REPORT OF TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON DATA EXCHANGE

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The meeting of the Technical Committee on Data Exchange was held from 13:30 - 17:30 hours on October 23, 2002. The Chairman, Dr. Igor Shevchenko, called the meeting to order and welcomed the participants (TCODE Endnote 1). The Committee reviewed the draft agenda and it was adopted as provided (TCODE Endnote 2).

Progress on items in the 2001/2002 Workplan

1) Revise/update TCODE Web pages.

The chairman reviewed the TCODE web site (http://tcode.tinro.ru). This web site contains records of previous TCODE activities and various documents. Dr. Shevchenko demonstrated the opportunities for using this website for exchange of information amongst TCODE members and other interested parties.

2) International GLOBEC/PICES Workshop on Data Management (W3)

This workshop was held on Saturday, October 19^th , 2002 and was well attended. There was a series of talks on data management initiatives that are relevant to the PICES GLOBEC Data Management initiative and there was an active discussion on the next stages in data management. Tom Royer suggested that the best contact for the United States would be with the NE Pacific GLOBEC group, rather than US GLOBEC main office. The Convenors (Igor Shevchenko – TCODE and Hester Willson – GLOBEC International Program Office) have prepared a meeting summary. This report is posted to the TCODE web site (http://tcode.tinro.ru).

3) Provisional list of metadata keywords.

Bern Megrey and Allen Macklin reported on their efforts to define a set of metadata keywords that are relevant to PICES activities. They have extracted an extensive list from the Global Change Master Directory. Dr. Shevchenko demonstrated the opportunities for using a website for collaborative work with these metadata keywords. The Chairman will circulate this list, (along with background material and instructions) to Committee Chairs for further distribution and comments back to TCODE by March 1, 2003. The Chairman will alert Committee Chairs of this activity at the Science Board meeting.

4) POC Working Group 17 – Biogeochemical Data Integration and Synthesis

Robin Brown reported on the progress of this working group. Through these activities, an extensive inventory of CO2 (and related parameters) cruise data has been assembled. This inventory has substantial contributions from Japan, Canada and the United States, but no information from Russia, China and Korea. The Working Group has requested the assistance of TCODE members from these countries to identify key contacts for these data, in order to complete this Inventory. Toru Suzuki and Sachiko Oguma presented the resulting on-line data inventory/web site accessible at http://picnic.pices.jp and http://wg17.pices.jp/.

5) Feedback and Recommendations for future electronic poster sessions

Robin Brown reviewed the feedback and recommendations arising from the electronic poster session at PICES X (Victoria, Canada). This report is posted on the TCODE web site (http://tcode.tinro.ru).

6) Electronic Poster Session at PICES XI

Allen Macklin reported on preparations for the E-poster session. There were 15 presentations. The organizers reported that there was very weak response to the original call for submissions, but many participants responded favourably when they were approached directly by the session convenors. Mr. Brown reported that same pattern for the e-poster session at PICES X. Some concern was expressed about separation between the main poster session (on the first floor) and the proposed location for the e-poster session (upstairs in the multi-purpose room, where Internet access was available. As few e-posters required internet access, it was decide to re-locate the E-poster session adjacent to the main poster session (and adjacent to the beer).

7) Review of TCODE Activities since formation

Robin Brown reviewed the Review report on PICES TCODE activities since

formation. This report is posted on the TCODE web site (http://tcode.tinro.ru).

Updates on Data Management Activities in PICES Nations

Several presentations were received on activities in PICES nations.

China

Ling Tong reported on National Marine Information and Service System (NMISS) Project http://www.coi.gov.cn/

(Chinese version) and http://www.coi.gov.cn/eindex.html (

a) English version).

Japan

Muneharu Tokimura reported on restructuring of the Japanese Fisheries Research　Agency and implications for data management and archival. He reported that oceanographic data holdings will be transferred to JODC for archival and distribution. In addition, he noted that discussions about the archival and distribution of biological data were underway, but there has been no decision yet. Norio Baba presented some information on the IODE-WESTPAC Global Oceanographic Data Archaeology and Rescue project.

