Applied Research Center (ARC)

In response to a growing need for data applications, NCDC and the Climate Program office established an Applied Research Center (ARC) for Dataset Development to facilitate the transfer of research results to operational applications. The ARC cultivates the facilities’ institutional commitments to indefinitely update and produce datasets with a broad base of regular users and enduring value. The ARC ensures routine dataset production with appropriate scientific oversight for several projects including those listed below dealing with paleoclimatology, atmospheric variables, terrestrial surface variables, and the global marine environment.

Paleoclimatology

• Paleoclimatology Data
  Access NCDC's Paleoclimatology data including geophysical or biological measurement time series and some reconstructed climate variables such as temperature and precipitation.
• Applied Research Center for Paleoclimatology
  Paleoclimatology branch basic description of dataset and scientific stewardship activities.
• Applied Research Center for Paleoclimatology April 15, 2010 Progress Report
  The ARC for Paleoclimatology Progress Report including a summary of the program's progress as well as background and user information.

Atmospheric Variables

• Global Precipitation Analyses
  These analyses include infrared precipitation estimates, the Climate Prediction Center's Merged Analysis of Precipitation, the Global Precipitation Climatology Project, and more.
• Special Sensor Microwave Imager Hydrological Product Status Report
  Status report on the ongoing hydrological products project including background, status, and planning information as well as references for the project.
• Integrated Radiosonde Archive Documentation | FTP Data Access
  A basic description of the Integrated Radiosonde Archive (IGRA) dataset and its stewardship activities. IGRA data can be downloaded by accessing the FTP server.
• Applied Research Center Integrated Radiosonde Archive April 2010 Progress Report
  ARC IGRA Progress Report containing background and status of information as well as references for the project.
• Climate Prediction Center Global Precipitation Monitoring
  The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) is engaged in the development and maintenance of global precipitation datasets at various timescales, which are routinely available from the CPC website.
• Remote Sensing Systems Application | FTP Data Access
  Browse and Download Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU) and Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (ASMU) data using the Remote Sensing Systems application or the FTP server.
• Microwave Sounding Unit and Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit Brightness Temperatures
  A basic description of the MSU/AMSU Brightness Temperatures dataset, including the specific variables it contains, the type of observations used, and planned scientific stewardship activities.
• 2010 Fiscal Year Transition Plan for Precipitation Products
  The plan for transitioning five precipitation databases into the ARC program, including goals, progress, dataset location, software or hardware issues, and projected timeliness.
• Microwave Sounding Unit Datasets April 2010 Progress Report
  Progress report containing information on the movement of MSU and AMSU brightness temperatures into the ARC for Dataset Development.
• Total and Profile Ozone Dataset April 15, 2010 Progress Report
  Progress Report on the SZBUV(/2) Cohesive Total and Profile Ozone Dataset including a profile of the two datasets as well as information about their host facility.

Terrestrial Surface Variables

• Global Historical Climatology Network–Monthly | Data Access
  A basic description of the Global Historical Climatology Network–Monthly (GHCN-M) dataset, including information about variables, geographic coverage, resolution, and more. Access to GHCN-M data is available through the FTP server.
• Mexican Global Historical Climatology Network Database Progress Report
  Progress Report from Creighton University on expanding the Mexican GHCN-M and Operational Division Database in Mexico, including background information and intended future efforts.
• Global Snow Cover Extent And Depth Dataset April 2010 Progress Report
  Progress Report from Rutgers University Global Snow Lab on the development of snow extent and depth databases and their distribution to customers.

Global Marine Environment

• International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Dataset
  Access information and data from the International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Dataset (ICOADS), which includes surface marine data spanning the past three centuries.
• International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Dataset Metadata
  A basic description of ICOADS and related operational sea surface temperature analyses, including information about variables, geographic coverage, resolution, and more.
• Operational Sea Surface Temperature Processing At NCDC
  A basic description of the operational sea surface temperature analysis produced at NCDC, including on the progress and transition of the dataset into the ARC program.
• National Oceanographic Data Center
  Access the world's largest collection of freely available oceanographic data from NOAA's National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC).
• Ocean Data Archaeology and Rescue
  Information on moving the Ocean Data Archeology and Rescue project into the ARC for Dataset Development, including a basic description and its scientific stewardship activities.

Principal Investigators

Each ARC ensured dataset has a designated champion, known as a Principal Investigator, who is responsible for guaranteeing its scientific integrity and maintaining frequent two-way communication with its research project manager.

Principal Investigators should submit the following sections of information for publication on the ARC website in a single PDF file.

• Dataset Introduction and Overview
• Basic Dataset Description
  • Variables
  • Type of Observations
  • Geographic Coverage
  • Spatial and Temporal Resolution
  • Duration
  • Update Interval
  • Access Mechanisms
  • Operational Applications and Assessments
• Scientific stewardship activities required for continued production of the dataset

This information should outline both current and future efforts and specific needs that must be met to ensure production of a high-quality dataset. It should also include the full URL of any existing dataset website as well as the URL for any site delivering FTP access to part or all of the dataset.