7. Data Storage

There are several good reasons why researchers need to know about data storage options:

• We may not have control over the format in which data is given to us. For example, data from NASA's Live Access Server is in a format decided by NASA and we are unlikely to be able to convince them to provide it in a different format. This says that we must know about different formats in order to gain access to data.
• We may have to transfer data between different applications or between different operating systems. This effectively involves temporary data storage so it is useful to understand how to select an appropriate storage format.
• We may actually be involved in deciding the format for archiving a data set.

Even if we never have to decide on a storage format, it is useful to have some understanding why data has ended up in a particular format. I have no choice over the clothes that my wife chooses for me to wear, but having a basic understanding that she makes me wear long-sleeved tops in winter because they are warmer makes it much easier for us to get along with each other.

Paul Murrell

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