Publications: WDC-GMG includes the publication series for the WDC for Solid Earth Geophysics and WDC for Marine Geology and Geophysics. This includes color images, data reports, and scientific reports.

The World Data Center for
Geophysics & Marine Geology (WDC-GMG)

The World Data Center for Geophysics and Marine Geology combines the responsibilities of the former WDC-MGG & WDC-SEG, Boulder into a single new data center that manages global geophysical, sea floor, and natural hazards data.

WDC-GMG is operated by and collocated with the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) in Boulder, CO USA.

• Global bathymetry & topography:
  Bathymetric data include underway measurements (including multibeam), gridded data, hydrographic soundings in U.S. waters, estimated depths derived from satellite altimetry, and sidescan sonar image data. WDC-GMG also offers gridded global relief (ETOPO). Topographic data include a 1-km gridded, DEM from the GLOBE Project, initiated by the Committee on Earth Observing Satellites. WDC-GMG is working with the IOC to offer a course on development of high-resolution coastal DEMs for tsunami inundation modeling.
  
  
• Global gravity & magnetism:
  Gravity holdings include oceanographic survey data, U.S. station data, absolute measurements, regional surveys, and gridded regional and global data sets. Magnetic data include data collected by ship, aircraft, and on land as well as global models such as the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF). Airborne data include Project Magnet vector survey data and other long-range, high-altitude surveys. IAGA supported paleomagnetic data compilations are available including the Global Paleomagnetic, Paleointensity, Polarity Transitions, and Secular Variation Data Bases. Magnetic Observatory data are stewarded by the WDC-STP, Boulder.
  
  
• Marine geology & geophysics:
  Marine geologic data are available for cores, grabs, dredges, and drill samples from the global sea floor and lakebeds. Data include descriptions and analyses, sample photographs and x-rays, and seabed photographs. WDC-GMG operates the Index to Marine and Lacustrine Geological Samples database, providing data related to the geologic sample collections of partner institutions around the world. Marine geophysical data available include downhole logging, bathymetry, gravity, magnetics, seismic reflection, and total sediment thickness of the ocean basins.
  
  
• Natural hazards:
  Natural Hazards data include global tsunami event and runup data, significant earthquake and volcanic eruption data, and sea level (coastal tide gauge and deep-ocean tsunameter) data. Historical tsunami data include the location, date, and description of events generating tsunamis as well as location, date, description, maximum wave height, deaths, damage, and photographic evidence of coastal impacts. Significant earthquakes and significant volcanic eruptions data include descriptions of events that caused death, $1 Million in damage, or generated a tsunami. The WDC-GMG also stewards U.S. coastal and deep-ocean sea level data as well as images of damage from past hazard events.
  
  
• Special Projects:
  WDC-GMG participates in the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) technical committee on International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE), Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami (ICG Pacific and CARIB), the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO), and regional IOC international mapping projects. WDC-GMG operates the IHO Data Center for Digital Bathymetry, cooperates extensively with the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) by operating parallel data archives for DSDP and ODP data, and operates the IOC-endorsed Index to Marine and Lacustrine Geological Samples database. Special emphasis is given to data supporting IUGG, IOC, and UNEP programs.

Earth is a dynamic system and understanding how it works helps us make better use of vital natural resources, predict and understand natural hazards and climate change, plan for and mitigate environmental impacts on society, and conversely be better stewards in minimizing adverse effects of society on the environment.

Data are contributed by sources from around the world and were originally collected for a variety of purposes, including academic research, international and interdisciplinary scientific projects, commercial mineral resource evaluations, defense, and government environmental baseline studies.

Data Stewardship: WDC-GMG provides longterm stewardship for contributed data, maintaining extensive metadata, migrating data to new media, and providing continuing open access to these valuable resources.

User Services: Data inventories and most digital data are online for search and free download. Many data sets are available in geospatial form; interactive maps, Web Map Services (WMS), and Web Feature Services (WFS).

Web: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/

FTP: ftp://ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/
(user: anonymous, password: your e-mail)

Custom data, data on CD/DVD-ROM, printed media, film, and other forms are also available; at cost, or free on exchange.

Visitors are welcome during normal working hours; advance notice is required. Data processing, copying, and analysis facilities are available. A visiting scientist program is also offered.