19th International CODATA Conference
Category: Publication and Citation of Scientific Data

WDC Network for Earth System Research

Dr. Michael Lautenschlager (lautenschlager@dkrz.de)
World Data Center for Climate (WDCC), Modelle und Daten / Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie, (M&D/MPIM), Germany

There are many problems and issues faced by the geoscientific research community when it comes to managing data and information. The cost of archiving data, especially large sets, in systems where the data is easily retrieved, is very often prohibitive. The science related to the production of basic data is often not easily recognized as publishable work with the same merits as information derived from basic data. Effective understanding of the whole earth relies on better understanding of the interaction of multiple earth systems. In order to do this, wider and more diverse audiences, especially interdisciplinary science teams, should have a facilitated appreciation of the applicable data sets which are available.

The ICSU World Data Center's Mission is to identify and address major issues of importance to science and society by mobilizing the resources and knowledge of the international scientific community. Acquire data sets for long-term storage, document data sets, build and distribute catalogs of their data sets, supply relevant numerical methods and models for data evaluation, create higher level data and information products according to user specifications, and help in acquisition of data are tasks of the WDCs. In Germany three topic related WDCs exist and one more is in the course of formation:

• WDC for Climate, hosted by Max-Planck-Institute for Meteorology, Hamburg
• WDC for Marine Environmental Sciences, hosted by Alfred Wegner-Institute, Bremerhaven and University of Bremen
• WDC for Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere, hosted by the German Remote Sensing Data Center, Oberpfaffenhofen.
• WDC for Lithosphere Dynamics (in formation), hosted by the GeoForschungsZentrum, Potsdam

These four WDCs are cooperating in the Network for Earth System Research. Emphasis is on

• Data publication: Ingest of geoscientific data into standard librarian catalogues and assign data set identifiers that are explicit, distinct, independent of archiving system are developed. Based on a DFG project "Publikation und Zitierfähigkeit wissenschaftlicher Pimärdaten" a pilot realisation is implemented.
• Long-term archiving: Each of the WDCs offer long histories of data archiving for science and scientific projects. Long-term and free availability of the data in line with ICSU WDC guidelines are integrated in the individual data policies.