HR: 1340h
AN: NG43A-0441    [Abstracts]
TI: National Archive of Marine Seismic Surveys (NAMSS): U.S. Geological Survey Program to Provide new Access to Proprietary Data
AU: * Childs, J R
EM: jchilds@usgs.gov
AF: U.S. Geological Survey, Mail Stop 999 345 Middlefield Rd., Menlo Park, CA 94025 United States
AU: Hart, P E
EM: hart@usgs.gov
AF: U.S. Geological Survey, Mail Stop 999 345 Middlefield Rd., Menlo Park, CA 94025 United States
AB: Marine seismic reflection profile data originally acquired for purposes of offshore oil and gas exploration and development within the United States Exclusive Economic Zone represent a national scientific resource of inestimable value. Although the commercial value of these data has diminished due to technological advances and offshore development moratoria, the value to current and future scientific endeavors continues to be very high. Recently, commercial owners (including WesternGeco and ChevronTexaco) of large data holdings offshore the eastern, western, and Alaskan coasts of the United States have offered to transfer over 200,000 line kilometers of two-dimensional data (vintage 1970 to 1985) to the public domain. Recognizing the value of these data, the U.S. Geological Survey in co-operation with the Institute for Crustal Studies at UCSB, the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology, and the American Geological Institute) is promoting efforts to safeguard on behalf of the research community and the nation any data that may otherwise be lost, and to ensure free and open access to that data. To achieve these goals, the USGS has developed a National Archive of Marine Seismic Surveys (NAMSS). Work is underway to organize and reformat digital data currently stored on obsolete media, primarily nine-track tapes. The NAMSS web site below has further information on the project, including trackline maps of surveys that will soon be publicly available. The ultimate objective is the establishment of a data repository accessible through an on-line database, with graphical and text-based search and retrieval interface.
UR: http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/NAMSS/
DE: 3025 Marine seismics (0935)
SC: Nonlinear Geophysics [NG]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting