National Critical Zone Observatory Program (CZO)

DATA

GET CZO DATA

At present, CZO data can be accessed through online resources of the individual CZOs:
Boulder Creek | Christina River | Jemez - Catalina | Luquillo | Southern Sierra | Shale Hills

A national CZO portal is being developed for seamless access of data from all CZOs (see below text about CZO Central).

INTEGRATED DATA/MEASUREMENT FRAMEWORK

CZO is working toward a framework sufficient to:

The next generation of Earth surface coupled process models and hypotheses will require exceptionally rich data sets that are continuous in time, intensive in space and comprehensive in process.  Diverse data types (e.g., sap flow, sediment transport, groundwater, bedrock weathering) will reveal characteristic rates that span many orders of magnitude. 

Acquisition of such datasets requires substantial investment in in-situ environmental sensors, field instruments, remote sensing, and surface and subsurface imaging, including the development of new technologies. The payoffs of such investments are potentially enormous if we can resolve the fluxes of energy, water and materials within and through the CZ, and provide fundamental insight to ecosystem and landscape evolution and resilience.

Clearly, new advances in our ability to quantitatively understand and simulate landscape energy and water cycling will depend on a new approach to measurements and instrumentation that captures spatial and temporal variability in atmospheric inputs superimposed on complex vegetation patterns, overlying heterogeneous, anisotropic subsurface geomedia.

Read "Future Directions for Critical Zone Observatory (CZO) Science" (PDF)>>

CZOs ARE DATA RICH

CZOs produce a large volume of data from a wide range of physical, chemical, and biological disciplines as well as spatial and temporal scales. 

This “flood” of disparate observational data partly reflects a new generation of integrated measurements, including:

DATA MANAGEMENT

The integrated CZO data system is designed to enable:

The CZO data management plan draws heavily upon prior work by and ongoing collaboration with groups such as CUAHSI HIS, LTER,  EarthChemDB, and ChemDB. We are sharing information management experience, data, and software with these groups and with our other partners. We emphasize the “critical zone” nature of our shared data sets and strong metadata standards.

DATA DISCOVERY AND ANALYSIS

CZO is also working on tools that empower researchers to move from data to insight:

CZO CENTRAL - a unified web resource for data discovery and integration.
CZO Central, hosted by Sand Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC), is a web-based central data system for data discovery.  It regularly pulls (harvests) data from the individual CZO websites and combines that data with other CZOs and other data sources. It leverages software developed in the CUAHSI HIS project and enables searching and browsing for data. CZO Central is under development, but mostly operational; when available, we will link to it here.

CZO DESKTOP - a desktop tool for data visualization and synthesis.
The CUAHSI HIS desktop client "HydroDesktop" is being modified for CZO as "CZODesktop." It will provide Geographic Information System based search, access and analysis functionality for data published using standards. CZO Desktop is under development, but mostly operational; when available, we will link to it here.

CZO WEBSITE - an integrated website system for a more useful and engaging web experience.
The suite of seven websites (1 National, 6 observatories) is being integrated into a centralized system that will enable easier updating as well as provide better ways of interconnecting and aggregating our information. Site visitors will find it easier to browse, search, and discover data, people, news, and opportunities. CZO Website is under development; when available, it will replace this website and other CZO websites.

CZchemDB - a relational database for Critical Zone geochemical data.
This resource is ideal for cross site comparisons as well as education and outreach to the broader community. Email Jennifer Williams (jzw126@psu.edu)/ or Sue Brantley (sxb7@psu.edu) for further information.

EXAMPLE PROJECTS

Data Working Group . Individuals across CZOs and outside CZO are working together to help create a seamless platform for serving CZO data to the broader community. Email Mark Williams for further information.

LiDAR: An ongoing LiDAR project is providing calibrated datasets that enable cross-CZO comparisons. LiDAR is airborne optical remote sensing technology that generates 3-D data with very high spatial resolution, including detailed information about topography, tree canopy, tree throw, vegetation density, and snow cover. Email Qinghua Guo for further information.

 

DATA USAGE AGREEMENT

The user of CZO data agrees to provide proper acknowledgment with each usage of the data. Citation of the name(s) of the investigator(s) responsible for the data set, in addition to the generic statement above, constitutes proper acknowledgment. Author(s) (including CZO investigators) of published material that makes use of previously unpublished CZO data agree to provide the data manager of the CZOs involved with four (4) copies (preferably reprints) of that material for binding as soon as it becomes available. The user of CZO data agrees not to resell or redistribute shared data. The user of these data should be aware that, while efforts have been taken to ensure that these data are of the highest quality, there is no guarantee of perfection for the data contained herein and the possibility of errors exists. The following acknowledgment should accompany any publication or citation of CZO data: Logistical support and/or data were provided by the NSF-supported Critical Zone Observatory.