Submitting Data with Submission Tool

How to submit data to BCO-DMO using the online Submission Tool

How to Submit Data

After clicking the "Submit a new dataset" button from the Submission Tool dashboard (https://submit.bco-dmo.org/), you'll be taken to a series of forms where you'll enter your metadata and then upload data files. Each field has instructions and examples. Below is further information about how to complete each field.

Request Data Restriction (Embargo)

At the top of the "Overview" section, you'll see a checkbox where you can indicate if you'd like the dataset to be restricted/embargoed. If you click this checkbox, you'll then see a field where you can enter the desired public release date for the dataset. Select the release date using the calendar drop-down.

Please be aware of your funder policies about data sharing and any policies established by journals you plan to publish in. The NSF OCE Data Policy, for example, requires data to be made publicly available no later than two years after collection. Certain journals may also require your data to be publicly available for the peer-review process.

Dataset Name

Instructions: Enter your preferred name for the dataset. It should be short, but descriptive. Your data manager will use this to construct a dataset title.

Examples:

CTD Profiles from the RR1805 cruise in April 2018
Ammonia and Urea-derived-N Oxidation Rates
2014 Antarctic krill feeding experiments
Kimbe Bay connectivity model results
AT42-05 sediment geochemistry
Salp genome and transcriptomes

Abstract

Instructions: Provide an abstract that describes your data. In terms of length and level of detail, your dataset abstract should be similar to an abstract you might write for a publication. To comply with the DataCite Metadata Schema, your Abstract will be published as plain text only (i.e. no italics, bold text, hyperlinks, etc.).

It should describe the what, where, when, why, how, and who of the specific dataset you're submitting.

• What - A description of what has been recorded and what form the data take. This should immediately convey to the reader precisely what the resource is.
• Where - A description of the spatial coverage, whether the coverage is even or variable.
• When - The period over which data were collected.
• How - A brief description of the methodology. (Detailed methodology and can be provided in other parts of the metadata.)
• Why - For what purpose was the data collected? And who is likely to find the data useful?
• Who - The party/parties responsible for the collection and interpretation of data.

If relevant, describe how the data are related to any larger studies and how the data might be of interest to the science community.

​Example 1:

Despite their importance for research and environmental protection, there's still a shortage of high quality and high-resolution temperature, pH, and oxygen data, particularly in shallow coastal habitats. We monitor five important environmental parameters (i.e., depth, temperature, salinity, pH, and dissolved oxygen) at 30 minute intervals in Mumford Cove, CT (41°19'25"N 72°01'07"W), a small (2 km × 0.5 km), shallow (1-5m), cone-shaped embayment opening to northeastern Long Island Sound, with protected marsh habitat along its western side, marsh and beach habitat along its eastern side, and an extensive seagrass (Zostera marina) cover. Continuous monitoring is achieved by swapping identical and recalibrated probes (Eureka Manta Sub2) every 3-5 weeks.

Project

Instructions: Enter the complete project name as shown by your funder or provide a link to the BCO-DMO Project landing page.

Examples:

Connecting Trace Elements and Metalloenzymes Across Marine Biogeochemical Gradients

https://www.bco-dmo.org/project/2236

Funding

Instructions: Enter the award number(s) that funded this dataset. If an NSF award, include the three-letter prefix that indicates the funding directorate.

Example:

OCE-1435056, OCE-1436694

Keywords

Instructions: Enter keywords for your dataset (optional). We suggest 3-5 keywords but you can provide more or less.

Example:

ocean acidification, coral reefs, calcification

People

Instructions: Identify all people associated with this dataset. The name and ORCID iD you used to log in will be displayed. Fill in your email address and phone number. Note that we do not publish your email or phone number. They are for internal BCO-DMO use only.

Select your role from the drop-down list.

As an example, the PI role on a dataset should be the main person responsible for the generation of the dataset even if they are not a project PI or Co-PI. Each person can also have multiple roles. These roles are used as metadata on the dataset landing page. The author order in the dataset citation can be determined independently from the roles. As an example, sometimes a person may be listed as a ‘Student’ on the dataset, but they could be listed as first author in the citation if that’s appropriate. Once your submission has an assigned BCO-DMO data manager, we’ll contact you about the author order for the citation.

