Historical database of the Black Sea (NATO-TU Black Sea Database) - version I

Multidiscipline historical data base of the Black Sea (First version created within the NATO SfS TU-BLACK SEA project)
Multidiscipline historical data base of the Black Sea has been created within the framework of the NATO SfS TU-BLACK SEA Project. The purpose of the project was to develop and implement ecosystem models as a management tool for improving the health of the Black Sea, and to help build the capacity within the Black Sea coastal countries for high quality oceanographic measurement and analysis capabilities for carrying out long-term monitoring of the Black Sea following the completion of the project. Main oceanographic institutions from all countries of the region participated in the project.
One of the primary objectives of the TU-BLACK SEA project was to establish a database for environmental and oceanographic data pertinent to the goals of this program. A work on the compilation of the first version of the TU-Black Sea data base was finished in June 1997. For this goal the data sets delivered by participants have been quality checked, transformed to the NATO TU-Black Sea formats and included in the joint data set.

The final version of the NATO TU Black Sea Project Database contains data for 116 variables from 271 data sets, including 8,364,731 data values for 26,035 stations and is loaded into a CD-ROM. ASCII version of the database includes 12,790 files (149.4 MB). The total volume of data base and information contained in the CD-ROM is 302 Mbytes.

The data base includes these variables and groups of variables:

Physics: Temperature and salinity, Currents, Hydrooptical variables, Meteorology, Sea level. 
Chemistry: Dissolved oxygen, Hydrogen sulfide, Biogens, Alkalinity, pH,  Humic matter, Chlorophyll-a, Dissolved and Particular matters. 
Biology: Bacterioplankton, Phytoplankton, Benthos, Ichthioplankton, Infusoria, Jelly-fishes, Macrozooplankton, Mesozooplankton, Microzooplankton, Total zooplankton, Noctiluca, Ichthioplankton, Primary production. 

All physical, chemical and biooptical data sets were loaded into the special software system for the quality control, which was carried out by the Expert Groups. The original powerful DBMS was designed for the final version of the database. The OceanBase system (developed by the Marine Hydrophysical Institute) was chosen as a prototype for this DBMS.

The final project database contains these parts:

Main TU-Black Sea Data Base (loaded into the OceanBase system, quality checked), 
Description of the Data Base and OceanBase DBM system, 
Technical reports of the Expert Groups and DB Task Team, 
Raw data sets as they were delivered by participants, 
Climatic and averaged data sets, 
Additional and special data sets, 
Intercalibrated data sets of the recent joint Black Sea cruises. 


The main features of the TU-Black Sea Data Base are as follows:

Database includes all main physical, chemical and biological (including phyto and zooplankton) variables for the entire Black Sea basin; 
It primarily covers the time period from 1963 (and in some cases earlier data sets) with extensive data sets for 1973-1994 and it includes data obtained at 26,000 oceanographic stations; 
Database covers the most crucial period in the history of the Black Sea ecosystem starting from the background situation in 1960-th till the drastic changes occurred recent years; 
It includes data from all main regional and international sources; 
All data included into the database were quality checked by the qualified groups of regional experts, well acquainted with the Black Sea data; 
Each value of physical, chemical and biooptical data are accompanied with the quality flag (the same as in the MEDATLAS project, that provides the regional compatibility); 
Special and powerful DBMS has been designed for the database to provide easy and comfortable access to data; 
Although the main objective of the database is to serve the development and implementation of the ecosystem models, due to its structure and contents it can be used for many other oceanographic and environmental purposes; 
It includes also the initial set of the ASCII files delivered by participants, that provides the possibility to interesting person to select the subset, to perform the quality control according to other principles and to create the alternative database; 
Database has been delivered to the participants on the CD-ROM. 
Comparison was made of the TU-Black Sea Data Base and some well-known recent regional and global data sets. Comparing the TU-Black Sea Data Base and these data sets, one can conclude, that it is the first successful attempt to create a regional historical multidiscipline multipurpose database supplied with the special powerful DBMS. The data base and DBMS can be used as a basis for the data bases of any new oceanographic and environmental projects in the Black Sea region.

Database supplied with DBMS OceanBase 2.02 TU-BS was distributed on CD-ROM among participants of the NATO TU Black Sea Project in January 1998. Until January 1, 2001, use of the data was restricted to project participants. Starting from May, 2001, database is available for entire scientific community.

For the detailed information please contact Dr. Volodymyr Vladymyrov (v.vladymyrov@gmail.com).