Where Does the Rescued Data Go?

IEDRO first obtains the photographic or scanned images of the original environmental data (i.e. alphanumeric weather observations, graphs, photographs, etc.), which are a direct result of IEDRO-planned and executed data rescue projects in developing countries. These images are usually provided on CDs or DVDs.

IEDRO logs the images received and sends a complete copy of the rescued data to the nearest environmental World Data Center – NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) in Asheville, North Carolina.

Until recently, NCDC hired contractors to key alphanumeric data and enter it into their huge database. Because of 2011 government cutbacks, NCDC no longer provides keying services. As a result, IEDRO is developing a web-based program for keying in alphanumeric data. We also are developing software to digitize strip chart data. When both programs have been developed, we will send digitized data to NCDC to store in their huge and open database. These climate data will then available to anyone in the world community for research, educational, and operational purposes at a nominal charge.

IEDRO-funded data rescue projects have one requirement – digitized data that has been rescued is to be provided to the world community, primarily through a World Data Center, either at no charge or for a nominal charge of reproduction.

To learn more about who benefits from IEDRO’s work, click here.

If you would like to request a weather data search, please send an email to l.nicodemus@iedro.org.