<rahmann et al.
for Ocean Research Kiel and Kiel University, both in Kiel,
Germany. Biological, chemical, and physical oceanography,
sediment biogeochemistry, marine ecology, molecular
microbiology, paleoceanography, geology, as well as climate
and biogeochemical modeling all contributed to the project.
The SFB 754 was organized in 18 highly interdisciplinary
science sub-projects striving to answer the key questions of the
project. An outreach sub-project complemented the scientific
sub-projects with programs for pupils and the general public.
A dedicated central data management team was hosted by the
GEOMAR data management and supported and supervised the
curation and publication of all data collected by the SFB 754. To
date 799 peer-reviewed scientific papers, theses, presentations,
and other publications have been generated by the members of
the SFB 754‘. In many of these publications observational data
sets are fully described, assessed, used, and originally published.
The aim of this article is to summarize and list these published
observational data sets collected by the SFB 754 all together in a
clear structured way for easier access and find-ability.
OBSERVATIONAL AND EXPERIMENTAL
PROGRAM
During the 12-year life-cycle the SFB 754 conducted or
participated in a total of 34 research cruises on large research
vessels (see Table 1 and Figures 2-7). Data from these cruises
constitute the bulk of the SFB 754 archive. The three 4-year
long phases allowed for the development and adaptation of
the observational and experimental program. Questions arising
from the data already collected were incorporated into new
sub-projects for the subsequent project phases.
DATA MANAGEMENT
One of the first steps after the inception of the SFB 754 was
the development and implementation of a common data policy“.
Binding for all scientists of the SFB 754, it regulated how fully
processed data sets should be curated, stored, distributed, and
finally published, as well as the latency of this process. This data
policy and its strict application is one of the reasons for the
success of the SFB 754 with 421 peer reviewed publications at the
time of writing.
The data management was based on two pillars: Internally the
data were stored for, and distributed among, the scientists of the
SFB 754 within the Ocean Science Information System (OSIS’,
select ‘SFB754’ in the context) of GEOMAR. OSIS allows for the
storage of different versions of the data set from preliminary and
raw data shortly after collection, over calibrated data to the final
data ready for publication. However, the OSIS system was not
designed or suited to store and serve final data for the long-term.
[n the final step the data were thus published and made freely
https://oceanrep.geomar.de/view/project_type/SFB754/
https://oceanrep.geomar.de/47369
https://www.sfb754.de/sfb754-osis
-rontiers in Marine Science | www.frontiersin.orm
SFB754 Data Legacy
available at the World Data Center PANGAEA* or at other more
specific data centers.
Because of the diverse scientific fields and measurements
involved, the rules of the data policy were quite generic. At the
same time, an important goal was to ensure the timely exchange
of data between the various research groups within the SFB
754. Within 3 months after data collection, meta-data for the
neasurements had to be entered into OSIS, and after 6 months
nitial versions had to be uploaded. The final publication of
he data on PANGAEA was due 3 years after collection leaving
sufficient time for analyses by members of the SFB 754. To
support the adherence to the rules automatic reminders were
sent by OSIS to the scientists responsible for the data sets. More
:han 1100 data sets have to date been published on PANGAEA>
(see text footnote 5 for a complete and up-to-date listing), while
a small number (about 100) is still being processed and will
be published in the near future. For easier accessibility, the
data from the different scientific fields using different methods
and instruments have been separated into data collections at
PANGAFEA (see Table 2). Some of the data sets have been
published elsewhere on more specialized databases. These are
explicitly mentioned in the text below.
OBSERVATIONAL AND EXPERIMENTAL
METHODS AND DATA
During its 12-year existence, the SFB 754 used a large number
of observational and experimental methods to assess the physical
and biogeochemical state of the tropical oceans and the
interactions between its components. The resulting data sets
have been described, assessed, used, and incorporated in a large
number of publications. Here we briefly summarize the methods
used and refer to the relevant publications in which the methods
have been described in detail. Data set collections have been
created on PANGAEA for each of the following subsections
(see Table 2). Each collection on PANGAEA also includes a pdf
document with a summarizing table listing ancillary information
and all relevant data set DOIs. Table 1 lists the research cruises
with their start and end dates together with the DOIs of the cruise
reports where additional information about the data collected
and methods used can be found.
Physical Oceanography
Measurements of physical parameters in the surface layer
and throughout the water column were a core element of
che observational program of the SFB 754. They delivered
information on the physical processes that determine the water
masses and their properties in the regions of interest and at
the same time set conditions for the various biogeochemical
processes that determine the oxygen distribution.
“https://www.pangaea.de
https://www.pDangaea.de/?q=sfb754
Zaptember 2021 | Volume 8 | Article 72820