INTER-AGENCY COMMITTEE ON MARINE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (IACMST)

National Marine Environmental Data (MED) Co-ordinator

ANNUAL REPORT 1999 - SUMMARY

Introduction

This summary covers the third full year of activities of the National Marine Environmental Data (MED) Co-ordinator and the associated Action Group. The post is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and hosted by the British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC). In addition, five Government Departments are contributing to the running costs of the post. The role of the MED Co-ordinator is to implement the day-to-day data activities of IACMST and to ensure that arrangements are in place for the optimum use of UK marine environmental data for both scientific research and wealth creation. Progress against the 1999 Action List items is summarised below.

This has essentially been a transition year from the final year of a pilot study to the next phase of a longer term-activity. The MED activity was reviewed during the year and a summary of this is given in the main report. The main recommendations of the Review Panel were that the activity be continued for a further five years (with a review after three years), that the chair of the Action Group chair should be an IACMST independent members, and that Action Group membership should include representation from user groups (e.g. industry and conservation).

Developing and maintaining data inventories

One of the key requirements for providing an overview of marine environmental data is the production of data catalogues. During the year, a new database has been designed and implemented under ACCESS for the UK Directory of Marine Environmental Data Sets. Updates and new entries from various organisations have also been received. The next task is to make the new database available for searching via the Web.

The UK Cruise Inventory and Cruise Summary Report database have been combined into one Oracle database and the information rationalised. The resulting database comprises information relating to over 4000 research cruises. Good progress has been made in electronically scanning the accompanying paper cruise track charts (1800 have been completed).

The UK Moored Current Meter Inventory is now available as a searchable catalogue on the Web.

Developing data management guidelines

Plans are well advanced for the Marine Samples Workshop. This will take place at the Natural History Museum, London, on April 3^rd 2000. Key speakers are being approached to cover the different aspects, for example, the importance and value of sample collections, and the curation of samples. It will also act as a shop window for those organisations with sample collections to demonstrate what is available The Workshop is being organised jointly by BOSCOR (SOC) and the Natural History Museum, with support from IACMST.

Mechanisms to facilitate data exchange

A plan was drawn up in 1998 for submission of the backlog of oceanographic data to ICES and World Data Center-A for Oceanography. Already the situation is quite healthy with regard to data submission to ICES, since CEFAS and FRS submit their data annually. Further progress has been made over the year in forwarding some of the backlog of NERC data to ICES, with temperature and salinity profiles from fifty-eight further cruises being submitted.

Raising the visibility of MED activities

An enhanced set of Web pages has been developed for the Marine Environmental Data Network. These are at:

http://www.oceannet.org/

A proposed Action List for 2000 is included in the main report.

The emphasis in the coming months will be on raising the visibility of the Network, producing promotional brochures and leaflets. In conjunction with this, the Web site will be further developed with the aim of becoming a single portal for marine environmental data.

One other priority will be working up two of the menu items into proposals for which funding will be sought.

Lesley J. Rickards
21 December 1999