An accessible ocean

Operations of the Japan Oceanographic Data Center

Period: From 1965
Organizations: Japan Coast Guard, Fisheries Agency, Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, Japan Meteorological Agency, Ministry of the Environment, regional development bureaus, local governments, National Institute of Maritime, Port and Aviation Technology, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, universities, and others

The Japan Oceanographic Data Center (JODC) is representative in Japan as the National Oceanographic Data Center of the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) system promoted by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. As the comprehensive oceanographic data bank for Japan, JODC unitarily collects, manages, and provides oceanographic data observed by various domestic oceanographic survey organizations. JODC has contributed to global environmental research by managing and providing ocean observation data collected in Japan for international joint research projects, such as WOCE, which aim to solve problems of global warming.
Also, with the improved capacity in oceanographic data management in countries participating in the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) program, oceanographic data management training and workshops have been held for staff members of ocean-related organizations in the region to promote the development of the IODE system.

Flow of JODC operations
Reference: Japan Oceanographic Data Center (Japan Coast Guard, https://www.jodc.go.jp/jodcweb/index.html

Hydrographic observations along the 137°E meridian

Period: From 1967,   Organization: Japan Meteorological Agency

Hydrographic observations along the 137°E meridian have been taken continuously for over five decades since the Japan Meteorological Agency began operations in 1967. Nowhere else in the world have repeat hydrographic section been taken on a continuous basis for this long of a period of time. The availability of all data obtained since observations began to all researchers has been met with a very positive reception by ocean-related parties both in Japan and overseas. In order to clarify changes in the carbon cycle, which is vital for earth system models to predict global warming, observations are also being made of carbon dioxide-related underwater carbonate parameters (total carbonate, alkalinity, and hydrogen ion concentration (pH)) and chlorofluorocarbons.

Observation stations
along meridian 137° east
Marine meteorological observations
vessel Ryofu Maru II
Cross-sectional representation of water
temperatures along meridian 137° east
Source: Oceanographic Section Time-series Dataset for the 137°E Meridian(気象庁、https://www.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/kaiyou/db/mar_env/results/OI/137E_OI.html