The SGP Database
The SGP Observatory is located on 160 acres of cattle pasture and wheat fields southeast of Lamont, Oklahoma. Its heavily instrumented Central Facility, which is surrounded by smaller unmanned observatories and stations, monitors the atmosphere on a continuous basis. Data is collected by numerous instruments ranging from solar and infrared telescopes to ground-based radar systems. These observations, supplemented by field research campaigns and guest instrument deployments, are used for a wide range of applications, from single observation analyses to multi-observation process studies and assimilation into Earth system models.
Unlike other geochemical databases that store metadata, legacy data, and unpublished information, the data collected and analyzed at SGP are specifically designed to answer specific questions about Earth history. This approach allows researchers to access substantial amounts of geochemical data, much of which would not otherwise be available to them.
As the SGP database is updated with additional data, researchers can apply the new data to old analyses and compare results. This makes the SGP database a valuable resource for geochemical research.
A second important aspect of the SGP database is that it is organized in a way that provides easy access to data by subject area and year. The SGP database is searchable using several different filters, including filtering by state, grade level, and content area. Each filter is linked to a table that provides detailed information about the data. For example, the student-instructor lookup table (sgpData_INSTRUCTOR_NUMBER) is useful for finding specific data sets by the instructors associated with them.
While most SGP analyses are fairly simple and one-off, it is essential that the data be prepared properly. This is particularly true for analyses conducted operationally, year after year. To help facilitate this, SGP supports the use of WIDE and LONG data formats. WIDE format data is utilized by the lower level functions studentGrowthPercentiles and studentGrowthProjections whereas LONG format data is used by higher level wrapper functions.
In addition, the SGP database contains a wealth of supporting documentation that is accessible via the sgpData website. This includes user guides, instructional videos, and documentation of the data structures. These resources can be helpful to researchers who are just getting started with the SGP database.
The SGP database is an invaluable source of geochemical data for researchers in the United States and abroad. However, it is important to note that the data in this database are not complete and therefore the results of analyses may be limited. Researchers should always consult supplemental sources of data when conducting investigations. This will ensure that the final results are as accurate as possible. By combining the SGP database with other geochemical databases, researchers can make the best use of the data in their studies. This will allow them to answer more complicated questions about the evolution of the Earth and its atmosphere. This will also help researchers identify important patterns in the Earth’s history. By understanding how to use these patterns, researchers can make better decisions about the future of the planet.