2025-08-18T07:42:29Z

Abuecker: /* How do I find the Approve button? */

'''Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)'''

== What is '''PANGAEA''' ? ==
PANGAEA is a public library for data from earth system research. The system is open to any individual scientist or project, allowing for the archiving of single files, data collections, time series, or supplements to publications. Data can be georeferenced in time and/or space. [https://www.pangaea.de/about/ Find out more about PANGAEA].

== Who are the '''hosts'''? ==
PANGAEA is hosted by the [http://www.awi.de Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI)] and [http://www.marum.de MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University Bremen].

== Are there any '''restrictions''' in the data access? ==
Data stored in PANGAEA are published as open access and are thus freely available for download on the Internet. A few data sets might be [[status|password]] protected for a moratorium period; contact PI for access.

== Under which '''license''' are data made available? ==
By default, data are made available under a Creative Commons [[license]]. CC-BY is the most commonly used [[license]], but there are [[License#Which_license_is_suitable_for_my_data.3F|others you can choose from]].

== '''How long does it take''' to get a [[DOI]]? ==
During PANGAEA's editorial process, all data and metadata are quality checked, harmonized, and processed for machine readability, which allows efficient and reliable re-usage of your data. Depending on the extent and complexity of your data submission, the complete [[workflow|publication process]] might take up to 8 weeks or even more. Once data are published, the [[DOI]] can be minted. Therefore, submit your data at an early stage (e.g. before submission of a manuscript to a journal).

== Can I make '''changes''' to my published dataset? ==
As long as your dataset is in the [[Status|status "in review"]] or [[status|"registration in progress"]], changes to the data are possible. Once your dataset is published and the DOI is registered, changes to the dataset are no longer possible. If you have found errors in your published dataset, please open a new [https://www.pangaea.de/submit/ data submission] with the corrected data and state that this is a new version of your data. We will put access restrictions on the erroneous dataset and link it to the new version. Normally, a small comment (explanation) is added to the old version explaining what was wrong.

== What is the data '''export format'''? ==
Datasets are downloadable as text/ASCII files, tab-delimited, with a [[metaheader|header for meta information]] (ending is .tab, but you can open it in any text editor or in Excel just as .txt files). Large files may be available as [[Binary object|binary objects]] (e.g. seismic data, models) or other formats that follow ISO standards (e.g. images, films).

== Which '''languages''' can I use in my datasets ==
Please exclusively use english in your submitted datasets, not only for your headers but also for comments or method descriptions within your table. The only exception where you can use the original language is for citations of articles, which were not translated into english. Please use the original title then.

== A downloaded dataset contains '''strange characters''' (e.g. [Âg/g]). What can I do? ==
If you download the dataset as tab-delimited text, you have to use the correct character encoding. PANGAEA default is UTF-8, but for your computer (operation system) it might be different. Try to select a different character encoding, so that the data is correctly displayed on your computer. The encoding can be selected to the right of the download option of a dataset ("Download dataset as tab-delimited text") where it says "use the following character encoding:"

== What is the '''resolution''' of the data? ==
Data stored in PANGAEA stem from a wide range of parameters from all parts of the geosphere (atmo-, hydro-, cryo-, bio-, lithosphere). The spatial and temporal resolution can differ between sets and is described in the metadata. Examples: you can submit data from one day/several days (https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.778386), one month (https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.921529), one year (https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.272466), one campaign (https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.913181), from one region (https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.753970) or globally (https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.919662).

== Which '''parameter''' (variables) are available? ==
PANGAEA contains data associated with over 180,000 parameters from all fields of earth system research. See the [[Parameter#Parameter_list]] for details and example lists.

== How can I change the '''[[coverage]]'''? ==
The [[coverage]] describes the spatial and/or temporal distribution of the data set. It is calculated automatically using the [[geocode]]s from the data matrix or the [[event]] information. PANGAEA editors cannot change the information displayed in the [[coverage]], as those values are automatically calculated. There is no way to modify the values, unless the coordinates given for associated events and/or geocodes in the data matrix are modified, which is not recommended as this may change the interpretation of data in the matrix.

