BALTEX Working Group on Data Management

Background
Meeting the scientific goals of BALTEX Phase II (see both the BALTEX Phase II Science and Implementation Plans) will require access to and exploration of data resources and products, which have so far not been dealt with in Phase I of the programme. This may include observational and model data, as well as derived products including model output. The BALTEX SSG, at its 17^th meeting held 24 to 26 November 2004 in Poznan, Poland, suggested to re-establish the BALTEX Working Group on Data Management (BWGD). Jörgen Nilsson, member of the BSSG, accepted to act as the Chairman of the BWGD. He was in particular given the term to

1)      determine draft terms of reference for the BWGD,
2)      establish the BWGD membership,
3)      suggest final agreed terms of reference for the BWGD to be approved by the BSSG,
4)      implement actions along the lines of the BWGD terms of reference.  

Mission
The BALTEX Working Group on Data Management (BWGD) is established by and reports to the BALTEX Science Steering Group (BSSG). The primary objective of the BWGD is to assist the BSSG in the coordination and facilitation of all data management activities and issues between data providers, data centres and data users, relevant for the BALTEX programme. BWGD membership is envisaged to consist of representatives of data providers, data centres and data users in a balanced manner, and is at the same time expected to reflect the science disciplines contributing to BALTEX Phase II, as appropriate. The BWGD will normally conduct its activities by correspondence (in particular electronic mail); however, it will meet when required, at least annually.

Terms of Reference
BALTEX Phase II Data Policy

Michael Lautenschlager (Chair)
Model and Data
Max-Planck-Institute for Meteorology
World Data Center for Climate (WDCC)
Beim Schlump 58
D-20144 Hamburg / Germany
Phone: +49-40-41173-297
Fax: +49-40-41173-476
e-mail: michael.lautenschlager(at)zmaw.de 

Franz Berger
Deutscher Wetterdienst
Meteorologisches Observatorium Lindenberg
Am Observatorium 12
15848 Tauche/OT Lindenberg / Germany
Phone: + 49-33677-60260
Fax: + 49-33677-60280
e-mail: franz.berger(at)dwd.de

Andreas Lehmann
IFM-GEOMAR
Leibniz-Institut für Meereswissenschaften
an der Universität Kiel
Düsternbrooker Weg 20
D-24105 Kiel / Germany
Phone: +49-431-600-1566
Fax: +49-431-600-4012
e-mail: alehmann(at)ifm-geomar.de 

Jörgen Nilsson
Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute
Folkborgsvägen 1
S-60176 Norrkøping / Sweden
Phone: + 46-11-495-8345
Fax: + 46-11-495-8001
e-mail: jorgen.nilsson(at)smhi.se

Timo Vihma
Finnish Meteorological Institute
P.O. Box 503, Vuorikatu 24
FIN-00101 Helsinki / Finland
Phone: + 358-9-1929-4173
fax:+ 358-9-1929-4103
e-mail: timo.vihma(at)fmi.fi

Valery Vuglinsky
State Hydrological Institute
23, Second Line
SU-199053 St. Petersburg / Russia
Phone: + 7-812 323-3458
Fax: + 7-812 323-1028
e-mail: VVuglins(at)VV4218.spb.edu

Terms of Reference of the BALTEX Working Group on Data Management (BWGD),
Revised on 24 April 2007 and approved at the BSSG Meeting #21, 3 June 2007

The BALTEX Working Group on Data Management (BWGD) was established by the BALTEX Science Steering Group (BSSG)

• to serve as the principal advisory group in all matters pertaining to BALTEX data management activities and issues and the coordination and exchange of BALTEX data among data providers, data centres and data users;
• to establish and periodically review both the terms of reference and the membership of the BWGD, to be finally approved by the BSSG;
• to revise and propose updates of the BALTEX data policy including data exchange restrictions and access procedures, to be finally approved by the BSSG. Such propositions should be in compliance with regulations of major international relevant organisations such as WMO[1], ECOMET[2], and the EU directives;
• to undertake appropriate action for the implementation and continuous monitoring of the BALTEX data policy;
• to establish and maintain BALTEX data requirements for BALTEX research;
• to facilitate the access to data for BALTEX researchers by
• • getting the BALTEX data policy known and accepted by data owners,
  • and establishing and maintaining an inventory of available and new data archives and data sources.
to develop and draft a BALTEX Data Management Plan to be finally approved by the BSSG;
to initiate the establishment of and continuously review a BALTEX data management WWW website, preferably linked to the BALTEX “homepage” on WWW. This website is expected to inform on relevant data management issues for BALTEX data providers, BALTEX Data Centres and archives, as well as BALTEX data users.

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[1] WMO = World Meteorological Organization
[2] ECOMET = The Economic Interest Grouping of the National Meteorological Services of the European Economic Area

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