NOPP Regional Workshop Synthesis Report Response to Issue #5

Response to Issue #5

Is a central regional node required to provide coordination for the region including such services as user support, data location, etc.?

The requirements for and function of a regional "node" varied from workshop to workshop, but the following themes did emerge:

• Providing user support such as "help desks," and recording problems users have experienced using DODS and installing servers;
• Developing web-based data catalogs containing regional datasets, model output, and products participants are willing to serve;
• Creating pilot projects to demonstrate the use of DODS for current regional players and for other organizations and researchers not in attendance at the workshops;
• Establishing ad hoc working groups and/or possible local nodes to tackle regional cooperative pilot studies, evaluating available datasets (including satellite data) and serving real-time data;
• Developing functionality to address dataset certification, data archaeology and rescue, long-term archiving;
• Defining data rules to make computer models and output accessible (e.g., ENSO vs. non-ENSO model runs); and
• Creating a regional website and/or listserv for highlighting issues of regional importance and to facilitate greater communication among regional players.

NOPP Regional Workshop Synthesis Report Response to Issue #5