The SPASE Data Model: A Metadata Standard for Registering, Finding, Accessing, and Using Heliophysics Data Obtained From Observations and Modeling

Abstract

The Space Physics Archive Search and Extract Consortium has developed and implemented the SPASE Data Model that provides a common language for registering a wide range of Heliophysics data and other products. The Data Model enables discovery and access tools such that any researcher can obtain data easily, thereby facilitating research, including on space weather. The Data Model includes descriptions of Simulation Models and Numerical Output, pioneered by the Integrated Medium for Planetary Exploration (IMPEx) group in Europe, and subsequently adopted by the Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC). The SPASE group intends to register all relevant Heliophysics data resources, including space‐, ground‐, and model‐based. Substantial progress has been made, especially for space‐based observational data and associated observatories, instruments, and display data. Legacy product registrations and access go back more than 50 years. Real‐time data will be included. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) portion of the SPASE group has funding that assures continuity in the upkeep of the Data Model and aids with adding new products. Tools are being developed for making and editing data descriptions. Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) for Data Products can now be included in the descriptions. The data access that SPASE facilitates is becoming more uniform, and work is progressing on Web Service access via a standard Application Programming Interface. The SPASE Data Model is stable; changes over the past 9 years were additions of terms and capabilities that are backward compatible. This paper provides a summary of the history, structure, use, and future of the SPASE Data Model.Plain Language SummaryThe Heliophysics research community requires a wide variety of data from many disparate sources in order to make substantial progress. This is especially true for space weather, where a range of data and models may be relevant to any given study. The SPASE Data Model” unifies descriptions of data from observatories or simulation models using the same language to describe all products. This streamlines finding, accessing, and using the underlying variegated files, thus speeding up and improving research. This paper gives an overview of the history, structure, and use of the SPASE Data Model and gives an idea of current directions in its development.Key PointsThe Heliophysics/Space Weather community has developed a general means to register, discover, access, and use data sets and other productsThe key for ease‐of‐use is the adoption of standards for data formats, metadata, and access methodsThe Space Physics Archive Search and Extract Data Model provides a stable and general standard for the requisite metadata descriptions