Russia

Dr. Rostov reported on several activities underway in Russia to coordinate physical and chemical oceanographic databases and to prepare web sites and CD-ROM under the ESIMO project ( http://www.oceaninfo.ru). This website will be available in English in the future (Russian only at this time.) Dr. Rostov also reported on successful completion of the CD-ROM Atlas of Oceanographic Data that was prepared with the assistance of PICES. The CD-ROM has been delivered to the PICES Secretariat for distribution. The Chairman will coordinate this with the Secretariat.

United States

Bernard Megrey reported that his proposal (supported by PICES TCODE) to expand the Bering Sea Metadata inventory to cover all of the North Pacific has been approved (and funded). TCODE members will be required to assist in determining key contacts in PICES nations to provide access to databases and sources of metadata. It was through TCODE discussions that the idea to extend the database to the North Pacific was promoted. As Chair, Robin Brown wrote a letter of support to funding agencies for Bern Megrey. This is an example of the low-cost, “soft” TCODE approach – convincing others to modify/expand activities to better meet PICES objectives, without ACTUALLY spending any PICES money. The PICNIC web site is a similar example.

Tom Royer reported that there were discussions underway in the US on a US GOOS observing system and that this included data management/distribution discussions.

PICES Review Committee Report

The committee had a brief discussion on the review committee report. It was agreed that the Chairman (assisted by the former Chairman) would provide a draft TCODE strategic plan that integrates comments from this report, the TCODE review prepared by the former Chairman, discussions with Science Board Chair and the Science Board Symposium presentation by Neville Smith.

North Pacific Ecosystem Status Report

The Committee had a short discussion on the NPESR.

PICES Capacity Building

The Committee had a short discussion on this.

Other Items from Science Board

1) Topic session for PICES XII (Korea)

TCODE recommends an Electronic Poster Session –

Conveners: Bernard Megrey/Korean convenor to be identified, presumably Sung-Dae Kim from KORDI and Hee Dong Jeong from National Fisheries Research & Development Institute

Title: GIS/Geographic-Based Applications Applied to Marine Systems

Justification : Over the past two decades there has been increasing

recognition that problems in Marine and Fisheries Science are nearly all

manifest in the spatiotemporal domain. Geographical Information Systems

(GIS), the natural framework for spatial data handling, are being

recognized as a powerful tool with useful applications in marine

sciences. Geographic Information Systems are becoming invaluable tools

for monitoring and managing open and coastal marine systems. Widespread

acceptance and adoption of these and other geo-referenced methods speak

to their power and effectiveness for addressing the diverse mix of

factors that impinge on aquatic systems. The aim of this session is to

provide an opportunity to showcase new and exciting GIS developments by

PICES member countries including coastal, continental and deep ocean

studies, dynamic relations that characterize the marine world, and the

development of oceanography and fisheries GIS tools and applications.

Electronic posters on topics such as coastal mapping, land and sea use,

coastal observing and forecast systems, real-time catch and/or vessel

monitoring systems, classification of surface waters, sea bed mapping,

mapping of fisheries production, biological and genetic data, spawning

grounds, environmental variation of production, migration corridors,

seasonal essential habitats, and applications of GIS to ocean and

fisheries resource management are welcome.

There is a possibility that TCODE could arrange for ESRI to sponsor some

workshop/training courses.

2) PICES XIII (Hawaii) Theme

This item was discussed but there were no recommendations forwarded.

3) Other Items

There were no additional items.

Summary of items with financial implications

Chairman will request for financial support to ensure participation of DM experts in PICES activities if applicable.

