Objective This proposal addresses a fundamental problem relating to marine sample data management within Europe and, if implemented, will enable, and streamline, exploitation of an important, but currently underexploited, existing raw data resource. We propose: 1. To establish a searchable central-access database of seabed sample data held at European Institutions accessible through the World Wide Web (WWW). 2. To establish a European Core Curators Group to update the database, both in content and design, standardise core description protocols throughout Europe, solicit end-user needs in accessing seabed data, and represent European marine curatorial facilities at an international level. Within the countries of the European Union many thousands of marine cores and seafloor samples have been collected by research institutes, universities, and exploration and survey companies. These sediment cores and samples have a wide range of applications and are the fundamental data source for information on seabed character and recent sedimentation. Such information is vital to a large number of end-users in industry, governments and academia. Research into global climate change, slope stability, oil exploration, pollution assessment and control, surveying for laying telecommunication cables and offshore pipelines, coastal development and the siting of seafloor structures by government and commercial concerns all rely on data obtained from marine sediment samples. The collection and storage of these samples represents a considerable financial outlay and even a conservative estimate would put the total cost of collecting and storing these samples at several hundred million ecu. It is currently very difficult for end-users of seabed data to find out what seafloor samples have been collected and stored throughout the countries of the European Union. After they have served the primary data requirement for which they were collected, seafloor samples are normally stored in controlled environments for further use. Tens of thousands of marine sediment cores are dispersed in archives throughout Europe. These form a valuable, unique and expensive resource of long-term scientific value, which is currently underexploited. The EUROCORE Consortium brings together some of the largest Core Repositories in Europe. Each Partner is in a central position for gathering bottom sample metadata in their respective countries through established national networks for submission to the database. Establishment of such a central-access searchable database will greatly enhance secondary use of this important dispersed data resource and will benefit marine scientists throughout Europe and worldwide. Fields of science natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesgeologysedimentologynatural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdatabasesnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencespollutionnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changesnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencesinternetworld wide web Programme(s) FP4-MAST 3 - Specific programme of research and technological development in the field of marine science and technology, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 0403 - Modelling, ocean data management and quality control for research and operational applications Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL EU contribution No data Address Empress Dock, European Way SO14 3ZH SOUTHAMPTON United Kingdom See on map Total cost No data Participants (7) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières France EU contribution No data Address Avenue de Claude Guillemin 3 45060 Orléans See on map Total cost No data CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Spain EU contribution No data Address S/N,Passeig Joan de Borbo S/N 08039 BARCELONA See on map Total cost No data Christian-Albrechts Universität Kiel Germany EU contribution No data Address 1-3,Wischhofstraße 1-3 24148 Kiel See on map Total cost No data INSTITUTO GEOLOGICO E MINEIRO Portugal EU contribution No data Address 19-2,Estrada da Portela, Zambujal, Apartado 7586 2721-866 AMADORA See on map Total cost No data MARINE INFORMATION SERVICE MARIS B.V. Netherlands EU contribution No data Address 1,DILLENBURGSINGEL 69 2263HW LEIDSCHENDAM See on map Total cost No data NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF ITALY Italy EU contribution No data Address Via Gobetti 101 40129 BOLOGNA See on map Total cost No data NETHERLANDS ORGANISATION FOR APPLIED SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH - TNO Netherlands EU contribution No data Address 97,Terrein University College Utrecht, Gebouw U en W, 3508 TA UTRECHT See on map Total cost No data
