Introducing single log in

As part of our continuing commitment to improve our data services and your experience on our web site, we have upgraded our data applications to introduce a single log in.

A single log in the sand! ©

How does this work?

Once you have logged in you will be free to navigate around the BODC web site, entering all data delivery areas without the need to log in again. This can be achieved by either

1. Using the link provided on the top right-hand side of our web pages
2. Using the link presented at each of the data delivery applications

Some restricted areas require that you have additional permissions; should you encounter one of these you will be informed whether your account satisfies the entrance requirements.

After a period of inactivity, to keep your account secure, your session will time out and access will be closed. You can also opt to close your session at any time, using the log out link presented at the top right-hand side of our web pages.

This completes a major step towards our aim of making all of our data holdings accessible online.

Iceland to Scotland: crossing the Nordic Seas gateway

Two BODC data scientists (Mark Hebden and Julia Calderwood) participated on both legs of the RRS Discovery 340 cruise in the North East Atlantic Ocean.

Mark compiling quality metadata ©

On the first leg, between Iceland and Scotland, they joined colleagues from the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) and the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (NOCS) to monitor the Atlantic waters flowing north towards the Arctic Ocean. This work is performed annually under the Extended Ellett Line project; an ocean monitoring initiative that dates back to 1975.

The second leg of the cruise, around Western Scotland, examined how stratification and turbulent mixing are influenced by shelf topography, and the consequences for pelagic and benthic biogeochemical processes. This study was performed by scientists at the Scottish Association for Marine Science, with Oceans 2025 funding.

Mark and Julia were onboard RRS Discovery to assist with the sampling programmes, and to compile quality metadata records.

For more information about life onboard this research cruise, see the RRS Discovery 340 cruise blog.

A new look for oceannet.org!

The Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) web site (http://www.oceannet.org/) has been relaunched with a new look and added features.

The new look MEDIN (oceannet.org) web site ©

What is MEDIN

MEDIN is a partnership of UK organisations, both public and private sector, committed to improving access to marine data. It sits alongside its sibling working group the Underwater Sound Forum (USF) and both groups report directly to the Marine Science Coordination Committee (MSCC).

MEDIN are establishing a network of marine data archive centres (DACs) to provide secure long-term storage for marine data. This network will provide the capability to upload and retrieve data. The OceanNET web site provides details on how, and to whom, data should be submitted.

For ease of discovery and use of data, standards are essential and MEDIN has an agreed process, involving key stakeholders, to approve standards for use by MEDIN partners. The OceanNET web site provides access to these agreed standards, along with MEDIN meeting details, articles and a range of publications for download or hardcopy request.

Users can subscribe to MEDIN’s e-newsletter, Marine Data News, as well as downloading Adobe PDF documents of past issues.