Research Databases in the Atmospheric Sciences

February 2004

Research Databases in the Atmospheric Sciences

• http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/library/• Searching• Define research problem• MadCat, the library catalog• Finding journal articles• Finding government documents• Finding dissertations• Recap• Literature Review

Searching

• Plan your search

• Remember variant word endings, Boolean connectors and synonyms

• Limit search terms to specific fields (title, subject heading), within a certain proximity to each other, year ranges

• To narrow a search: limit by theoretical approach, one aspect of subject, by time, by geographic location

• To broaden a search: generalize your topic, check more databases, limit jargon, check newspaper databases if topic is too new

• Note controlled vocabularies

• Perform search, review results, refine search, search again, refine search, search again, export results

Define Research Problem

• What papers have been published that define the historical roots of the QG Omega Equation?

• Synonyms: QG theory, Quasi-geostrophic theory, QG Omega equation, Quasi-geostrophic equation, Quasi-geostrophic Omega equation, mathematical equations, Omega equation

MadCat

• The Library catalog, used to find books, government reports, journal titles and their locations

• Journal articles or contents of books (specific chapters) ARE NOT in MadCat – find them in appropriate database, then search for journal or book title in MadCat

• Schwerdtfeger Library holdings in MadCat

MadCat Options

• View your library record

• Renew books, check status of recalls, check for fines

• View course reserves

• Place requests

• Searching

• E-mail search results

• Proxy Service

• About electronic journals

Basic vs Guided Search

MadCat Guided Search

Finding Journal Articles

• UW-Madison Libraries have licensed many databases for your use

• Information cannot be accessed by using Google• Emphasis is on finding literature related to the

atmospheric sciences• After finding specific articles, search for the

journal title in MadCat for location on campus• Some databases may have links to full-text

Databases

• History of Science, Technology and Medicine• Meteorological & Geoastrophysical Abstracts (MGA)• NTIS• Oceanic Abstracts• Aerospace Database• Web of Science• Inspec• Georef

History of Science, Technology and Medicine

• Produced by the Center for Research Libraries• Covers 1975 - • Describes journal articles, conference proceedings,

books, book reviews, and dissertations in the history of science, technology, and medicine

• http://www.library.wisc.edu/elib.coreguide.1/isis.html

Meteorological & Geoastrophysical Abstracts (MGA)

• Updated monthly, July 1974 –

• MGA covers meteorology, climatology, oceanography, remote sensing, atmospheric chemistry, hydrology, etc.

• Indexes journal articles, conference proceedings, books, technical reports

• Includes abstract for most entries

• Includes links to full-text for AMS journals

• Pre-1974 literature can be found using print equivalent

Aerospace Database

• Updated quarterly, 1962 –• Journal articles, conferences, books,

reports, theses and patents• Covers aerospace engineering, technology,

and space-related research, including meteorology

• Same search interface as Met Abstracts and Oceanic Abstracts

Oceanic Abstracts

• Updated monthly, 1984 –• Premier database for marine resources• Covers biology, ecology, marine

geology,Geophysics, geochemistry, oceanography, marine pollution, environmental protection

• Same interface as Met Abstracts, Aerospace & High Technology Database

NTIS Bibliographic Index

• Updated quarterly, 1964 –• Contains descriptions of U.S. government sponsored

sci/tech research from DOD, DOE, EPA, NASA, NOAA…

• Covers astronomy, atmospheric science, biotechnology, computers, energy, engineering, etc.

• Included are: reports on contracts/grants, technical memoranda, technical reports, dissertations, etc.

• Pre-1964, consult Government Reports and Announcements Index in print

• Same interface as MGA

Finding Government Documents

• What are they? Conference literature, government reports, internal reports, reports on contracts, etc.

• Why are they important? Cited in literature and historically have provided a rapid means of scientific communication.

• Who publishes them? Agencies, governmental bodies, professional societies, federal contractors, etc.

• What characteristics do they have? Alpha-numeric report numbers, accession numbers, grant or contract numbers, sponsoring agency, no commercial publisher, distributed through facility like NTIS.

• Where can I find them? 1)Libraries: Campus libraries have most reports distributed 2)NTIS, DTIS, NASA, STI 3)Author 4)Issuing agency

Searching MGA, Aerospace, NTIS, Oceanic Abstracts

• Select “Advanced Search”• Descriptors – subject terms• Author index• Search history• Search results – retrieve full-text for AMS

journals, e-mail or export results

TI=qg omega equation

KW=qg omega equation

View Abstract for Search Terms

KW=(qg theory) or (qg omega equation) or (quasi*geostrophic omega equation) or

(quasi*geostrophic equation)KW=TI, AB, DE

Descriptors

Review Records

Full-Text Articles

Check Your Library: MadCat

Report Numbers/Accession Numbers: N96-34905

E-mail, Save Records

Author Index

Select Name and Variants

Search History

MGA in Print: v.1, 1950

Selected Bibliographyv.1, no.5, 1950, E-69

Web of Science

• Updated weekly, 1982 –

• Combination of three databases

• Indexes peer-reviewed journal literature only – does not include reports, conference proceedings, dissertations…

• Known for its currency and meticulous indexing

• Used to do general, cited reference or author searching

• Pre-1981, use Science Citation Index in print

• Journal Citation Reports is companion database

Search Web of Science

• Full Search• Select “Science Citation Index” and coverage• No links to full-text• General search• Cited reference search• Formatting and exporting search results

Full Search, Database & Limits

Topic Search: qg theory OR quasi$geostrophic theory OR qg omega equation

OR quasi$geostrophic equation

Review Results

Review/Mark Records

Check Cited References

Review Citing Articles

Related Records Contain Shared References

Cited Reference Search

Cited Reference Results

Papers Citing Sutcliffe, 1947

Print/Save/E-mail Records

Other Databases

• INSPEC, updated monthly, 1969 -

• Covers physics, electrical engineering, electronics, computers, etc.

• Includes journal articles, conference papers, significant books, tech reports, dissertations

• Pre-1969, consult Computer and Control Abstracts

• Georef, updated bimonthly, 1785 -

• Indexes earth sciences literature of the world

• Includes journal articles, conference papers, reports, guidebooks, theses, monographs

Finding Dissertations on Campus

• Schwerdtfeger Library holds masters theses and doctoral dissertations for AOS

• Memorial Library is the depository for all PhD dissertations; not all masters theses are deposited in libraries and not all masters circulate

• Search MadCat for location• Contact a library for interlibrary loan, to see if it was

published in report form or to purchase• Some dissertations published as journal articles or reports

if funded by government contract

Finding Dissertations: Databases

• Proquest Digital Dissertations, 1861 – http://wwwlib.umi.com/dissertations/search

• Current Research @ UW-Madison http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/wisc/main

• Index to Theses…Great Britain and Ireland http://www.theses.com/

• CRL Foreign Doctoral Dissertations Database http://www.crl.edu/content.asp?l1=5&l2=23&l3=44&l4=25

Search Proquest Digital Dissertations

Check MadCat/Databases for Locations/Availability

Recap

• Determine search criteria or what it is you’re searching for

• Select database(s) to be searched: MGA, Web of Science, NTIS

• Check MadCat for availability and location• http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/library/• http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/library/cimss

_grads2004.ppt• Questions: Ask a librarian

Literature Review Guidelines

• Books

• Peer-reviewed journal literature

• Conference literature

• Government/technical reports or documents

• Relevant dissertations