Because it matters: Benefits of using the domain repository GFZ Data Services for Earth System Sciences data

Implementing the FAIR principles is becoming more and more relevant for the scientific community and in particular for the Earth System Sciences. It is already widely acknowledged that research data inhibit not only relevant information for their respective field of study but can open new avenues of research when appropriately re-used and/or combined with other information. At this point research data repositories represent key data access points and especially domain repositories with careful data curation and enrichment of metadata are increasingly relevant and valuable.

GFZ Data Services, hosted at the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), is a domain repository for geosciences data that assigns digital object identifier (DOI) to data and scientific software since 2004 and is Allocating Agent for the International Generic Sample Number IGSN, the globally unique persistent identifier for physical samples. The repository, on one hand, provides DOI minting services for several global monitoring networks/observatories in geodesy and geophysics (e.g. INTERMAGNET; IAG Services ICGEM, IGETS, IGS; GEOFON), collaborative projects (TERENO, EnMAP, GRACE, CHAMP) and has a strong focus long-tail data on the other hand. All metadata and data are curated by domain scientist.

Especially the provision of (i) comprehensive domain-specific standardised and machine-actionable metadata with linked-data vocabularies used in the geosciences domain and (ii) comprehensive technical data descriptions or DOI-referenced data reports complementing the metadata, result in high-quality data publications that are easily discoverable across domains. Furthermore, the provision of cross-references through persistent identifiers (DOI, IGSN, ORCID, Fundref, ROR) to related research products (text, data, software, people and institutions) further increase the visibility and interoperability of research data.

Next to curation workflows for data and metadata realised by domain experts, GFZ Data Services offers detailed and thorough user guidance via its website (https://dataservices.gfz-potsdam.de). This website is the central information and access point for the repository and provides the data and sample catalogues, information on metadata, data formats, the data publication workflow, FAQ, links to different versions of our metadata editor, downloadable data description templates and general information on data management practices.