Management of marine data with the PANGAEA information system SEPAN

To use the scientific resource of marine data effectively an information system was developed which guarantees longtime storage of the data in consistent formats and provides easy access for the scientific community via World Wide Web or a system specific client software with high functionality. The system is able to store data together with raw data, evaluated data and all related meta-information necessary for their understanding. The system provides standardized import and export routines, easy access with uniform retrieval functions, and tools for the visualization of data. The system is designed as a network with client/server technology providing access and data exchange through the Internet.