Metadata for Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Data

Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) scientific user facility, is a key geophysical data source for national and international climate research. The ARM Data Center (ADC) processes over 1.7 petabytes of stored data for standard ARM-owned instruments, as well as Value Added Products (VAP), evaluation data to test new instrumentation or models, Principal Investigator data products, external data products (e.g., NASA satellite data), and field campaign datasets utilizing a standardized schema that has evolved since ARM began data collection in 1992. A team of metadata experts classifies instruments (categories, classes and codes), as well as defines spatial and temporal metadata for field campaigns and fixed sites to ensure accessibility through the ARM Data Discovery (https://adc.arm.gov/discovery/), as well as consistency and transparency in measurement uncertainty. To enhance geophysical metadata collaboration, this work will summarize processes and tools which enable the management of ARM metadata. For example, this work will highlight recent enhancements in metadata assignments, evaluation of data and data transfers through streamline processes, new tools for identifying and recommending datastreams to new users, ARM consolidated databases and heightened DOI assignments for all data types that assist a wider audience in selecting, obtaining, and using data as well as citing the appropriate data source for reproducible atmospheric and climate research.