Alexander Tate

Senior Data and Systems Architect

Alexander Tate

Team

Links/Websites

General enquiries

For general enquiries please see our contact page.

Alexander Tate

Biography

Research interests

Open access to data and publications

The current national and international efforts to reduce the cultural and technical barriers to opening up data form a key part of my role. I want to be part of a research world where data are available almost immediately after collection, in a form that is both well described and interoperable but that crucially allows for credit to be given to the individuals who collected, processed, analysed, quality assured, described and released the data. Dataset DOIs are a great start but there is so much more that we can do.

Standards for metadata, data and vocabularies

I have long been interested in the international standards that cover discovery metadata and the very many discipline-specific data standards that aim to facilitate interoperability. The UK Polar Data Centre is committed to the Directory Interchange Format (DIF) standard of NASA’s Global Change Master Directory but we also support ISO standards and are currently testing ISO19115-1. Standards compliant web services are another interest as is testing the software (mainly open-source) that deliver these services.

Marine geophysical survey

I have participated in a large number of research cruises in the Southern Ocean supporting the collection of a wide range of data but I have a particular interest in geophysical datasets and especially multibeam bathymetric data. I have processed and cleaned tens of thousands of hours of polar bathymetric data and made these available in a variety of formats for reuse by the community. I play a major role in a number of regional gridding efforts (e.g. the International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean) and have co-authored several publications describing openly available bathymetric grids (see my publications tab).

Database development

The majority of my technical development work at BAS has involved the creation and maintenance of relational database models (usually Oracle) as well as interfaces for both data input and data discovery/download. A recent example is designing the database model that underpins the polar marine metadata project. This reuses database development work by the British Oceanographic Data Centre (a sister NERC data centre and key collaborator) and uses controlled keywords from the NERC vocabulary service for increased interoperability.

Physical collections

I believe that physical samples are also data and their long-term curation and management are just as important as the digital data we hold. I have managed projects to catalogue large portions of the polar rock and fossil collection hosted by BAS. These samples along with the other collections held by BAS on behalf of the polar community have a huge potential reuse value which can be realised at a fraction of the cost of their original collection.

Project management

I work on a large number of projects relating to the creation of data and information systems both for science and business purposes. These range from redeveloping the discovery metadata system to implementing a flexi-time recording system. I am a certified Prince2 practitioner and we use the Prince2 methodology on many projects but we also use Agile methods where appropriate especially with code development.

Collaborations

Owen M.J., Day S.J., Leat P.T, Tate A. J, Martin T.J. 2014. Control of sedimentation by active tectonics, glaciation and contourite-depositing currents in Endurance Basin, South Georgia. Global and Planetary Change 123, 323-343

Gales J.A., Leat P.T., Larter R.D., Kuhn G., Hillenbrand C-D, Graham A.G.C., Mitchell N.C., Tate A.J., Buys G.B., Jokat W. 2014. Large-scale submarine landslides, channel and gully systems on the southern Weddell Sea margin, Antarctica. Marine Geology 348, 73-87

Leat P.T., Day S.J, Tate A.J., Martin T.J., Owen M.J., Tappin D.R. 2013. Volcanic evolution of the South Sandwich volcanic arc, South Atlantic, from multibeam bathymetry. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 265, 60-77

Curtis M.L., Riley T. R., Michael J. Flowerdew M.J. and Tate, A. J. 2011. Short Note: The application and benefits of digital geological mapping in Antarctica. Antarctic Science, 23, pp 387­388 doi:10.1017/S095410201100023X

Leat P.T., Tate A.J., Tappin D.R., Day S.J., Owen M.J. 2010. Growth and mass wasting of volcanic centers in the northern South Sandwich arc, South Atlantic, revealed by new multibeam mapping. Marine Geology 275 (1), 110-126

Fretwell, P.T.; Tate, A.J., Deen, T.J., Belchier, M. 2009. Compilation of a new bathymetric dataset of South Georgia. Antarctic Science 171-174

Graham, A. G. C., Fretwell, P.T., Larter, R. D., Hodgson, D. A., Wilson C. K., Tate A. J., Morris, P. 2008. A new bathymetric compilation highlighting extensive paleo–ice sheet drainage on the continental shelf, South Georgia, sub-Antarctica, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., 9, Q07011, doi:10.1029/2008GC001993.

