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DWD-P2 Operation and further development of data centres and information systems 
relating to GOOS 
Objectives 
to make available world-wide, quality controlled marine meteorological and associated 
oceanographic in-situ data through the Global Collecting Centre GCC and the marine 
meteorological archives of DWD 
global monitoring of the variable precipitation through the Global Precipitation 
Climatology Centre GPCC and establishment of a GCOS Surface Network Monitoring 
Centre for precipitation 
dissemination of climate relevant information from the GOOS programme contributions of 
the German Weather Service DWD through its climate information system (KLIS) on the 
World Wide Web. 
Present scientific knowledge 
The availability of marine meteorological and relevant oceanographic in-situ data is 
indispensable within the Global Ocean Observing System. Beyond the applications listed under 
the DWD programmes PI and P3, there is a requirement for such data in each of the five 
GOOS modules. That applies to real-time and climate data as well as to data collectives that 
have been processed for climatological/statistical purposes. 
Precipitation, too, is an important variable in this context because it constitutes an essential 
link between the energy and water cycles. Consequently, it also affects the salinity of sea water 
and hence ocean circulation. A factor having a considerable impact on the global ocean 
circulation is freshwater input via large rivers, which implies that also precipitation over land 
areas is relevant with respect to GOOS. 
The collected data normally are not only relevant for an individual application but will help to 
answer future questions. It is, therefore, crucial to archive and process the data in such a way 
that they are permanently accessible for future applications. Meanwhile, the information 
technological background - from the provision of raw observation data to complete, verified 
data collectives meeting international standards - has reached such dimensions that the large 
scientific and financial resource requirements can no longer be met by the data-producing units 
but instead, more efficiently, by special facilities - the archives - performing a number of basic 
functions including information of the data producers. 
Assuring data quality 
Depending on the requirements to be met by the data and on the possibilities of data 
acquisition, an adequate data quality must be guaranteed. To that end, DWD uses computer- 
aided quality control procedures and special manual checking procedures. The quality 
standards are either set by WMO (minimum quality standards) or are determined by the 
requirements of subsequent applications. Since the raw data are kept permanently available, 
the correction process is reversible. Quality bits enable the user to make a preliminary 
evaluation. 
Data archiving 
The data should be archived to ensure long-time availability. At DWD, this is achieved by the 
use of relational data base systems, also with a focus on physical data security: