1. Data Management for the International Polar Year
World Data Center for Glaciology, Boulder
Facilitating the international exchange of snow and ice data
Data Management for the International Polar Year
“In the midst of the present IGY, with its vast ramifications, its flood of observations, messages, reports, etc. threatening to overwhelm the individual, the just proudness of this … progress is mingled with a sentimental nostalgia [for] IPY2 … IPY2 was like chamber-music compared to the symphony of the present IGY”
Julious Bartels, Annals of the International Geophysical Year, Vol 1., p205
Mark A. Parsons
Joint Committee for Antarctic Data Management
Buennes Aries, Argentina
16 September 2005

2. Organization of IPY Data Management
Data Policy & Management Subcommittee
scientists
data managers
funding agencies
IPY Joint Committee
eGY
Programme
Office
Data & Information
Service
Users
From the IPY Framework document based on recommendations from JCADM, Clic, and the ICSU Priority Area Assessment on Sci Data and Info
Note: Service not system--but still needs to be a portal
Recommends and I’m generally assuming open and free access
DIS is “conductor” that ensures all data components are coordinated and follow best practices
eGY is intentionally off the screen to indicate links outside the system, notably to other I*Ys
JCADM is in projects and organizations. NADCs are in data centers.
Projects, Organizations
Data Centers, Virtual Observatories, etc.
Data Management for IPY; M.A. Parsons, JCADM, 16 September 2005

3. The Data Policy and Management Subcommittee
Taco DeBruin and Mark Parsons to Co-Chair
Role:
Develop IPY data policy (draft already available)
Design overall data strategy addressing physical samples, social science data, photographs, etc. as well as electronic scientific data
Outline procedures for data organization, transmission, and archiving
Next steps
Receive Terms of Reference from JC and form full committee
Establish an online meeting and potentially a face to face meeting at ICARP in Copenhagen in November
Report to the JC at their November meeting in Geneva
Note:
Co-chair nominations officially endorsed by the JC but Tac may not yet have been formally informed.
Data policy is essentially copied from WCRP CLIVAR (Climate Variability Project)
Next steps are my vision only, not definite although Ian Allison, Co-chair of the JC, is supposed to provide ToR soon.
Data Management for IPY; M.A. Parsons, JCADM, 16 September 2005

4. Data and Information Service
Charged with implementing the strategy developed by the data committee
Proposal (#49) strongly endorsed by the JC
Led by WDC for Glaciology, Boulder in partnership with many other data centers and organizations
JCADM is a partner (via Taco, several NADCs, and GCMD)
Concept is a network of regional or discipline-specific “affinity centers”.
Central DIS acts as a data portal, facilitator, and data management consulting service.
Data Management for IPY; M.A. Parsons, JCADM, 16 September 2005

5. Data Management for IPY; M.A. Parsons, JCADM, 16 September 2005
IPY DIS Next Steps
Funding!
Planning proposal in at NSF
Other proposals to NASA and foundations
JC encouraging national and international support
Some progress with partner funding
Develop ties to major IPY projects
Develop affinity centers and organizational structure and procedures
IPY JC will likely determine flagship or lead IPY projects for major discipline areas and pole these could serve as the primary way for the DIS to connect with providers
Emphasize JCADMs role in helping organize
Timeline uncertain--depends on funding and action of the data committee
Data Management for IPY; M.A. Parsons, JCADM, 16 September 2005

6. Data Management for IPY; M.A. Parsons, JCADM, 16 September 2005
Role for JCADM
Review and comment on data policy
Nominate further members of data committee
Help develop Antarctic “affinity center(s)”
Provide expertise to DIS on international organization based on AMD experience
Arctic is less organized
Issues of social science data, biological samples, etc.
Metadata issues—may need to go beyond DIF
Data committee needs scientists and funding agents not just data managers
Perhaps JCADM is the Antarctic Affinity Center
Mention ELOKA (Exchange for Local Observations and Knowledge in the Arctic), Shari’s effort to coordinate community based monitoring efforts.
Data Management for IPY; M.A. Parsons, JCADM, 16 September 2005