Publications from NERC Open Research Archive

2024

Blair, Gordon S. ORCIDORCID record for Gordon S. Blair, Baker, Garry, Bee, Emma, Bowie, Jo, Byrne, James ORCIDORCID record for James Byrne, Darroch, Louise, Fremand, Alice ORCIDORCID record for Alice Fremand, Garland, Wendy, Harrison, Kathryn, Heaven, Rachel, Ten Hoopen, Petra ORCIDORCID record for Petra Ten Hoopen, Juckes, Martin, Kingdon, Andy ORCIDORCID record for Andy Kingdon, Kingston, Richard, Kokkinaki, Alexandra, Lewis, Edd ORCIDORCID record for Edd Lewis, MacRae, Molly, Mobbs, Stephen, Moncoiffe, Gwenaelle, Pascoe, Charlotte, Passmore, James, Peat, Helen ORCIDORCID record for Helen Peat, Pepler, Sam, Shepherd, Andy, Siddorn, John ORCIDORCID record for John Siddorn, Snaith, Helen, Tate, Alex ORCIDORCID record for Alex Tate, Townsend, Poppy, Walsh, Colm, Watkins, John ORCIDORCID record for John Watkins. (2024) Contributions to the development of the next-generation NERC Environmental Data Service: Building Interoperability – a NERC Data Commons RoadMap. , UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, 123 pp. (.)

2022

Dorschel, Boris, Hehemann, Laura, Viquerat, Sacha, Warnke, Fynn, Dreutter, Simon, Tenberge, Yvonne Schulze, Accetella, Daniela, An, Lu, Barrios, Felipe, Bazhenova, Evgenia, Black, Jenny, Bohoyo, Fernando, Davey, Craig, De Santis, Laura, Dotti, Carlota Escutia, Fremand, Alice C. ORCIDORCID record for Alice C. Fremand, Fretwell, Peter T. ORCIDORCID record for Peter T. Fretwell, Gales, Jenny A., Gao, Jinyao, Gasperini, Luca, Greenbaum, Jamin S., Henderson Jencks, Jennifer, Hogan, Kelly ORCIDORCID record for Kelly Hogan, Hong, Jong Kuk, Jakobsson, Martin, Jensen, Laura, Kool, Johnathan, Larin, Sergei, Larter, Robert D. ORCIDORCID record for Robert D. Larter, Leitchenkov, German, Loubrieu, Benoît, Mackay, Kevin, Mayer, Larry, Millan, Romain, Morlighem, Mathieu, Navidad, Francisco, Nitsche, Frank O., Nogi, Yoshifumi, Pertuisot, Cécile, Post, Alexandra L., Pritchard, Hamish D. ORCIDORCID record for Hamish D. Pritchard, Purser, Autun, Rebesco, Michele, Rignot, Eric, Roberts, Jason L., Rovere, Marzia, Ryzhov, Ivan, Sauli, Chiara, Schmitt, Thierry, Silvano, Alessandro, Smith, Jodie, Snaith, Helen, Tate, Alex J. ORCIDORCID record for Alex J. Tate, Tinto, Kirsty, Vandenbossche, Philippe, Weatherall, Pauline, Wintersteller, Paul, Yang, Chunguo, Zhang, Tao, Arndt, Jan Erik. (2022) The International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean Version 2 (IBCSO v2). Scientific Data, 9 (). 13 pp. 10.1038/s41597-022-01366-7

2020

Jakobsson, Martin, Mayer, Larry A., Bringensparr, Caroline, Castro, Carlos F., Mohammad, Rezwan, Johnson, Paul, Ketter, Tomer, Accettella, Daniela, Amblas, David, An, Lu, Arndt, Jan Erik, Canals, Miquel, Casamor, José Luis, Chauché, Nolwenn, Coakley, Bernard, Danielson, Seth, Demarte, Maurizio, Dickson, Mary-Lynn, Dorschel, Boris, Dowdeswell, Julian A., Dreutter, Simon, Fremand, Alice C. ORCIDORCID record for Alice C. Fremand, Gallant, Dana, Hall, John K., Hehemann, Laura, Hodnesdal, Hanne, Hong, Jongkuk, Ivaldi, Roberta, Kane, Emily, Klaucke, Ingo, Krawczyk, Diana W., Kristoffersen, Yngve, Kuipers, Boele R., Millan, Romain, Masetti, Giuseppe, Morlighem, Mathieu, Noormets, Riko, Prescott, Megan M., Rebesco, Michele, Rignot, Eric, Semiletov, Igor, Tate, Alex J. ORCIDORCID record for Alex J. Tate, Travaglini, Paola, Velicogna, Isabella, Weatherall, Pauline, Weinrebe, Wilhelm, Willis, Joshua K., Wood, Michael, Zarayskaya, Yulia, Zhang, Tao, Zimmermann, Mark, Zinglersen, Karl B.. (2020) The International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean Version 4.0. Scientific Data, 7 (). 14 pp. 10.1038/s41597-020-0520-9

