Terms of Use
The Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS) provides public access to marine geoscience data and metadata contributed by investigators, institutions, programs, and other data providers. MGDS includes both data hosted and distributed directly by MGDS and records that provide access to data maintained by external repositories or data providers.
Data Licensing and Use
Licensing and terms of use vary among datasets. Where a license is identified on an individual dataset page, that license governs use of the data. Users should review the license and citation information associated with each dataset.
For data maintained by external repositories or data providers, the terms of use and licensing established by the organization providing the data apply. MGDS provides information and links to these resources to support their discovery and use but does not assign licensing terms to externally maintained data.
Users of MGDS-hosted data should provide appropriate attribution to the original scientists and data contributors. Where a dataset DOI or recommended citation is provided, users should cite the dataset using that information. Relevant publications associated with a dataset should also be cited as appropriate.
When referring to MGDS as the source through which data were discovered or accessed, acknowledgment of the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS; www.marine-geo.org) is appreciated.
Users are encouraged to contact original investigators when additional scientific context about a dataset would be useful and, where appropriate, to explore opportunities for scientific collaboration.
Data should not be used for navigation purposes.
To Cite MGDS
For use of the Ridge 2000 and MARGINS Data Portals of the MGDS, an appropriate reference is:
- Carbotte, S.M., R. Arko, D.N. Chayes, W. Haxby, K. Lehnert, S. O'Hara, W.B.F. Ryan, R.A. Weissel, T. Shipley, L. Gahagan, K. Johnson, T. Shank (2004), New Integrated Data Management System for Ridge2000 and MARGINS Research, Eos Trans. AGU, 85(51), 553, doi:10.1029/2004EO510002.
For use of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Data Portal of the MGDS, an appropriate reference is:
- Carbotte, S.M., W.B.F. Ryan, S. O’Hara, R. Arko, A. Goodwillie, A. Melkonian, R.A. Weissel, V.L. Ferrini, Antarctic Multibeam Bathymetry and Geophysical Data Synthesis: An On-Line Digital Data Resource for Marine Geoscience Research in the Southern Ocean, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1047, doi:10.3133/of2007-1047.srp002, 2007.
Accuracy
Because much of the data are legacy in nature, we make no claims to accuracy of the data identification, acquisition parameters, processing methods, navigation, or database entries. We ask that you notify us immediately of any errors or incomplete entries that you discover, and we will make every effort to correct them. We encourage contributions of data and metadata.
Proprietary Data
MGDS may include records describing data that are not yet publicly available. Access to proprietary or otherwise restricted data is governed by the terms and conditions established by the original data provider or acquisition project.
Acknowledgement
Funding for the MGDS is provided by the National Science Foundation.
