GEOSS/AWCI Data Release and Dissemination Guidelines(as agreed at the 2nd Asian Water Cycle Symposium, Tokyo, January 2007)

1) Release of Data in Compliance with WMO Resolution 40 (CG-XII) andWMO Resolution 25 (CG-XIII)GEOSS AWCI archives meteorological, hydrological, and related data and products inAsia for addressing the common water-related issues in Asia. Any policy for releaseand dissemination of GEOSS AWCI data should principally comply with the WMO
policy, practice and guidelines for the exchange of meteorological, hydrological, andrelated data and products, as embodied in Resolution 40 of the Twelfth WMOCongress 1995 (CG-XII), and Resolution 25 of the Thirteenth WMO Congress 1999
(CG-XIII); that is, free and unrestricted exchange of essential data and products.
The no-restriction principle shall in particular mean that no financial implications areinvolved for the GEOSS AWCI data exchange. GEOSS AWCI data providers shalltransfer their obtained data to the Data Integration and Analysis System (DIAS) freeof charge. Also, GEOSS AWCI data archived at the DIAS shall be offered free ofcharge to GEOSS AWCI data users.

2) No Commercial Use or Exploitation
It is understood that all GEOSS AWCI data shall be delivered to data users only for
scientific studies and operational uses designed to meet GEOSS AWCI objectives.
Commercial use and exploitation by neither the data users nor the DIAS is prohibited,
unless specific permission has been obtained from the data providers concerned inwriting.
3) No Data Transfer to Third Parties
One restriction which will be imposed on all data users concerns the re-export ortransfer of the original data (as received from the DIAS archive) to a third party.
Such restriction shall apply to all categories of GEOSS AWCI data, and is in the bestinterests of both the data providers and the potential users. Unrestricted copying of
the original data by multiple, independent users may lead to errors in the data andloss of identity of its GEOSS AWCI origin and is strictly prohibited.
DIAS will offer GEOSS AWCI data to potential data users through electronic means,(e.g. the internet) or other designated media (e.g. CD ROMs). The DIAS shall install
technical means to keep protocol on all data transfers to data users thus maintaining
a catalogue of all data users, and the data files they have obtained.
4) Timing for Release of GEOSS AWCI Data from the DIAS Archive
The timing issue clearly involves some conflicting aspects. The data user will
obviously be interested in obtaining data as soon as possible after the time ofmeasurement. The data provider as well as the DIAS will wish to ensure the highest
attainable quality of the data. The latter will generally be time consuming,
particularly in view of the shortage of manpower in many cases.
It is suggested that all GEOSS AWCI data shall be categorized into real-time use(category 1), standard (category 2), and enhanced or experimental (category 3)
data. Real-time use data shall be open in real- or near-real- time base. Standard
data shall be freely open after the basic turn-around period of six months. Enhanced

or Experimental data shall be freely open after a prolonged turn-around period of 15
months at maximum.
5) Acknowledgement and Citation
Whenever GEOSS AWCI data distributed by DIAS are being used for publication ofscientific results, the data's origin must be acknowledged and referenced. Aminimum requirement is to reference GEOSS AWCI and the DIAS. If only data fromone river basin (or a limited number of river basins) has been used, additionalacknowledgement to the river basin(s) and its (their) maintaining institutions ororganizations shall be given.
Maintaining continuous, high-quality measurements, performing quality and error
checking procedures, and submitting data and related documentation to the DIAS
will require substantial financial and logistical efforts of the data providers. The
necessary support for these data providers’ activities originate from a variety ofinternational, national and institutional sources. The DIAS shall make proper
reference to all GEOSS AWCI data providers and, if required, to their funding sources.
6) Co-operation between Data Users and Providers
Data users of GEOSS AWCI data are encouraged to establish direct contact with thedata providers for the purpose of complete interpretation and analysis of data forpublication purposes. This is in particular recommended for category 2 data.
7) Co-AuthorshipCo-authorship of data users and data providers on papers making extensive use ofGEOASS AWCI data is justifiable and highly recommended, in particular, if dateproviders have responded to questions raised about the data's quality and/orsuitability for the specific study in question, or have been involved in directly
contributing to the paper in other ways. It is highly recommended that any data user
should contact the responsible person of the data provider and ask him/her if he/shewants to become co- author, or if an acknowledgement would be sufficient. If coauthorship is requested, the data provider and the data user should establish a basis
for collaboration.
8) GEOSS/AWCI Publication Library
Whenever GEOSS/AWCI data distributed by DIAS are being used for publication ofscientific results, the author(s) shall sent a copy of the respective publication,
preferably in electronic form, to the DIAS in order to build up a GEOSS/AWCI
publication library. DIAS will maintain this library and will it make public, for example
via DIAS's web site, for a continuous monitoring of the GEOSS AWCI dataapplications and GEOSS AWCI’s achievements in general.