----------------------------Original message----------------------------
 
[Please route this to your U.S. colleagues, listservs, and others you
feel can contribute to this effort.]
 
Colleagues:
 
The U.S. Interagency Working Group (IWG) on Data Management for Global
Change, which is responsible for the coordination of data and information
for the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), is initiating a
pilot study to identify (and prioritize) data and information products
that need to be upgraded or enhanced to improve our ability to determine
country-by-country sources and sinks of atmospheric carbon dioxide and
other greenhouse gases.
 
YOUR INPUT IS CRITICAL FOR THE COMPLETION OF THIS TASK...
 
The IWG has developed an electronic survey on the Internet to identify
specific data sets and other information products, related to the topic
of global change, that exist but are not adequately compiled,
quality-assured, documented, readily available, or formatted to meet your
needs.
 
This survey has been made available as a text file on the Global Change
Data and Information System (GCDIS) Gopher on the Internet and can bee
completed and sent directly from your PC or workstation.  Additional
background information and complete instructions for filling out and
returning the survey are included in the GCDIS Gopher file.
 
Completion of this survey by U.S. researchers, policymakers, educators,
managers, information/data specialists, and others dealing with global
change issues will identify candidate data and information needs and will
also indicate specific problems with existing data and information
products.  A summary of the final report will be mailed to all respondents.
 
This request provides an unprecedented opportunity for you and your
colleagues to provide input to the USGCRP concerning the data and
information needs of a diverse, multidisciplinary community involved in
the issue of global change research.
 
Simply access the survey through the GCDIS Gopher and electronically
record your response.  Thank you for taking the time to address this
important issue.
 
Robert M. Cushman, Director
Frederick W. Stoss, Task Leader - Communications and Information Systems
Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
 
 
ACCESS TO THE GCDIS GOPHER:
 
"telnet gopher.esdim.noaa.gov"  OR  "telnet 140.90.235.168" AND LOGIN AS
"gopher"
 
 
OR
 
 
dial 202-606-4666; at the "Xyplex>" prompt, type "c esdim1"; and login as
"gopher".
 
When you have gained access to the GCDIS Gopher look for the "Global
Change Data Survey."
 
 
OR
 
 
From your Root Gopher Server:
 
Additional Gophers/
  Other Gophers/
    North America/
      USA/
        General/
          National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/
            NOAA Environmental Information Services Gopher/
              GCDIS Gopher/
                Global Change Data Survey