Outline of Marine Information Research Center
1. Task of MIRC
Recently, exploitation and utilization of ocean or ocean space become
more and more active. In addition, the understandings of the structure and
variability of the ocean are urgent for the climate system of the earth.
Thus, the requirement for the oceanic data and information of high reliability
and of high quality is increasing rapidly. Also, the enlightening and
popularization of the ocean knowledge are essential to keep good oceanic
environment and to make sustainable exploitation and utilization of the oceans.
Researches of the oceans and relating data management businesses require
intimate international cooperation, and we need to active research activities
of the developing countries and to help to train experts of data management.
Under these circumstances, the MIRC was established in the Japan
Hydrographic Association under the financial support of the
Nippon Foundation.
MIRC will conduct high grade quality control to the oceanic data compiled
by
JODC, and produce useful data products for users of various fields.
Speedy distribution of necessary data set and of data products is also the
task of MIRC. MIRC keeps experts and technical staffs and computer and
communication facilities to conduct these businesses. Besides, MIRC will work
for enlightening and popularization of the ocean knowledge for general
publics using its data products. To serve the studies on the global
environmental data exchange systems, MIRC produces the necessary global
data set of high quality.
2. Cooperation with JODC
The Japan Oceanographic Data Center (JODC) is systematic oceanographic
data bank in Japan, and is one of the nodes of
the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange Program (IODE)
promoted by
the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC/UNESCO).
JODC is working as interface of the
international data and information exchanges for the Japanese oceanographers.
The cooperation with
JODC is essential for MIRC, and we have no intention to
disturb any activities of JODC. MIRC will help
JODC by producing the various
data products. The users of JODC will receive benefit also from MIRC by
receiving data products much more suitable for their special needs. The
staffs of MIRC and
JODC will conduct various joint-studies on data management
problems. For this purpose, a task team was already established in
JODC.
3. Outline of MIRC Activities
Establishment of Distribution System for Data and Data Products
MIRC will create the data base by using the data files in
JODC, make
high-level quality control, produce various data products and distribute
them speedily through the Internet.
In order to respond quickly to newly generated needs of marine
data and information. MIRC will conduct basic investigations on data
management problems and produce desirable data products. MIRC will join
actively to cooperative projects with domestic and overseas investigators.
Data Items to be handled
All items shown below, which are handled by
JODC, are the data items to be
handled by MIRC. Besides, MIRC will investigate the other items according to
development of new instruments and techniques, and to increasing needs of
users. MIRC will develop new data management systems and create new data set.
- temperature, salinity etc.
- oceanic currents
- tides and tidal currents
- waves and swells
- bathymetry, geological information etc.
- marine pollution
- marine biology
Enlightening and Popularization
By using data and information, popularization of scientific knowledge on
the oceanic structures, on the role of the ocean in earth's climate system etc.
is the one of our tasks. Service Division is set in MIRC for this purpose.
MIRC will publish books to enlighten the role of the oceans for human being,
and design educational materials relating to oceans.
International Cooperation
MIRC will work internationally on data collection, quality control and
other data management issues. MIRC will positively join international projects
relating oceanographic data management.
4. Construction of MIRC
The following three section are set in MIRC:
- Research Division
- to make investigation and development of data set and data management systems.
- Planning Division
- to conduct general management, planning, accounting and window of international affairs.
- Service Division
- to conduct consulting business and distribution of data set and data products for general users, publication and other services.
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