Marine Ecosystems Research Department - jamstec japan agency ...

JAMSTEC 2002 Annual Report
Computer and Information Service
researchers both from Japan and overseas can utilize the
data held by JAMSTEC more effectively and efficiently.
We have been collecting information on distributed
shared databases, which are being developed mainly in
the U.S., and continued testing prototype systems based
on DODS (Distributed Oceanographic Data System)/
LAS (Live Access Server), which have only recently
started to be used by oceanographic researchers.
Fig. 2 MIRAI Data Web
accordance with the "Guidelines on the Release of
Observation Data at JAMSTEC", a data management
system for regular implementing data quality control,
accuracy improvement, etc. has been developing.
To be concrete, the quality control of observed data
and the development of quality control techniques
about a variety of data types and formats have been
developing, by the expert staff in areas such as physical
oceanography, chemical oceanography, geophysics and
database technology. In addition, the sorting and
archiving of deep-sea videos and slides obtained
by deep-sea submersibles and the digitization and
indexing of deep-sea images are performed. Those
activities are carried out in collaboration with the
Global Oceanographic Data Center (GODAC), in Nago
City, Okinawa Prefecture.
With regard to the R/V Mirai, observed data are
released through the Internet as soon as possible
(Figure ). There are many accesses from research
institutes, universities, enterprises, etc., both within
and outside Japan.
(2) Database development
CID develops the databases necessary for the effective
management and dissemination of observed data.
Moreover, vast amounts of data are required for research
into climate change and environmental issues of a global
scale, and the efficient management of these data is
absolutely crucial. In this light, there is a need to examine
the framework for international data exchange and
gather information on data exchange technologies so that
(3) Advanced processing of ocean observation data
JAMSTEC has been carrying out ocean observation
to elucidate the mechanisms of ocean and meteorological
change using the oceanographic research vessel
MIRAI, ARGO floats, TRITON buoys and other
observation systems, and has accumulated vast
amounts of data. While these data are made available
through various databases, there is a need to process
the data so they have a greater reach and are even
more readily accessible to users. For this, we have
been studing data assimilation methods.
One data assimilation method that has attracted
attention over recent years is the statistics-based assimilation
of observation data into numerical models. This
can be used to draw up high-quality four-dimensional
reanalysed datasets.
In this fiscal year, we applied data assimilation
based on the optimum interpolation and nudging
methods to the ocean general circulation model
(MOM) paralleled in JAMSTEC's supercomputer SC
system, and examined advanced processing methods
for ocean observation data obtained by MIRAI,
ARGO floats and TRITON buoys. From this, we drew
up reanalysis data covering the world's oceans in
, and were able to clearly illustrate monthly
variations in water temperature and salinity at various
depths in the Pacific Ocean. At the same time, we
were able to clarify future issues in preparing and
providing high-quality four-dimensional reanalysed
datasets using more advanced data assimilation
methods such as the adjoint method.
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