Advances in Geosciences www.adv-geosci.net 1680-7340 1680-7359 8 Earth System Science Data access, distribution and use for education and research 2006 10.5194/adgeo-8-3-2006 http://www.adv-geosci.net/8/3/2006/ http://www.adv-geosci.net/8/3/2006/adgeo-8-3-2006.html http://www.adv-geosci.net/8/3/2006/adgeo-8-3-2006.pdf 3 9 2006-06-06 Mediation to deal with information heterogeneity − application to Earth System Science L. Bigagli S. Nativi P. Mazzetti Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis of the National Research Council (IMAA-CNR), Area della Ricerca di Potenza, Contrada Santa Loja, Zona Industriale, I-85050 Tito Scalo (PZ), Italy University of Florence, Piazza dell’Università, I-59100 Prato (PO), Italy We address the problem of data and information interoperability in the Earth System Science information domain. We believe that well-established architectures and standard technologies are now available to implement data interoperability. In particular, we elaborate on the mediated approach, and present several technological aspects of our implementation of a Mediator-based Information System for Earth System Science Data. We highlight some limitations of current standard-based solutions and introduce possible future improvements.