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Translational versus Descriptive Metadata |
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.
The NVODS and OPeNDAP efforts are interested primarily in translational use metadata.