2019

Riley, Teal R. ORCIDORCID record for Teal R. Riley, Carter, Andrew, Leat, Philip T., Burton-Johnson, Alex ORCIDORCID record for Alex Burton-Johnson, Bastias, Joaquin, Spikings, Richard A., Tate, Alex J. ORCIDORCID record for Alex J. Tate, Bristow, Charlie S.. (2019) Geochronology and geochemistry of the northern Scotia Sea: a revised interpretation of the North and West Scotia ridge junction. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 518 (). pp. 10.1016/j.epsl.2019.04.031

Bohoyo, Fernando, Larter, Robert ORCIDORCID record for Robert Larter, Galindo-Zaldívar, Jesús, Leat, Philip, Maldonado, Andrés, Tate, Alexander ORCIDORCID record for Alexander Tate, Flexas, Mar, Gowland, Elanor, Arndt, Jan, Dorschel, Boris, Yeadong, Kim, Jongkuk, Hong, López-Martinez, J., Maestro, Adolfo, Bermúdez, Óscar, Nitsche, Frank O., Livermore, Roy A., Riley, Teal R. ORCIDORCID record for Teal R. Riley. (2019) Morphological and geological features of Drake Passage, Antarctica, from a new digital bathymetric model. Journal of Maps, 15 (). pp. 10.1080/17445647.2018.1543618

Larter, Robert D. ORCIDORCID record for Robert D. Larter, Hogan, Kelly A. ORCIDORCID record for Kelly A. Hogan, Hillenbrand, Claus-Dieter ORCIDORCID record for Claus-Dieter Hillenbrand, Smith, James A. ORCIDORCID record for James A. Smith, Batchelor, Christine L., Cartigny, Matthieu, Tate, Alex J. ORCIDORCID record for Alex J. Tate, Kirkham, James D. ORCIDORCID record for James D. Kirkham, Roseby, Zoë A. ORCIDORCID record for Zoë A. Roseby, Kuhn, Gerhard, Graham, Alastair G.C., Dowdeswell, Julian A. (2019) Subglacial hydrological control on flow of an Antarctic Peninsula palaeo-ice stream. The Cryosphere, 13 (). pp. 10.5194/tc-13-1583-2019

2018

Brasier, M, Grant, Susie ORCIDORCID record for Susie Grant, Trathan, Phil ORCIDORCID record for Phil Trathan, Allcock, L, Ashford, O, Blagbrough, Hilary ORCIDORCID record for Hilary Blagbrough, Brandt, A, Danis, B, Downey, R, Eléaume, MP, Enderlein, Peter, Ghiglione, C, Hogg, Oliver, Linse, Katrin ORCIDORCID record for Katrin Linse, Mackenzie, M, Moreau, C, Robinson, LF, Rodriguez, E, Spirdonov, V, Tate, Alexander ORCIDORCID record for Alexander Tate, Taylor, M, Waller, C, Wiklund, H, Griffiths, Huw ORCIDORCID record for Huw Griffiths. (2018) Benthic biodiversity in the South Orkney Islands Southern Shelf Marine Protected Area. Biodiversity, 19 (). pp. 10.1080/14888386.2018.1468821

2016

Leat, Philip T., Fretwell, Peter T. ORCIDORCID record for Peter T. Fretwell, Tate, Alex J. ORCIDORCID record for Alex J. Tate, Larter, Robert D. ORCIDORCID record for Robert D. Larter, Martin, Tara J., Smellie, John L., Jokat, Wilfred, Bohrmann, Gerhard. (2016) Bathymetry and geological setting of the South Sandwich Islands volcanic arc. Antarctic Science, 28 (). pp. 10.1017/S0954102016000043

