Use metadata may be subdivided into:

• Translational use metadata - metadata to translate data set data objects to ones with which the user is more familiar. Specifically:
  
  
  • Variable names: dsp_band_1 ==> sea surface temperature (SST)
  • Scaling of data values - units: digital counts ==> degrees C
  • Missing value flags: <2 ==> not an SST value
  
  
  
• Descriptive use metadata - metadata that describes operations performed to obtain the delivered data; e.g., the algorithm, instrument or calibration used.