Changes to the NERC Vocabulary Server

The NVS2.0 service has been in place since 2012 and while the British Ocenographic Data Centre (BODC) has maintained the original NVS (NVS1.0) service to allow users to switch at their convenience, removal of the NVS1.0 service is necessary to allow future enhancements and functionality to NVS2.0. From December 2016 the NVS1.0 service, which is accessed from http://vocab.ndg.nerc.ac.uk will no longer be available.

An example of XML output from the NVS ©

Vocabulary service users should ensure they are using the services as documented from http://vocab.nerc.ac.uk.

For users that have embedded NVS1.0 URLs within their data files the NVS1.0 URLs will be redirected to the equivalent NVS2.0 URLs, so updating of local data holdings should not be necessary prior to the removal of NVS1.0.

If you have problems switching to NVS2.0 or concerns over the removal of the NVS1.0 please contact enquiries@bodc.ac.uk before 01 November 2016.

We would value your feedback

To meet the needs of the UK's underwater noise community, the British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC) is working to develop an archival and delivery system for high volume acoustic data.

A minke whale in Skjálfandi Bay, Iceland ©

BODC are committed to providing

• A data upload area
• A secure archive
• A bespoke delivery service (with discovery metadata records and a download platform)

Due to the high volume nature of acoustic data, BODC propose using the JASMIN super-computing facility to securely archive your data. A fully automated submission procedure will allow easy data and metadata submission. As experts in marine data management, BODC will ensure that submitted data are of an appropriate standard and quality for long-term archival and reuse. Data will then be available for download.

In addition, JASMIN provides an environment for data analysis by allowing users to upload tools for interrogating archived data. Given sufficient support and feedback from the scientific community, it is proposed that BODC will support such a data analysis environment for users.

To support this development project please participate in a short online survey, which should take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Feedback will be collated anonymously but you are invited to provide contact details if there are any aspects you would be happy for us to follow up with you.

The closing date for the survey is Friday 22nd July 2016.

British Oceanographic Data Centre at the Forum for Future Ocean Floor Mapping

Dr Graham Allen, Head of BODC & GEBCO Guiding Committee member and Pauline Weatherall, GEBCO Digital Atlas Manager are welcomed to the GEBCO Forum for Future Ocean Floor Mapping by Shin Tani, Chair of GEBCO Committee.
 

Graham Allen and Pauline Weatherall with Shin Tani at the GEBCO Forum ©

Measuring and mapping the shape of the ocean floor is a crucial component of oceanographic research worldwide. Bathymetry helps provide a better understanding of coastal erosion, storm surges and the threat of tsunamis, along with ocean currents and tidal flows worldwide. It is essential for assessing the impact of sea-level rises, exploring for oil, gas and mineral resources and lies at the heart of safe navigation.

The GEBCO Forum for Future Ocean Floor Mapping, opened by Prince Albert II of Monaco, brings together world experts in ocean mapping. Its aim is to develop the GEBCO Roadmap for Future Ocean Floor Mapping, which will enable us to realise our vision of mapping 100% of the ocean floor.

About GEBCO

The General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) provides the most authoritative, publicly-available bathymetry datasets for the world’s oceans. GEBCO operates under the joint auspices of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).

Titanic wreck discoverer speaks at Ocean Floor Forum

Among keynote speakers at a major conference on the comprehensive mapping of the ocean floor in Monaco, June 2016, is Dr Robert Ballard, who discovered the wreck of the Titanic in 1985. Dr Ballard is Director of the Center for Ocean Exploration at the Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island and President of the Ocean Exploration Trust that operates one of America’s dedicated ships of exploration.

Forum for Future Ocean Floor mapping

The conference, the Forum for Future Ocean Floor Mapping, is being held jointly by the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO), and The Nippon Foundation, a private philanthropic foundation with its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.

The Forum will bring together over 150 senior representatives, scientists and scholars from major ocean-related and international organisations, to discuss the importance of understanding the shape of the ocean floor. The Forum will culminate in the development of a Roadmap for Future Ocean Floor Mapping.

About GEBCO

GEBCO consists of an international group of experts who work on the development of a range of bathymetric data sets and data products with the aim of providing the most authoritative publically-available bathymetry for the world’s oceans and operates under the joint auspices of the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO.

The GEBCO chart series was initiated in 1903 by Prince Albert I of Monaco. Five paper editions of the GEBCO chart series were produced, with the Fifth Edition published in the 1980’s. Since then, GEBCO has largely concentrated on developing and making available digital bathymetric data sets and products.

BODC and GEBCO

Through funding provided by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC) has been involved in GEBCO’s activities since the early 1990’s – hosting the role of the GEBCO Digital Atlas Manager. On behalf of GEBCO this has involved the development of the GEBCO Digital Atlas (GDA); the maintenance and delivery of GEBCO’s gridded bathymetric data sets, and hosting and maintaining GEBCO’s web site.

Pauline Weatherall (GEBCO Digital Atlas Manager) and Graham Allen (Head of BODC and GEBCO Guiding Committee Member) look forward to meeting you at this exciting Forum for Future Ocean Floor Mapping.

National Oceanography Centre IT Manager vacancy

The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) is seeking an IT Manager to lead our 30-strong IT Team.

The team delivers the enabling IT services to research scientists, National Marine Facilities and corporate teams totaling 600 users across the 2 NOC sites in Southampton and Liverpool and to a further 400 users of our partners (including the University of Southampton) co-located at our waterfront Southampton location.

The role has everything you would expect in a leading research science organisation: delivery of HPC services, management of network infrastructure, an extensive suite of desktops and associated service desk support and provision of database and web services.

The role is diverse, being responsible for all aspects of IT delivery including team management, budgets, security, relationship management and technical co-ordination. [More information]

BODC at the 2016 Challenger Conference

The 17th biennial Challenger Conference takes place in Liverpool on 05–09 September 2016, hosted jointly by the National Oceanography Centre, the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University.

The British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC) is involved in two sessions and a new data management special interest group.

Challenger Society for Marine Science logo©

The sessions are: Science impacts through Open Data and Technological advancement and democratisation of ocean observing systems.

Abstract submission is now open and registration will be available from March. Authors are invited to submit abstracts for inclusion in the conference program. Please follow the 'abstract submission' link for full details of the other sessions.

For details of the special Challenger Society for Marine Science's interest group please contact Matt Donnelly at BODC.