To select multiple roles in the Submission Tool from a Windows PC, hold down the Ctrl key while clicking on the roles. On a Mac, hold down the Command key while clicking on the roles.

Enter your current affiliation (institution or organization name) and your affiliation at the time of data collection.

To add additional people, click "+ Add person" and then click "Edit". Use the "ORCID Search" at the top of the edit window to search by name or ORCID iD and then fill in the rest of their information and roles on the project, and, once complete, click "Update" at the bottom of the screen. If the person doesn't have an ORCID iD, we suggest they create one, but it is not required. Anyone added here with an ORCiD will be able to view the submission and will be able to edit it when in draft state.

Any required information that's missing will be displayed in red:

Location

Instructions: Provide a general description of the study area.

Example:

Sub-Antarctic waters (48 S, 173 E) depth 2369m

Cruise or Deployment

Instructions: List identifying cruise or deployment information here. If the data were collected on a research cruise, mooring, or another field deployment, include as much of the following as is relevant:

• vessel name,
• cruise ID, mooring ID, or other identifier,
• cruise name (nickname) or alternate identifiers,
• start and end dates,
• location,
• Chief Scientist name and contact information,
• coordinated platforms/deployments
• Rolling Deck to Repository (R2R) link (for UNOLS vessels only)

Example of research cruise information:

R/V Kilo Moana KM1128 "METZYME" cruise; Oct 1 to Oct 25, 2011; Chief Scientist - Karl Lamborg (WHOI, clamborg@whoi.edu); https://www.rvdata.us/search/cruise/KM1128

Other Examples:

Day-trips aboard an 18-foot powerboat conducted once per week in Buzzards Bay, MA during June-October, 2016-2019.

CTD casts conducted daily from the Santa Monica Pier, CA during July and August 2018.

Geospatial Extent

Instructions: Provide the geospatial extent (latitude and longitude bounding box) of the dataset, if applicable.

The bounding box limits are for Northern most, Southern most, Eastern most and Western most.

Example:

Temporal Bounds

Instructions: Provide the start and end time range for the dataset. If dates are included as values in your data file(s), you can skip this section.

ISO8601 format is preferred (YYYY-MM-DD). If you only know the year and month, that can be entered as YYYY-MM.

Example:

Methods & Sampling

Instructions: Provide detailed methods for sample collection and analyses, including references. Consider the following: filter type, pore size, wash protocols, storage of sample before determination (time, conditions), sample preparation, treatment descriptions, and specific changes from any published methodologies mentioned. Include a description of data processing and any software products that were used, including version numbers if available.

"See methodology in results publication" is insufficient. If citing the methodology section of a results publication, please provide a methodology summary in addition to the citation.

Instruments

Instructions: Provide the names and descriptions of all equipment and instrumentation used in sample collection and analyses. Include manufacturer names and model numbers where relevant and calibration information for individual sensors. If you have calibration files you can upload them in the Files section along with a description of the calibration file.

Examples:

8 L X-Niskin bottles: Dissolved seawater samples were collected using a 12-bottle trace metal clean rosette equipped with 8 L X-Niskin bottles.

Metrohm 663 VA and µAutolabIII system: Dissolved Co was measured using a Metrohm 663 VA and µAutolabIII system equipped with a hanging mercury drop working electrode.

A Retsch Mixer Mill 200 was used for homogenization.

Data Processing

Instructions: Describe the processing performed to arrive at the data you are submitting. Include any software products that were used including version numbers if available. If you have associated code to share, you can upload the code files or provide a remote repository link.

Problems/Issues

Instructions: List any known problems associated with the dataset, such as gaps in sampling, instrument malfunction, software errors, etc. Include information about any quality flags used.

Example:

Some dissolved cobalt values reported are suspected misfires, and are accordingly labeled with a QC flag of 3. See flag definitions at: https://www.geotraces.org/geotraces-quality-flag-policy/

Related Publications

Instructions: Related Publications can include related datasets, results publications, methods references, published code, models, and protocols (e.g. protocols.io, Github, Zenodo). Please populate the sections below by providing the appropriate identifiers. Please use DOI numbers whenever possible.

