WOCE Data Policy and Practices

• General
• Revision November 1995
• Policy for Specific Datasets

General

There is a fundamental trade-off in WOCE - on the one hand, the protection of the intellectual effort and time of originating investigators (those who plan an experiment, collect, calibrate, and process a data set to answer some questions about the ocean), and on the other hand the need to compare various data sets and data types to check their consistency, to better understand the ocean processes involved, and to see how well the numerical models describe the real ocean. The policy below is a trade-off between these conflicting needs.

Any data collected as part of WOCE should be made publicly available no later than 2 years (the publication rights period) from collection, unless specifically waived by the SSG and funding agencies.

Collection is interpreted as the completion of the determination of the value of the particular parameter. Thus, for example, tritium/helium collection may not be complete for over a year after return to shore/laboratory.

Individual WOCE programmes (hydrography, surface velocity, etc.) may require all participating investigators to submit (usually within a few months after collection) data collected as part of WOCE to a Data Assembly Centre (DAC) for the purposes of quality control and data synthesis during the public rights period. In that case the recipient DAC may not redistribute such data, or a derivative containing most of the information unless specifically approved by the originating PI, and should use the data for the stated purpose only.

Originating investigators are strongly encouraged to share their data before the end of the publication rights period. The receiving investigator should not publish any paper during that period based predominantly on the received data, should co-author results with the originating investigator, and should not redistribute the data.

Revision November 1995

The SSG reviewed and endorsed this statement in November 1995 but were concerned with ensuring that all WOCE data be submitted for preparation and documentation as quickly as possible so that information is not lost. Therefore, the SSG accepted the current practice of DACs of accepting data that PIs have not released for general distribution. The DACs and SACs should ensure that their procedures are such that these data are not released without the PIs authorization. However, the SSG continues to endorse it's policy that all WOCE data should be made publicly available within 2 years of collection.

Policy for specific datasets

Drifter Data

Initial distribution via GTS of those data so authorized by PIs - available to all. Quality controlled with improved positions (over that of the GTS data) to SVP participants within 6 months, <2 years to others by negotiation,> 2 years to general public

XBT Data

Initial distribution via GTS (less than 30 days), available to all. All VOS data and subsets (4/day) of WOCE high density lines are expected to be reported via GTS. Delayed mode VOS via IODE/GTSPP system which suggests within one year of collection. Data are available at that time unless otherwise protected. PIs may request confidentiality for 2 years. High density programme PIs are urged to share their data with other users within WOCE after 6 months of collection and to submit their data to the UOT/DAC in one year.

Float Data

General rule is that data are proprietary for two years after the deployment is essentially dead. For example, Drake Passage deployment (10) in early 1990 was essentially dead in the fall of 1992 - the 2 years, therefore, began then. General practice encouraged, and followed thus far, by the Float PIs is to make data available immediately upon the receipt of any sensible request, but to retain publication rights.

Hydrographic and Tracer Data

Proprietary for two years unless release is authorized earlier by the PI. The proprietary period for shore-based data begins at the completion of the determination of the value of the particular parameter.

Current Meter Data

Generally the same as floats. Two-year rule starts when the last recovery is made where multiple deployments at a site are used to extend the observation period.

Sea Level Data

No restrictions imposed.