Bohoyo, F., Larter, R.D. ORCIDORCID record for R.D. Larter, Galindo-Zaldivar, J., Leat, P.T., Maldonado, A., Tate, A.J. ORCIDORCID record for A.J. Tate, Gowland, E.J.M., Arndt, J.E., Dorschel, B., Kim, Y.D., Hong, J.K., Flexas, M.M., Lopez-Martinez, J., Maestro, A., Bermudez, O., Nitsche, F.O., Livermore, R.A., Riley, T.R. ORCIDORCID record for T.R. Riley. (2016) Bathymetry and geological setting of the Drake Passage. BAS GEOMAP 2 Series, . Cambridge, British Antarctic Survey.

2014

Owen, Matthew J, Day, Simon J, Leat, Philip T, Tate, Alex J ORCIDORCID record for Alex J Tate, Martin, Tara J. (2014) Control of sedimentation by active tectonics, glaciation and contourite-depositing currents in Endurance Basin, South Georgia. Global and Planetary Change, 123 (). pp. 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2014.08.003

Leat, Philip T., Fretwell, Peter T. ORCIDORCID record for Peter T. Fretwell, Tate, Alex J. ORCIDORCID record for Alex J. Tate, Larter, Robert D. ORCIDORCID record for Robert D. Larter, Martin, T.J., Smellie, J.K., Jokat, W., Bohrmann, G.. (2014) Bathymetry and geological setting of the South Sandwich Islands Volcanic Arc. BAS GEOMAP 2, . Cambridge, British Antarctic Survey.

Gales, J.A., Leat, P.T., Larter, R.T. ORCIDORCID record for R.T. Larter, Kuhn, G., Hillenbrand, C.-D. ORCIDORCID record for C.-D. Hillenbrand, Graham, A.G.C., Mitchell, N.D., Tate, A.J. ORCIDORCID record for A.J. Tate, Buys, G.B., Jokat, W.. (2014) Large-scale submarine landslides, channel and gully systems on the southern Weddell Sea margin, Antarctica. Marine Geology, 348 (). pp. 10.1016/j.margeo.2013.12.002

2013

Leat, Philip T., Day, Simon J., Tate, Alex J. ORCIDORCID record for Alex J. Tate, Martin, Tara J., Owen, Matthew J., Tappin, David R.. (2013) Volcanic evolution of the South Sandwich volcanic arc, South Atlantic, from multibeam bathymetry. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 265 (). pp. 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2013.08.013

2011

Curtis, Michael L., Riley, Teal R. ORCIDORCID record for Teal R. Riley, Flowerdew, Michael J., Tate, Alex ORCIDORCID record for Alex Tate. (2011) The application and benefits of digital geological mapping in Antarctica. Antarctic Science, 23 (). pp. 10.1017/S095410201100023X

2010

Leat, Philip T., Tate, Alex J. ORCIDORCID record for Alex J. Tate, Tappin, David R., Day, Simon J., Owen, Matthew J.. (2010) Growth and mass wasting of volcanic centers in the northern South Sandwich arc, South Atlantic, revealed by new multibeam mapping. Marine Geology, 275 (). pp. 10.1016/j.margeo.2010.05.001

2009

Fretwell, P.T. ORCIDORCID record for P.T. Fretwell, Tate, Alex ORCIDORCID record for Alex Tate, Deen, Tara, Belchier, Mark. (2009) Compilation of a new bathymetric dataset of South Georgia. Antarctic Science, 21 (). pp. doi:10.1017/S0954102008001703

2008

Graham, Alastair G.C., Fretwell, Peter T. ORCIDORCID record for Peter T. Fretwell, Larter, Robert D. ORCIDORCID record for Robert D. Larter, Hodgson, Dominic A. ORCIDORCID record for Dominic A. Hodgson, Wilson, Christian K., Tate, Alexander James ORCIDORCID record for Alexander James Tate, Morris, Peter. (2008) A new bathymetric compilation highlighting extensive paleo-ice sheet drainage on the continental shelf, South Georgia, sub-Antarctica. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, 9 (). 21 pp. 10.1029/2008GC001993

Wendt, Anke S., Vaughan, Alan P.M., Tate, Alexander ORCIDORCID record for Alexander Tate. (2008) Metamorphic rocks in the Antarctic Peninsula region. Geological Magazine, 145 (). pp. 10.1017/S0016756808005050