JAMSTEC Data Catalog GODAC (Global Oceanographic Data Center)

Overview

The JAMSTEC Data Catalog is an online data discovery service operated by the Global Oceanographic Data Center (GODAC) of the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). It provides a centralized portal for locating the databases and datasets produced by JAMSTEC's extensive marine and earth science research programs.

About JAMSTEC and GODAC

JAMSTEC (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology) was founded in October 1971 as the Japan Marine Science and Technology Center and became an Independent Administrative Institution in April 2004. It is Japan's primary national research institution for marine and earth science, operating from its headquarters in Yokosuka, Kanagawa. The Global Oceanographic Data Center (GODAC) was established by JAMSTEC in Nago City, Okinawa on 24 November 2001. GODAC maintains digital archives of data obtained by JAMSTEC vessels and submersibles, including deep-sea video and photography, scientific measurements, and research publications.

Collections and Data

The Data Catalog aggregates metadata about JAMSTEC's numerous databases and data sites, organized by categories including oceanography, geochemistry, biology, seafloor geology, and atmospheric science. Specific datasets include deep-sea debris surveys, mooring observation data, oceanographic cruise reports, and the FORA-WNP30 dataset covering western North Pacific ocean conditions. GODAC also archives deep-sea images from manned submersibles such as the Shinkai 6500 and remotely operated vehicles.

Access

The JAMSTEC Data Catalog is freely accessible online. Users can search and filter data resources by category and keyword, and follow links to the relevant data publication sites for download. The platform supports researchers working in oceanography, earth sciences, and environmental science worldwide.