Appendix 2
(to the minutes of the second meeting of the IAGA Executive Committee)
Appendix D
(to the minutes of the second meeting of the IAGA Conference of Delegates)
IGY+50: IAGA Task Group Proposal
Task Group: Dan Baker (chair), Charlie Barton (Div.I), Alan Roger (Div.II), Brian Fraser (Div.III), Barbara Thompson (Div.IV), Volodya Papitashvili (Div.V), Supporting members: Joe Allen, Joe Davilla (IHY), Juha Korhonen (Finland)
Essential Ideas
"International Year" concepts are being discussed and developed, notably IHY, IPY, IYPE.
IAGA has a keen interest in many of these "I*Y" as well as the CAWSES program and endorses their intent.
IAGA wants to promote effective open access to:
- Real-time, world-wide data,
- Existing data bases, and
- Digitized versions of relevant analog data
Proposal
We propose that IAGA contribute towards the IGY+50 initiative by:
- Establishing an Electronic Geophysical Year (e-GY) as a Union-wide initiative [see below]
- Supporting CAWSES as an IAGA-dominant I*Y
- Providing input from IAGA to other I*Ys (IYPE, IHY, IPY).
Electronic Geophysical Year (e-GY)
Background
A key achievement of the IGY was the establishment of a world-wide system of data centers and physical observatories. The access to data that this observational framework provided triggered a leap forward in our understanding of the Earth and its space environment.
e-GY objectives
Revolutionise geophysical data availability and access worldwide through a coordinated international initiative, making full use of the capabilities offered by modern digital communications.
An output of e-GY will be a set of virtual observatories that will complement in cyberspace the contribution from physical observatories.
Suitability
e-GY objectives are a logical extension of IGY objectives. They embody the notions of global coordination and cooperation to achieve greater understanding of our Earth-Space environment through better use of observational data.
Principal issues to be addressed
- Permission. e-GY will encourage identification and release of data, through both the lifting of access restrictions and sources with access restrictions and sources that active release rather than passive when possible
- Access: instigate data access systems (internet-based), including the establishment of virtual observatories
- A/D conversion: identify and digitise, and create electronic access to old analog data.
Attractions of e-GY as an IGY+50 initiative
- Interdisciplinary - issues of data sharing and data accessibility are common to all the Associations of IUGG
- Achievable - can be achieved in the time available before 2007
- Timely - many nations/agencies already are moving toward "virtual observatory" concepts and GRID approaches
- International - the proposed approach is inherently global in scope and character; data access is relevant to all countries regardless of whether they are rich or poor
- Capacity Building - developing countries can use the infrastructure in ways most appropriate to their needs
- Conservative - captures and secures data holding that may be at risk
- Affordable - the enabling technologies for e-GY are being developed elsewhere and can be accessed at no cost to IUGG; we could expect to attract support for virtual observatories through participation in GRID-type initiatives that are already in place and are well-funded
- Geophysics-The-Future - virtual observatories are attractive to young people
- Appeal - Governments will be interested because e-GY embodies the application of technology to societal problems.
Resolution
IAGA urges the development of an "electronic Geophysical Year" (e-GY) that will facilitate the goals of all the IUGG Associations.
Sapporo
4 July 2003
