PaCTS, PAGES and paleodata

The first version of a crowdsourced reporting standard for paleoclimate data has been discussed in a new Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology paper.

PAGES involvement, via our working groups and workshops, in the Paleoclimate Community reporTing Standards (PaCTS) project is highlighted in the "PaCTS 1.0: A Crowdsourced Reporting Standard for Paleoclimate Data" paper, written by Deborah Khider et al.

PaCTS captures which information should be included when reporting paleoclimate data, with the goal of maximizing the reuse value of paleoclimate datasets, particularly for synthesis work and comparison to climate model simulations. Initiated by the LinkedEarth project, the process to elicit a reporting standard involved an international workshop in 2016, various forms of digital community engagement over the next few years, and grassroots working groups.

PaCTS addresses the acute need for standardizing paleoclimate datasets to minimize "data wrangling", which is estimated to consume up to 80% of researcher time in some scientific fields.

The standards help meet the interoperability and reuse criteria and of FAIR data principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable), of which PAGES is an early signatory.

Access the early-access version here.