Skip to main content

Review of NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center (2003) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

4. NGDC Mission and Vision
Pages 53-58

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 53...
... All of these environmental fields are within the domain of NGDC. Moreover, NOAA has been formally responsible for archiving environmental data since the agency was created in 1970.2 Thus, regardless 1 Department of Commerce, 2003, New Priorities for the 21st Century: NOAA's Strategic Plan for BY 2003 - BY 2008 and Beyond, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, January 16, 2003 draft, .
Read the entire page →
From page 54...
... NGDC forms a part of NOAA's infrastructure and its data support scientific research and education about the environment, as well as practical applications, such as predicting geomagnetic-storm-induced communications disruptions. In addition, NGDC cooperates with international programs to acquire data and operates three world data centers to disseminate data to scientists all over the world.
Read the entire page →
From page 55...
... We play an integral role in NOAA's environmental research and stewardship, and provide data services to users worIdwide."6 This statement does not describe the kinds of data dealt with and probably does not distinguish NGDC from any environmental data center. NGDC's functional statement, which appears in the NOAA organizational handbook, is a better description of the center's activities.7 The functional statement describes the types of data and services provided by the center, identifies user groups, and summarizes the center's interactions with national and international organizations.
Read the entire page →
From page 56...
... The center has some experience creating integrated datasets and tools, but building on this experience would require breaking down the walls between the divisions and focusing more on cross-disciplinary activities. NGDC needs a vision more than other data centers because of its unusually broad span of disparate disciplines.
Read the entire page →
From page 57...
... Indeed, NOAA's new strategic plan contains priorities that are more aligned with and favorable to NGDC than previous plans. Of particular importance is NOAA's new priority on integrated environmental approaches, an area in which NGDC has some experience and could play an important role.
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • environmental data
  • mission statement
  • integrated environmental
  • environmental science
  • data center

  • information service
  • strategic goals
  • functional statement
  • space environment
  • ngdc appropriately

  • national environmental
  • data support
  • national geophysical
  • formal mission
  • appropriately aligned

  • statement describes
  • world data
  • environmental satellite
  • space weather
  • support maritime

  • formally responsible
  • marine sediment
  • ngdc performs
  • previous plans
  • management functions

  • future improvement
  • maritime transportation
  • directly relevant
  • allow ngdc
  • unusually broad


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.