New Business – Items added to agenda

No items were added to Agenda

TCODE Workplan for 2002/2003

1) TCODE members to gather information and/or identify key national contacts for the 2003 update of the GLOBEC National, Multi-National and Regional Activity Report that will be prepared by the GLOBEC International Programme Office. The GLOBEC IPO will circulate the previous version as a ‘starting point’ for this exercise.

Responsibility – Igor Shevchenko and Robin Brown

2) TCODE Members to encourage submission of PICES GLOBEC metadata to IPO. This will require TCODE representatives to identify key GLOBEC data contacts in each country and work with these individuals to ensure that existing metadata entries are accurate and complete. Where no national GLOBEC program exists, TCODE representatives will identify key contacts for “GLOBEC-like” data.

Responsibility – Igor Shevchenko and Robin Brown

3) TCODE will communicate regularly with the GLOBEC Data Manager at the International Programme Office and consider GLOBEC DM representation at PICES meetings.

Responsibility – Igor Shevchenko

4) Assist in expansion of the Bering Sea Metadata base to cover the North Pacific. This will include updating existing entries to ensure accuracy, identifying key contacts and data centers in PICES nations.

Responsibility – Bernard Megrey

5) Complete evaluation of metadata key list with input from the Scientific Committees by March 1, 2003

Responsibility – Bernard Megrey and Igor Shevchenko

6) Organize Electronic Poster Session for PICES XII (Korea)

Responsibility – Bernard Megrey and presumably, Sung-Dae Kim and Hee Dong Jeong

7) Update inventory of real-time data sources for the North Pacific and publish on TCODE web pages

Responsibility – Igor Shevchenko and Robin Brown

8) Establish/update web pages for

- links to real time and quasi-real time data for the North Pacific,

- exchange of computer software for the display (visualization) and analysis of data (using the existing inventory of software tools available for marine science),

- description of inter and intra data exchange policies in PICES Nations.

Responsibility – Tom Royer and Igor Shevchenko

9) Develop TCODE Strategic Plan (in consultation with the Science Board Chair) for presentation at Science Board Meeting in the spring of 2003.

Responsibility – Igor Shevchenko and Robin Brown

10) Assist to MEQ in the Workshop preparation on W15 shellfish toxicity data (see www.nodc.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/hab/hab.pl - portion of data HAB DMS and

http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/col/projects/habs/pacindex.html - Pacific Region web site)

Responsibility – volunteer(s) seeking

TCODE Endnote 1

Participation List

TCODE Endnote 2

TCODE Meeting Agenda

1. Introduction of Members

2. Adoption of Agenda

(opportunity to add agenda items under New Business)

3. Review progress on items in the 2001/2002 Workplan

3.1. Revise/Update PICES TCODE web pages

Igor Shevchenko

3.2. International GLOBEC/PICES session for GLOBEC data management (with GLOBEC

International Program Office)

Igor Shevchenko & Robin Brown

3.3. Provisional list of metadata keywords

Bernard Megrey & Allen Macklin

3.4. Assist new POC Working Group on Biogeochemical data integration and synthesis

Robin Brown

3.5. Assembled feedback and recommendations for future electronic poster sessions.

Robin Brown

3.6. Electronic Poster Session for PICES XI

Allen Macklin, Igor I. Shevchenko & Ling Tong

3.7. Review of TCODE activities since formation and TCODE Strategic Plan

Igor Shevchenko & Robin Brown

4. Updates on data management activities in PICES nations:

4.1. Canada

4.2. China

4.3. Japan

4.4. Korea

4.5. Russia

4.6. U.S.A

5. Discuss PICES Review Committee Report

6. The North Pacific Ecosystem Status Report

7. Capacity building

8. Items from Science Board

- topic session proposals for PICES XII

- PICES XIII Theme

- other items

9. Summary of items with financial implications:

- proposed inter-sessional meetings for 2003 and beyond

- proposed publications for 2003 and beyond

- travel support requests

- other items

10. New Business (additional items added at the meeting)

11. TCODE Workplan for 2002/2003