will be measured by the US and foreign measurement groups on the repeat hydrographic sections, CDIAC is ready to continue its support to the WHPO/CCHDO in CO2 data processing and archival.
CDIAC and the WHPO cooperate closely: CDIAC receives many CO2-related data files directly, and also some from the WHPO. CDIAC carries out all data management functions for CO2-related data and the WHPO handles these functions for the CTD, hydrographic, and tracer data. The WHPO merges into its data files the latest versions of the CO2-related data as received from CDIAC. CDIAC uses the latest versions of the hydrographic data in its files. The WHPO is the primary provider of the data to NODC/WDC-A. Both facilities distribute data in formats agreed to be their user communities.
WHPO/CCHDO
The fundamental role of the WOCE Hydrographic Program Office (WHPO) [soon to be known also as the CLIVAR and Carbon Hydrographic Data Office (CCHDO] at the UCSD Scripps Institution of Oceanography is to see that WOCE Hydrographic Program data, CLIVAR repeat hydrography data, global ocean carbon hydrographic data, and other similar CTD/hydrographic data and their associated documentation are prepared and made available for both immediate use and a long service life. The CTD, hydrographic, and tracer data used in large scale ocean circulation studies are brought together, verified, corrected for content and format errors, assembled with relevant documentation, and carefully prepared for dissemination and archive. In addition the WHPO works to promote appropriate methodology, applicable community standards, communications, and data compatibility. The WHPO supported these important functions for the WOCE Hydrographic Program data from 1997-present, and has been invited to continue these functions for CLIVAR hydrography, global ocean carbon hydrography, and similar programs which make use of high quality ocean profile data. Data of the type dealt with by the WHPO are created by >100 data originators worldwide, sometimes 5 or more contributing to one file. All data users must cope with the temporal-, content-, and format-related file diversity these different originators engender. It is the enormous advantage of bringing data sets together to a common content and readability standard that remains the key function of the WHPO, with a strong additional advantage that the documentation associated with the data are collected, reorganized to a common standard (where possible), and preserved with the data. Although the data office disseminates data via the internet and on CD-ROMs and data DVDs, it provides its total public holdings, including documentation, to NODC/WDC-A for archive and further distribution.
CDIAC and the WHPO cooperate closely: CDIAC receives many CO2-related data files directly, and also some from the WHPO. CDIAC carries out all data management functions for CO2-related data and the WHPO handles these functions for the CTD, hydrographic, and tracer data. The WHPO merges into its data files the latest versions of the CO2-related data as received from CDIAC. CDIAC uses the latest versions of the hydrographic data in its files. The WHPO is the primary provider of the data to NODC/WDC-A. Both facilities distribute data in formats agreed to be their user communities.
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