Enhancing Access to Data through EarthChem to Augment Volcano Science

Data access in the scientific community has been an ongoing issue for decades. EarthChem was established in 2005, working with the community to address the need for better access to geochemical, petrological, and geochronological data. EarthChem data holdings have seen an increase in Volcano Science datasets. To support this community in the upcoming decade, we are enhancing our services to make relevant datasets more findable and easily accessible to volcanologists.

Overall, EarthChem strives to meet the needs of both individual researchers, as well as broader focus areas. EarthChem currently hosts individual FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data products (as companions to published manuscripts) in the EarthChem Library repository. The scope of EarthChem also includes building spaces for community-driven science. Specifically, in the context of Volcano Science, we host data-rescue and preservation efforts for historical volcanic gas datasets. We also host a growing collection of tephra sample related data.

The Decade Portal https://decade.earthchem.org/ , one of our existing interfaces, allows researchers to search and access data and samples pertaining to volcanoes across multiple databases and repositories. This includes the Global Volcanism Project, Mapping Gas Emissions, EarthChem Library, EarthChem Portal and the System for Earth Sample Registration.

To make data more accessible to its target audience, with the help of community advisers, we are implementing Community Pages (e.g. for tephra, volcanic gas and groundwater). These spaces will provide best practices for data management, as well as easier access to data for specific research focus areas.

We welcome community engagement in setting up Community Pages and encourage more scientists to make their data FAIR using our trusted repository.