1. ILWS and Data Services D. G. Sibeck, Aaron Roberts NASA/GSFC Ray Walker UCLA

2. Topics for This Discussion Motivation Why is this an ILWS topic? What do Researchers Need? Obstacles Solutions Action items

3. Motivation Progress in space plasma physics frequently requires the correlative study of data sets from multiple instruments, spacecraft, simulations, and agencies. End-to-end analyses- the type of study fostered by ILWS- invariably require such correlative studies

4. Why is this an ILWS Topic? ILWS-type research requires observations and model output from multiple international sources. Coordination can save time, effort, money, reveal simple solutions. ILWS can commission a task group to look into the subject, get the broad view, and coordinate. Benefits future missions/collaborations.

5. What do Researchers Need? 1. Tools to search for and retrieve data. 2. Services that enable surveys and data set comparisons (plotting and browsing). 3. Tools that translate data formats and transform coordinates. 4. Tools that enable model-data comparisons

6. Obstacles Primarily a lack of coordination –multitude of incompatible efforts and data sets in a wide variety of locations, data systems, and formats Recognition that altruism is the best policy Funding focused on missions, rather than end-to- end studies Top-down, rather than bottom-up, approach to providing services –Can result in services that are not user friendly, comprehensive, extendible, timely.

7. Proposed Solutions 1. eGY 2. Virtual Observatories 3. SPASE

8. eGY is an initiative of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics led by the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy eGY Executive Director: Dan Baker sponsored by: LASP, NASA, IUGG, IAGA

9. Role Facilitate, inform, stimulate, encourage, and promote: –Modern data access and services (“e-Science for Geoscience”) –Responsible data stewardship –Cooperation among bodies/initiatives to reduce duplication and proliferation of standards, and share expertise –Establishment of virtual observatories throughout the geosciences –Establishment of criteria to determine optimal and minimum funding for data activities supporting research eGY also serves to provide a link between programs with related data and information requirements - IPY, IHY, Planet Earth, and initiatives such as GEOSS. eGY will be launched July 7 Perrugia IUGG Congress

10. 2. Virtual Observatories A Virtual Observatory (VO) is a service that unites distributed data repositories and service providers to allow users to uniformly find, access and use resources (data, software, documents, images and services). A VO requires data set/tool registration, description, and query tools

11. Some National Efforts CDPP France Interball, DEMETER, Cluster, GEOS, Viking.. NGDC/SPIDR NOAA/SC, ground observations DARTS JapanGeotail NSSDC/SPDFHeliospheric, L1, magnetospheric services Mission level servicesCluster, Yohkoh, ACE, TIMED…

12. A Virtual Observatory Connects Distributed Resources VxO Resident Archive Individual Researcher

13. Early Heliophysics VOs (starting ~2001) VSO (Virtual Solar Observatory; http://virtualsolar.org) –Delivers solar physics images, spectra, etc. as FITS files or thumbnails; covers most solar physics products –Recently added browse movies, searching by event lists, a shopping cart, and other features VSPO (Virtual Space Physics Observatory; http://vspo.gsfc.nasa.gov)http://vspo.gsfc.nasa.gov –Access a wide variety of space and solar physics products, including links to other Virtual Observatories and data from over 100 observatories/spacecraft EGSO (European Grid of Solar Observations; to become “HELIO”; EU/ESA) –Emphasizes catalogued events and features to constrain searches –Was solar initially, but now expanding to all of HP

14. Newer NASA HP VxOs VHO (Heliosphere; GSFC) –Has a prototype that delivers some data and allows multiple query types; working on data descriptions, and collaborating with VMO- G to enhance middleware. VITMO (Ionosphere, Thermosphere, Mesosphere; APL) –Existing prototype delivers data based on parameter- and event- based searches; will incorporate a coincidence tool to aid searches. VMO (Magnetosphere; GSFC and UCLA) –Developing many SPASE descriptions as well as useful registry tools and middleware. ViRBO (Radiation Belts; GMU) –Currently ingesting datasets and developing data descriptions and a web portal; planning a strong connection to models

15. Some Related Heliophysics VOs GAIA (Global Auroral Imaging and Access; Canada) –Integrates all-sky camera data from around the world; serves increasing amounts and variety of ground-based HP data VSTO (Virtual Solar-Terrestrial Observatory; NSF/NCAR) –Portal for CEDAR (ground-based) data; also MLSO (solar); broad charter. –Based on ontologies and related tools. STARS (Solar-Terrestrial data Analysis and Reference System; Japan) –Builds on the DARTS system; currently PC (Windows) based. See: http://hpde.gsfc.nasa.gov for more documents, links, and details.http://hpde.gsfc.nasa.gov

16. 3. SPACE: Metadata and Data Models Uniform access requires uniform metadata description: i.e. a “data model” or “ontology” Metadata about the data, written in a uniform language (e.g., “SPASE”) is essential SPASE is providing the data model for NASA HP VOs; translators may be needed for interoperability See http://www.spase-group.org

17. Ongoing Efforts 1. eGY --> advocating good citizenship 2. VxOs --> components of a comprehensive system 3. SPASE --> the words we need to describe data sets and services A good start

18. ILWS Action Items Endorse eGY efforts (costs nothing and will encourage these enthusiasts/advocates). Endorse open and rapid data sharing policy Consider providing incentives for researchers to share data Commission a task group to: –Survey what is and what isn’t available, recommend solutions –Describe utility of existing services –Identify potential partnerships and existing resources –Communicate ongoing activities, solutions, opportunities –Establish key links to data sets and services on our ILWS WWW pages