BUILDING A GEOINFORMATICS PLATFORM FOR GEOSYSTEMS AND DEEP-TIME PALEOCLIMATE RESEARCH

One of the stated requirements for the GeoSystems project is a geoinformatics platform to capture, store, and allow the analysis of community paleoclimate data. The CHRONOS System is being designed to provide that platform. In general, this geoinformatics platform consists of four components: 1) a database that includes all relevant data and metadata types and ways to capture these data, 2) a simple, but powerful way for the user to find the information they need, 3) the analytical and assessment tools necessary to address thematic science questions, and 4) a convenient mechanism for individual users to extract raw and synthesized data. The critical core of the paleoclimate information system is a mechanism to capture and handle a broad array of "time series" data; data tied to stratigraphic successions, whether that be from terrestrial surface measured sections or from drill holes. This capability acknowledges that paleoclimate research requires working with intervals of geologic time, that is, with intervals of the stratigraphic succession. It is critical, of course, for a paleoclimate geoinformatics, to capture all climate proxies - but to do so within the complete sedimentary, paleobiological and geochemical context of these successions. Thus, each stratigraphic interval must be able to be "calibrated" with precise and detailed data on sedimentary, biological, and geochemical lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, taxonomy, stratigraphic range, litho- and biofacies, chrono-, sequence, chemo-, magneto- and cyclo-stratigraphy, and geochronology. Key to all of this will be data reproducibility, data attribution (metadata), detailed, precise, and accurate stratigraphic succession characterization, well-located samples, tracking all samples and subsamples, and hosting all descriptive and analytical information. Community access to all of these data must be universal and easy, and tools for global correlation and assessment of data must be provided. Whereas building such a system is not easy, quick, or inexpensive, it is a critical supportive platform for a viable GeoSystems initiative.