Work Package 8 Meeting 7-8 Feb 2012 in Copenhagen, Denmark

Download full report for this meeting

 

A two-day data management workshop was organized in February 2012 in Copenhagen (DK) with individuals specializing in the technical management of GTN-P datasets. Those included representatives from national and regional databases (NORPERM, Alpine Permafrost Database (ARPA), UAF Permafrost Lab, DUE Permafrost), and the PAGE21 data management team (AWI, AP). The aims of the meeting were (1) to understand the diversity and complexity of CALM and TSP data and to conceive the DMS accordingly , (2) to develop a strategy for data archiving, data management and database organization of the new PAGE21 DMS, (3) to agree on data delivery and visualization interfaces and (4) to discuss the respective roles of PAGE21 and GTN-P in collecting data over the 2011-2015 period (the minutes of this meeting are in the Appendix: 11.4).

The workshop was very fruitful and allowed the small group to make progress on the issues outlined above. The following points were discussed:

  • There will be a two level approach to metadata: (1) the first level is mandatory metadata. It contains only the most essential information for the data (e.g. site name, geographical coordinates, name and affiliation of data provider, etc.). Data upload is only possible after submission of the first-level metadata. First level metadata may also be specific metadata for TSP boreholes or CALM grids. (2) Optional metadata: all additional metadata. It can also be submitted at a later stage, (e.g. vegetation, soil description, climate station, etc.)
  • A first draft of metadata fields was developed during the meeting (based on CALM and TSP metadata forms) and presented after the meeting to the GTN-P EC for comments and agreements. Decisions about metadata fields naming were made during the WP8 data management meeting in Akureyri (13-14 Sep 2012). A synthesis of the approved metadata form is in the Appendix (11.6).
  • 1st level data: Aggregation over the whole measurement period
  • 2nd level data: Yearly aggregation – One value per year. The reference year must be defined as soon as possible, between: Calendar (Jan 1st – Dec 31st), Hydrological “Arctic” (Sep 1st – Aug 31st), Hydrological “Alpine” (Oct 1st – Sep 30th).
  • 3nd level data: Time series for all nodes in the boreholes – monthly or yearly aggregation. Maybe provided as simple text files (e.g. comma separated) and stored in the data base as archive.

It was agreed to develop an online interface for data upload, and to implement a quality control of the data during and/ or after the submission (e.g. visual control of coordinates with maps and control of data (e.g. by the GTN-P national correspondent) before it is available online (“data under revision” and “approved data”).

It was also agreed to apply the concept of  “levels” to the data itself. This is justified by the inclusive nature of the effort and diversity of the data submitted to GTN-P and currently available in the database. Datasets range from one MAGT for one depth of a borehole over several years to hourly temperature data for all sensors in the borehole. For some countries, e.g., the now already “old” data of the TSP snapshot (IPA 2010, data from 2008 and older) is the only available source for permafrost temperatures (e.g. Canada, China, Mongolia).

A first proposal for data levels was developed during this meeting. Final decisions will be made in November 2012.

In addition to data levels, minimum criteria for a borehole to be part of GTN-P were developed. These criteria should be approved by the EC and then communicated to the national correspondents of GTN-P who will then selected eligible boreholes.

 

Strategy and Implementation Plan