Timely open access to correlative measurements with appropriate quality control and documentation is essential to the rapid validation of EOS data products and furtherance of the scientific productivity and scientific and public benefit derived from EOS investments. To this end, the following policy is adopted by the EOS Project Science Office with regard to archival of EOS validation data.

Validation or correlative measurements obtained by EOS Instrument Science Teams, Interdisciplinary Science Teams or by investigators funded through the Validation NRA (MTPE-97-03) must be publicly accessible through a team scientific computing facility (SCF), an EOS Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC), or a functionally comparable alternative data archive mechanism. Teams and investigators should insure that such access is expedited. Delays beyond 6 months of data collection are unjustified in all but the most exceptional circumstances.

Whenever possible, public on-line access to validation data should be provided. Investigators should seek to provide uniform access to all available correlative data holdings. Consolidation, either physically or virtually, into larger aggregate data collections will be beneficial to potential users. For large data sets where on-line access is impractical, alternative media may be used. In such cases, it is often very useful to also provide condensed on-line versions of the data (e.g., gif images). For non-DAAC approaches, the bare minimum configuration should provide data access via an anonymous ftp site wherein catalog information about the contained data holdings is readily apparent to a user of modest experience and knowledge (first year graduate student). A more advanced "home page" approach is highly recommended, however. This approach is rapidly becoming the standard for field experiments and test site networks and provides a very effective mechanism for dissemination of data and information. Data providers should recognize that a well-designed and well-documented validation data homepage (or ftp site) can help minimize the burdensome interactions that might be required with those seeking to access and use the data. In non-DAAC approaches, the investigator must insure that their site will be maintained for a minimum of 5 years and be compatible with eventual transfer to a DAAC for longer term archival.

Investigators providing access to EOS validation data should inform the EOS Project Science Office of the existence and address (IP/directory or URL) of their site along with a brief summary of the data holdings. Such notification should be sent to David Starr, EOS Validation Scientist (starr@climate.gsfc.nasa.gov), with a copy to Tim Suttles (suttles@ltpmail.gsfc.nasa.gov). The Project Science Office will maintain an on-line catalog of all such sites.