== Where are the data '''stored'''? ==
Most of the data are stored in a relational database. Large binary files, images or proprietary formats are stored in a [[Technology|tape drive silo]], requiring an access time of a minute. All data is secured by a daily backup on tapes, placed in two different buildings.

== Can data be '''password''' protected? ==
Yes! For a moratorium (in general for a maximum of 2 years), a login with a [[status|password]] can be added to the data, e.g. until the research contents are published, a project has ended or at the request of the owner. See [https://www.pangaea.de/about/terms.php Terms of Use].

== How to '''submit''' data? ==
Data needs to be submitted to PANGAEA via the [https://www.pangaea.de/submit/ data submission form]. If you submit for the first time, please read our [[Authors Guides]] first.

== How can I add the '''metadata''' to the submission? ==
Metadata can be added in various ways. A lot of the metadata can be added as part of the data table ([[event]] label, latitude/longitude of your samples, date/time of sampling, full parameter names and units). Other metadata, such as related references, method details, authors, dataset titles etc., can be added in the [https://www.pangaea.de/submit/ submission form], either in specific fields (e.g. authors, references, abstract - in the description field) or as additional files (readme file as plain text or method descriptions as pdf, for example). If you are unsure how to submit the metadata, you can simply add a comment to your submission [[Ticket System|issue]] stating what metadata you wish to add. For a research campaign, it is also important that you add the campaign details (e.g. in the description or as a comment), such as start/end of a campaign, official campaign label, chief scientist, vessel name.

== How can I get an overview about the '''status of my data submissions'''? ==
The JIRA Dashboard is a tool to gain overview over issues in JIRA ticket system, which PANGAEA uses for tracking of data submissions to PANGAEA ticket system. We provided a [https://issues.pangaea.de/secure/Dashboard.jspa?selectPageId=16932 "ready to use" Dashboard], available for every user logged in PANGAEA. Check [[JIRA_Dashboard|these instructions]] to see how to use and adapt the Dashboard to fit your specific needs.

== How do I find the '''Approve button'''?==
[[File:Author_approved.png|thumb|800x800px]]
 Once the data are archived in PANGAEA, you'll receive a proofread link. If you agree with the current version of the data and metadata displayed, please use the “Approve” button in the "Author approval pending" status menu at the top of the submission ticket page to confirm.

Difficulties finding it? Go to the Issue tracker and find your ticket related to the submission. The submission ID starts with "PDI-" and contains 5 additional digits. You can also enter the link https://issues.pangaea.de/browse/PDI-XXXXX to the browser. There, below a short header you'll see several buttons, and with the right-most one you can change the status of the submission from "Author approval pending" to "Author approved". After that, your editor will be notified about the status change and will finalize the data publication.

== Who should the '''authors''' be? ==
Authors of datasets are those individuals (scientists, technicians, students, and others) who contributed to the collection and processing of data. Data authors do not have to be the same as the authors of the paper that was published based on the data. The authorship of datasets should follow principles of good scientific practice (''Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Research Practice'' of the ''German Research Foundation'' [https://www.dfg.de/download/pdf/foerderung/rechtliche_rahmenbedingungen/gute_wissenschaftliche_praxis/kodex_gwp_en.pdf]).

== How can I '''download multiple''' data files at once from a single dataset? ==
Some datasets in PANGAEA contain links to many files that need to be downloaded individually. This is how you can [[download multiple files from PANGAEA]].

== Are there any '''costs''' associated with publishing data in PANGAEA? ==
The basic operation is covered by public funding, but in order ensure a high quality in processing and archiving new data, PANGAEA receives additional funds. In case that data are submitted as part of a project for which funding is available for publication, PANGAEA would appreciate a financial contribution of 500.– € (net) for a data submission (e.g. as part of the costs for [https://www.dfg.de/formulare/52_01/52_01_en.pdf Open Access publications at the DFG]). Other forms of funded collaborations can be negotiated. Please contact us for further information and invoicing.

== How do I refer to a PANGAEA datset in my manuscript? ('''How to cite''') ==
See [[Citation|data citation]] page for details

== Contact ==
[https://www.pangaea.de/contact/ Contact us if you still have questions.]