SHIPBOARD ADCP GLOBAL DATABASE MANAGEMENT BY NODC

STATUS: 15 February, 1995

   The National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC)
has established a Shipboard ADCP Center (SAC) at the 
University of Hawaii (UH). The location was chosen 
to take advantage of scientific collaboration with UH
ADCP experts, Dr. Eric Firing and associates.  The
SAC actively acquires data sets from data collectors,
standardizes the data format, completes the documentation,
and allows easy access for the scientific community.
Guidelines for submission of data sets are available 
and an archive system for managing and distributing 
the data sets has been developed.

   For each data set, i.e. cruise, the NODC 
archives the data in two forms: 1) a high-density set 
in Common Oceanographic Data Analysis System (CODAS) 
binary format consisting of currents and 
ancillary parameters at the sampling interval with 
which the data were recorded and processed and 
2) an ASCII standard subset of absolute currents at 
hourly and 10 m intervals.  If absolute currents are 
not available due to lack of navigation, then relative 
currents are provided.  The high-resolution set is
also available as an ASCII dump.  The standard subset
includes mean ship velocity and transducer temperature.

   Data contributors are requested to provide the
complete data set at the sampling interval as
recorded and processed.  The data set should be
in a quality controlled, calibrated, and documented
form.  It is not be the responsibility of NODC
to process the raw data sets.  Upon receipt of the
data at the SAC, the data are loaded into the
CODAS system and reviewed.  If the data set appears
questionable, the originators will be informed.
Data sets that do not meet basic quality specifications,
as determined by SAC personnel in collaboration with
UH scientists, will not be added to the global database. 

   For data sets accepted into the global database,
a standard subset at hourly and 10 m depth intervals
is prepared and a cruise summary form is completed.
The archive is maintained on a UNIX-based workstation 
in a directory tree system and backups are made on
a DAT tape subsystem.  The standard subsets and cruise 
summary forms are kept online.

   Access to the global data base is possible through the
Browse, Inventory, and Retieval System (BIRS), which
is a C-language program developed by the SAC.  The
BIRS is driven by a control file containing various
query and output options that the user sets with a
text editor prior to execution.  The BIRS can query
and provide inventories with up to 16 attributes, 
i.e. time range, region, PI, project, ship, etc.
  
     The BIRS software is available via anonymous ftp.
The user downloads the appropriate version, presently
either "sun", "sgi", or "pc".  The software includes
an executable file (birs), an ASCII control file
(birs.cnt), and a binary metadata summary file (ftr.sum).
The user may then modify the control file to set options
and run the software locally to see what data sets
are available through a variety of query attributes.

     The distributed version of BIRS only allows access to
an inventory.  Each cruise in the inventory is identified
by an SAC ID.  The customer can send the desired SAC IDs to
the SAC for access to the data.

    During the first years of operation, the NODC in
Washington,DC will serve as a permanent archive for
the global database and as an advocate for its 
availability, while the SAC will handle the acquisition,
quality assessments, documentation, and the majority of 
the data/metadata distribution.  The NODC will prepare and 
distribute CD ROMs for handling large requests, e.g. 
all CODAS binary data for the Pacific.

    For further information, contact

  
     Mr. Patrick Caldwell
     NODC Hawaii Liaison Officer
     Shipboard ADCP Center
     Dept. of Oceanography
     University of Hawaii, MSB 317
     Honolulu, Hawaii 96822
     USA
 
     Internet: caldwell@soest.hawaii.edu
     fax:  808-956-4104
     office phone: 808-956-4105