V1, 7/18/05 14 of excellence in documentation to assisting users via FTP, OPeNDAP and (as per Primary Finding #3) OGC protocols and on-demand, formatted files. Much documentation of protocols and formats exists in draft form on the SEACOOS Wiki.  We will be examining these drafts, refining them, and transporting them as appropriate to the SEACOOS public website for general access.  We will also be examining the ease with which various available data are located and accessed via the web site and will be making improvements in these to improve data access for a variety of users. · The plans for archiving of data indicate that a high degree of responsibility for archive may be assigned to the individual data providers.  This strategy requires further consideration. IOOS will require a plan for secure, deep archive that will preserve observations (and data products as deemed appropriate) “in perpetuity” and will make the archived data available through (future) IOOS data protocols.   Data archival is a complex issue that has implications for task planning within the individual SEACOOS partner programs, for coordinated archival of aggregated data, for development of partnerships with archiving agencies, and for future budgeting.  Archiving of SEACOOS data and information products will include a number of routes and strategies: (1) submission of data to the NDBC and archival of meteorological and ocean data with the federal archives, NODC, and NCDC; a number of programs are currently archiving their data in this manner or are in the process of making arrangements to do so; (2) archival of data within the data-producing programs (e.g. COMPS, SABSOON) using site-specific resources; (3) development of a regional archival system that would accommodate SEACOOS, and probably additional, regional data that would be associated with the RA; and (4) identification of, and distinction between, (a) data appropriate for long-term storage that is accessed on an as-needed basis and (b) data appropriate for ready access via web searching and access.  SEACOOS personnel are currently assessing the types of data and information at the partner sites, their volume, and rough assessments of future needs.  A major first step in this process has been to facilitate and encourage appropriate archiving at the individual institutions.  This information will be used to assess the relative requirements for 1-4 above, and then to assess the future budget requirements.   This complete analysis will be done in association with the other SEACOOS WGs and SECOORA and is being initiated immediately. · The facilities and long term storage protocols required for archival will be too costly for most data providers. The Committee recommends fostering cooperative relationship with a current (and future) designated IOOS archive facility.  A regional IM system should serve as a conduit to long term archival – ensuring the integrity and consistency of the data streams as they pass into the archive.  It is appropriate for conversations on this topic to begin now.  Archive requirements placed upon individual data providers today should be regarded as merely a bridge to a longer term solution.