Recommendations for a polar Earth science portal in the context of Arctic Spatial Data Infrastructure

Abstract

In recent years, the Arctic has been one of the most dynamic environments on Earth. As a result, scientific inquiry into the region has produced a large amount of data, with future projections of the volume of data for the Arctic as well as the Antarctic expected to increase by an order of magnitude. On the receiving end of these data, a challenge remains as how to best manage, archive and distribute the scientific observations so that they may be easily studied, analyzed and modeled.

Aim

The aim of this study is to analyze infrastructure studies and standards development efforts for the Arctic environment in order to recommend a way forward for polar science data dissemination.

Methodology

In this study, a discussion will be presented on the development of scientific data standards for the Arctic. The methods for implementing infrastructure in the Arctic will be considered in relation to current trends and best practices in data management and cyberinfrastructure. Relevant publications, feedback from researchers who use the data, and workshop documents resulting from discussions about science data management will be used as the information upon which to base these recommendations. The needs, goals and trends of the science community as a whole will be considered in order to propose a way forward.

Results

Developing a Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) specific to the Arctic will allow for seamless sharing of heterogeneous data. Also, this study found that the unique aspects of mapping at the polar regions point the way to implementing a method of science data dissemination via a scientific data portal specific to both the north and south polar regions.

Popular Abstract

In recent years, the Arctic has been one of the most dynamic environments on Earth.
Changes in the Arctic climate have been occurring at nearly twice the rate of the rest the
world during the last 100 years (IPCC, 2007). This has resulted in increased scientific
inquiry into the Arctic, and beyond to the Antarctic, as both polar regions pose similar
questions for scientists. Satellites have been launched, airborne missions are under way, and
field expeditions have been undertaken to collect scientific data that may be used to study
these areas of recent change.

On the receiving end of these data, a challenge remains as how to best manage, archive and
distribute the scientific observations so that they may be easily studied, analyzed and modeled.
Due to the importance of the location of the measurements of Earth science data, working from
a shared representation of geographic features in these areas facilitates the use of the data across
different platforms. Such shared standards can be defined as Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI).
SDI provides a base upon which the data can be structured to allow for widespread use and
understanding of the information. In the Arctic, shared geographic data standards, or Arctic SDI,
has yet to be defined. Because of the increase of scientific inquiry in this area, defining an Arctic
SDI would be beneficial.

Additionally, developing a centralized interface from which to distribute the scientific
observations from these areas would facilitate the research efforts underway. Such a distribution
center would likely take the form of a scientific data portal or Earth browser, which would utilize
the standards identified by the SDI. This interface could service science data from the Arctic
as well as science data from the Antarctic because of the unique methods for mapping at the
poles. Shared development initiatives towards a data portal between the Arctic and Antarctic data
management communities would result in more unified and succinct polar science. Thus, defining
an Arctic SDI and sharing portal development initiatives with the Antarctic community would be
of great benefit to those seeking a better understanding of the changing Arctic.

• author: Tressel, Sarah
• supervisor: Margareta Johansson
• organization: Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science
• alternative title: Streamlining Earth science data discovery and access for the polar regions
• course: GISM01 20141
• year: 2014
• type: H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
• subject: Earth and Environmental Sciences
• keywords: data portal, earth science, Spatial Data Infrastructure, data management, physical geography and ecosystem analysis, GIS, earth browser, data discovery, data access
• publication/series: LUMA-GIS Thesis
• report number: 31
• language: English
• id: 4612507
• date added to LUP: 2014-09-04 09:04:43
• date last changed: 2014-09-04 09:04:43