An Information Model of Ocean Data

An information model of oceanographic data is presented to simplify the view of complex data structures. Features of the model are described and possible applications to data management are explored. Most oceanographic data at the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) are of the type: oceanographic cruise - station - depth series. That data organization carries with it certain implied relationships of measurements to time and space. It also affects how the data are stored, inventoried, and retrieved, and the types of products available from the data. Other data organizations, such as time series, present different patterns for data storage, inventory, and products. The information model of ocean data provides a conceptual overview of ocean data structures that should be useful in data management.