----------------------------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