To add related publications or datasets:

• Enter the identifier in the “Identifier” field and then choose the "Identifier Type" from the drop-down menu.
• The citation for the resource will then be generated automatically (if using DOI) and displayed to the right of the drop-down menu.
• It is optional but recommended to toggle the "Add additional context" button and provide a description of how the resource is related to your submission.
• If the resource does not have an identifier, such as a paper that is in review, choose "No identifier" as the Identifier Type and then toggle "Add additional context" to manually enter the citation in APA format.

Related Datasets

Instructions: Identify any datasets that are directly related to your BCO-DMO data submission. For each related dataset, please provide a brief description of the data type and how it is related to your BCO-DMO submission.

Results Publications

Instructions: Provide the identifiers or full citations for publications that used these data. If this dataset was published as a particular table or plotted in a figure, please provide the table and figure numbers.

Methods References

Instructions: Provide the identifiers or full citations for publications, code, or software cited in your metadata.

Parameters

Parameter names, descriptions, units

Instructions: Parameter names are the column headings in your dataset. If these are not fully explained in the data files (with definitions and units), provide definitions and units here for every data column.

Please include limits of detection, precision, any inter-calibration information, use of international standards, etc. if relevant. Include the missing data identifier(s) used to indicate "no data" (e.g. -999, NaN, nd). Remember to provide the time zone.

If you'd prefer to provide your parameter descriptions in a separate file, please use parameters_template.csv and upload this file in the file upload section. Refer to parameters_example_porewater-geochem.csv as an example.

Example:

Site = Site number (1, 2, or 3); three sites were cored in the high marsh; unitless.
Location = Location number (1, 2, or 3); at each of the three sites, two high marsh cores and one inundated pond core were collected; unitless.
Core ID = The two marsh cores were labeled 1 and 2; unitless.
Depth = Depth of horizon relative to surface of the marsh; centimeters (cm).
Time = Time during ramped pyrolysis oxidation experiment; h:mm:ss AM/PM.
Temperature = Temperature of oven during ramped pyrolysis oxidation; degrees Celsius.
CO2 = Carbon dioxide evolved; per mil (0/00).

NaN = no data value
BDL = below detection limit

Files

Instructions: Upload all files related to this submission (data files and supporting information, such as images, statistical tables, or instrument calibration reports). If you need help submitting a large dataset, please email info@bco-dmo.org to coordinate your file transfer.

To upload a file, click the "+ Add File" button and then select the file you want to upload. After you select a file, its name will be displayed and you can enter an optional (but recommended) description of what the file is. This description will help your data manager understand your files.

Once you confirm the correct file has been selected and you've entered a description, click the blue-green "Upload" button to upload that file. A progress bar will be displayed as it uploads and then the file name, size, and date will be displayed:

If you have several files within a folder that you'd like to upload, you can use the "+ Add folder" option instead of adding one file at a time. After clicking "+ Add folder", select the folder you want to upload. You'll see a pop-up message asking you to confirm you want to add ALL the files from the folder. If yes, click the blue "Upload" button.

You will then see multiple file names displayed. You can enter one description for all of them, like this:

Or, if you prefer, you can select the "Multiple descriptions" checkbox to provide a unique description for each file, like this:

Once the files have been selected and the descriptions have been entered, click the blue-green "Upload" button to upload those files. A progress bar will be displayed as it uploads and then the file name, size, and date will be displayed:

If you need to remove a file for any reason, you can click the red trash can icon to the right of that file name to delete it.

Submit

Instructions: On this screen, you can submit your dataset to BCO-DMO or save it as a draft. You'll also see a box where you can enter other information, comments, questions, etc. for a BCO-DMO data manager.

Confirmation Screen and Next Steps

If your dataset was submitted successfully, you'll see the following screen:

What happens next

• After submitting your dataset, you'll receive an automated email stating that your submission has been received and is under review by a data manager.
• Within two business days, you'll then receive another email from a BCO-DMO data manager confirming receipt of your submission and asking any additional questions we have. Please be sure to check your spam folders.