PMAG: Database Development Under the EarthRef.org Umbrella Website
Abstract
EarthRef.org has been compiling resources used to construct Earth Reference Models such as for geochemistry (GERM) and geophysics (REM). This approach can readily be expanded to any type of Earth science data and, to that extent, we have started an online database for paleomagnetism (PMAG) under http://earthref.org/databases/PMAG/. This database stores all measurements and their derived properties for studies on paleomagnetic directions (inclination, declination) and intensities. Ultimately, this database will allow researchers to study on the internet and download important data sets that, for example, display the paleo-secular variations in the intensity of the Earth's magnetic field over geological time. The PMAG database is completely integrated in the EarthRef.org relational database structure and thus benefits significantly from already-existing common database components, such as the EarthRef Reference Database (ERR) and Address Book (ERAB). The ERR allows researchers to find complete sets of literature resources as used in either GERM, REM or PMAG. The ERAB contains the addresses for all contributors to the EarthRef.org databases, but also for all the rock collectors, archivers and analysts appearing in these databases. Integration with both components will ensure direct traceability to the original sources of the PMAG data and metadata. Data contribution to the PMAG database is most critical in achieving an useful research tool. We have been developing data and metadata templates that can be used to provide all data during the publication process in a standardized format. Software tools are provided to facilitate an easy population of these templates. These tools allow for the import/export of data files in a delimited text format, and they provide functionality to validate data and to check their internal coherence in the template. During and after publication these standardized PMAG templates will be stored in the ERR database. From that moment on they can be searched for and downloaded from the EarthRef.org website. Finally, the contents of these template files will be automatically read out and parsed into the online relational PMAG database. For more information on the development of PMAG data and metadata standards, template files and software tools, please visit the http://earthref.org/metadata/PMAG/ metadata website.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002AGUFMOS62B0260K
- Keywords:
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- 1503 Archeomagnetism;
- 1521 Paleointensity;
- 1540 Rock and mineral magnetism;
- 1594 Instruments and techniques;
- 1599 General or miscellaneous