Introduction:

IOOS, being a part of the Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS), ascribes to the GEOSS data sharing principles. The basic intent of these principles is for full and open exchange of data and metadata with minimum possible cost, delay and restriction. In particular, observations gathered with IOOS funding are to be freely available. In some instances, IOOS® data providers may act as a “clearinghouse” for other lower capacity or smaller scale providers.

Requirements:

• Data are available with minimal delay
• Data are freely available
• Metadata are provided for all data
• Data are machine-readable

Standards, Formats and Protocols:

IOOS follows the NOAA Data Sharing Directive for NOAA Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Contracts.  In this Directive "Data sharing" means making data publicly visible and accessible in a timely manner at no cost (or no more than the cost of reproduction), in a format which is machine-readable and based on open standards, along with metadata necessary to find and properly use the data.

The IOOS Regional Information Coordination Entities RICE Certification Requirements Guidance specifies an IOOS data provider,  a RICE:

Adheres to the NOAA Data Sharing Procedural Directive.  RICEs are  operational systems, therefore RICEs should strive to provide as much data as possible, in real-time or near real-time, to support the operation of the System.  When data are collected in part or in whole with funds distributed to a RICE through the U.S. IOOS Program Office, the RICE should strive to make the data available as soon as logistically feasible for each data stream.  When data are not collected with funds distributed to a RICE through the U.S. IOOS Program Office, the data may be made available in accordance with any agreement made with the data provider.

Documentation required as a part of the RICE Certification process:

The RICE provides or references a Plan that describes how the RICE is in compliance with the NOAA Data Sharing Procedural Directive.  All data providers that are at least partially funded by the RICE should share their data with the RICE and the RICE should strive to make the data available as soon as logistically feasible for each data stream.   Descriptions or documentation of sharing agreements are necessary.  This not only applies to assets fully funded by the RICE, but also to missions funded by the RICE using an instrument that may not be originally funded by the RICE.

Implementation Methods/Practices:

See the specific pages for data formats, metadata, and data access.