Application Process
If you are a first time data originator or you currently submit data to the WOUDC and would like to apply for a personal ftp
account, follow the instructions listed below.
Data orginators are asked to follow the five steps below for arranging data submissions to the WOUDC for ozone and/or UV
data sets.
Five Steps
Step 1: Write a Data Sponsorship Statement (DSS) using
the template given here (if appropriate). Contact the WOUDC for assistance or clarification if needed. Also refer to the
UV Guide or Ozone Guide. A DSS provides a
valuable description of the instrument maintenance and calibration history and originators of data are encouraged to
submit a DSS.
NOTE: An DSS will provide the detailed description of the data quality including calibration, quality control
and measurement accuracy. It can also stipulate conditions under which the data may be used. Refer to the Data Set
Security Issues section for details. This file can be an ASCII text, PDF or HTML file named as follows:
AGENCY ID_DSS.txt, AGENCY ID_DSS.pdf or AGENCY ID_DSS.html respectively. For example, the agency Meteorological Service
of Canada, with the agency ID of MSC, will have a DSS named MSC_DSS.txt, MSC_DSS.pdf or MSC_DSS.html.
Step 2: Submit to the WOUDC a completed DSS along with an Agency (data originator)
Profile. An Agency Form is available under the section Application Forms:
Agency Statement.
Step 3: Upon approval of the DSS and Agency Profile, a data submission agreement
will be established whereby the details of the file format for submission may be negotiated
between the data originator and the WOUDC. If special agreements, provisos, or security
restrictions are required, they will be established at this point. Refer to the
Data Set Security Issues section of this web page.
Step 4: The WOUDC will assign an FTP account (with a personal username/password)
to be used exclusively for data submission. Data may also be submitted using other media
such as email, CD-ROM or DVD.
Step 5: The frequency of data submission is suggested to be monthly.
Application Forms
3. The extCSV File Format Standard for Data Submission
Comma Separated Value (CSV) is a common file format that can be directly imported into database, spreadsheet and analysis
applications. Written in ASCII, these files are portable to differing computer platforms. The WOUDC has extended the standard
CSV syntax rules to support comments and multiple data content within individual files. The "Extended CSV" (extCSV) is now
the WOUDC standard file format for data submission.
A Brief Description of the Extended CSV (extCSV) File Format
The extCSV file submission format provides the data originator the option to submit data at much higher temporal or spatial
resolution than the traditional WODC 80-column data sets. This format is also used for WOUDC file output products.
Information about the extCSV data file format is available on the documentation page with
examples of individual data types, formatted in extCSV.
4. Data Set Security Issues
The WOUDC data output is freely available for public use and all files are
write protected with read only access. There are special circumstances,
however, which require a single user or group of users to have the ability to
freely exchange data at a level of security which permits both read and write
access to that specified group.
Link to the Data Set Security Issues page for a more detail led description of of data s
ecurity issues.
In response to this need for a higher level of security, special "secure"
directories and user access through a specified username/password will be made
available to interested individuals or groups. The general procedure to access
these new directories by means of the Internet File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
will remain the same, just the username and password will be different. Files
and documentation may then be freely exchanged within this second level and be
protected from "public" viewing. These options are available to data originators.
Refer to the options in the WOUDC Data
Submission Agreement.
The submission of data either to the "secure" or public directories is
acceptable, the latter being preferred. Originators should note that users of
public data are advised by the WOUDC to abide at all times by whatever
stipulations the originator has requested. Refer to the Data User's Protocol Form.
To get special directory access, the user will have to complete the information
and sign the Data User's Protocol Form before access is granted.
5. Data Retrieval
All data posted by the WOUDC reside on an FTP server which is accessible from this web site through your web-viewer. To connect
to the archive, go to the data page. However, when downloading a large number of files, it is
recommended to use ftp application software which will require a special username and password. Contact the WOUDC for this information.
The data contained within the WOUDC Data Archive are to be used for non-profit, scientific and educational purposes
only. The WMO Executive Council/Committee on Atmospheric Sciences (EC/CAS) Panel of Experts Working Group on Environmental
Pollution and Atmospheric Chemistry remind users of the data to acknowledge and honour the following statement.
