MEDAR/MEDATLAS 1998-2001: A Mediterranean and Black Sea Oceanographic Data Base and Network.

The basic characteristics of a large multi-parameter ocean data base for the Mediterranean and the Black Sea are described. The data base has been developed through a close cooperation between National Oceanographic Data Centres (NODCs) of the IOC/UNESCO and specialized marine research institutes, within the framework of the MEDAR/MEDATLAS Concerted Action, supported by the European Union (EU). The data used in developing the data base have been collected by about 150 scientific laboratories from 33 countries and consist of vertical profiles of in-situ temperature, salinity and bio-chemical parameters. In all, the data base includes 285 879 qualified hydrographic stations of bathythermographs, thermistors, CTDs and bottle casts. As regards the studied regions, these data increase greatly (almost twice) the volume of the ocean data made available to the user community, compared to earlier initiatives. They are published on a set of four CDRoms, which include other products such as a Cruise Inventory, a Climatological Atlas of gridded numerical fields with vertical sections, maps (static and animated to illustrate the annual cycle), as well as, a selection and visualisation software. Although there are still some gaps before a complete data service can be provided, this important concerted action has contributed in developing data management standards and methods, in drawing attention to the necessity of acquiring professional data archiving systems and finally in increasing data and information circulation in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.