| The
Global Observing System Information Centre (GOSIC)
is intended to provide a single point of access for the observational
requirements, data flows, and registry of datasets and products
within the three observing systems:
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS),
Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and
GTOS.
The information centre is web-based and links the user to
the centres of data and data products. Each participating
data centre will maintain information on line concerning its
data, data products, and data-processing activities, such
as a metadata record in the format of the NASA Global Change
Master Directory (GCMD).
Complex searches can be carried out and the centre has direct
links to other websites that provide in situ and space data.
The GOSIC site also contains a data
matrix based on the GHOST hierarchical strategy. The hierarchy
divides into five tiers, each with unique characteristics
and roles, although existing facilities often straddle more
than one tier. The concept is applicable to
the three main areas which GHOST is concerned with - the land
surface, freshwater ecosystems and ice surfaces - each with
its own hierarchy, but all share tier five.
|
