Review of NASA's Distributed Active Archive Centers (1999) / Chapter Skim
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4 Langley Research Center DAAC
4 Langley Research Center DAAC
Pages 71-90
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From page 71... ...
TRACY, ODE Systems, Inc., San Diego, California ABSTRACT The Langley Research Center (LaRC) DAAC manages data related to atmospheric chemistry and the Earth radiation budget, from remote sensing observations and field experiments.
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From page 72... ...
Consequently, the panel's main recommendation is that the DAAC develop a transition plan to link its information systems with the ECS and keep a strong focus on the overall EOSDIS goals and ideals. INTRODUCTION Langley Research Center began processing Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE)
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From page 73... ...
Similarly, the LaRC DAAC enables researchers to view the temporal and spatial variability in the composition of the atmosphere. This provides insight into trends in the oxidizing properties and radiative forcing of the atmosphere.
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From page 75... ...
For non-EOS data sets, the LaRC DAAC provides the data producers with a data ingest form, and the scientists specify the key parameters and perform the quality assurance and quality control. The DAAC then checks the data against the acceptable values provided by the scientists as another quality assurance and quality control step for the data.
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From page 76... ...
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From page 77... ...
. Simulated VIRS and MODIS data for testing PGEs are being provided to the LaRC DAAC by the CERES instrument team, and the DAAC anticipates no problems receiving the data it needs for POE testing.
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From page 78... ...
Numerous regionally focused field experiments to gather data on aerosols and tropospheric gasphase species have been conducted or are planned, and the LaRC DAAC will have to be aggressive about acquiring these data sets in order to best serve the scientific user community. Long-Term Archive NASA and NOAA are negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding to transfer data from the DAACs to NOAA archives sometime after the end of the EOS missions.
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From page 79... ...
Data providers are primarily scientists involved with current or recent space experiments, field experiments, data analysis and synthesis teams, and EOS instrument teams. Data users include scientists, educators, the general public, and the commercial sector.
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From page 80... ...
Thus, when the DAAC was formed in 1989, the initial staff already had experience in interacting with ERBE scientists, whose close geographical proximity to the DAAC greatly facilitated this interaction. The evolution continued as preparations were made for processing CERES data; the DAAC personnel actively interact with CERES algorithm developers as well as attend CERES Science Team meetings.
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From page 81... ...
citizens and residents with green cards. For other individuals, a visit of less than two weeks can be approved by the deputy center director with about ten days notice, and longer visits require approval by NASA Headquarters and about one month notice.
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From page 82... ...
During the site visit the panel was given no evidence that the system hardware had been sized to fit the load expected at this DAAC. Since the aggregate input/output and processing bandwidth available within the installed equipment seems to support the T3 communications link, one must assume that this analysis has been done as part of determining the hardware baseline by the ECS contractor.
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From page 83... ...
The Langley TRMM Information System Because the ECS baseline software was not available in time to support the launch and initial operation of CERES/TRMM, ESDIS asked the LaRC DAAC to develop a parallel system that would serve as an interim baseline until the ECS was installed. The resulting system, the LaTIS, was designed to use the COTS chosen by the ECS contractor where possible, based on the rationale that the training requirements for the DAAC staff would be minimized.
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From page 84... ...
In addition, the LaTIS hardware configuration includes a smaller, similar system in parallel to the main processing system where additional development and/or changes can be tested prior to cutting in a new production baseline. Thus, the LaTIS appears to be a technologically sound production system.
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From page 85... ...
Personnel The panel perceived serious tensions between DAAC staff and the ECS contractors on-site. The ECS contractors were not invited to help prepare for the NRC site visit and they were not introduced to the panel.
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From page 86... ...
The ECS contractors plans to install only 25% of the hardware, but the CERES instrument team plans to process a full month of data at once every four months, which will require full processing power in order to keep up with the data streams. The panel suggests that the interested groups work together to devise a compatible implementation of the 25-50-75 scenario.
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From page 87... ...
LARC DAAC AND THE EARTH SCIENCE ENTERPRISE Relation to Langley Research Center The DAAC is separated physically and programmatically from the atmospheric scientists at Langley Research Center. The DAAC is located in the Information Systems and Services Division of the Internal Operations Group of NASA's Langley Research Center.
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From page 88... ...
In particular, the DAAC could benefit from having more interaction with the atmospheric science user community. A ready opportunity to understand more about the DAAC' s data sets exists through a closer relationship with the atmospheric scientists who are housed just a few buildings away from the DAAC.
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From page 89... ...
The DAAC manages its existing data sets well, but to make EOS data as useful, the DAAC must continue developing its Web interface and subletting tools. The latter will be particularly important for dealing with large EOS data sets.
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