Science tools on the Internet-access to information, data and models

Abstract

In just a few years the Internet has become an essential element in national and international science endeavors. Transfer of data, models, and related software across the net has skyrocketed. Interactive WorldWideWeb modules let the users do everything from simply specifying time periods for data retrieval to plotting complex data sets, to computing model parameters and to finding magnetic conjunctions between points in space. This paper reviews Internet sources for solar-terrestrial data and models, with special emphasis on systems that are related to, or a result of, the Solar Terrestrial Energy Program (STEP). We also discuss on-line systems that provide specific interactive services to the research community, like data finding, viewing, and browsing capabilities, comparison with model parameters, etc. This html document provides links to a large number of WWW sites that might be of interest for STEP research. It does not attempt to be a comprehensive guide to such sites but rather to provide access to selected typical sites for the specific capabilities discussed. Throughout the paper Universal Resource Locator (URL) addresses are highlighted in italics; the links to all the services mentioned are available on the WWW at http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/space/STEP-links.html.