NetCDF Attribute Convention for Dataset Discovery Report

The Unidata Attribute Convention for Data Discovery provides recommendations for netCDF attributes that can be added to netCDF files to facilitate discovery of those files using standard metadata searches. This tool tests conformance with those recommendations using this stylesheet. More Information on Convention and Tool.

Title: Ground based in situ observations of nephelometer at Cape San Juan (PR0100C)

Total Score: 38/46

General File Characteristics

Number of Global Attributes 98
Number of Variables 33
Number of Variable Attributes 503
Number of Standard Names 12
Number of Services 1
Time Variable time(time:122736) , metadata_time(metadata_time:14)
Spiral None 1-33% 34-66% 67-99% All
Total X
Identification X
Text Search X
Extent Search X
Other Extent Information X
Creator Search X
Contributor Search X
Publisher Search X
Other Attributes X
Identification | Text Search | Extent Search | Other Extent Information | Creator Search | Contributor Search | Publisher Search | Other Attributes

Identification / Metadata Reference Score: 3/4

As metadata are shared between national and international repositories it is becoming increasing important to be able to unambiguously identify and refer to specific records. This is facilitated by including an identifier in the metadata. Some mechanism must exist for ensuring that these identifiers are unique. This is accomplished by specifying the naming authority or namespace for the identifier. It is the responsibility of the manager of the namespace to ensure that the identifiers in that namespace are unique. Identifying the Metadata Convention being used in the file and providing a link to more complete metadata, possibly using a different convention, are also important.

Score Attribute Description THREDDS ISO 19115-2
1 id
The combination of the "naming authority" and the "id" should be a globally unique identifier for the dataset.
dataset@id /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:fileIdentifier/gco:CharacterString
1 naming_authority
/gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:fileIdentifier/gco:CharacterString
1 Metadata_Conventions This attribute should be set to "Unidata Dataset Discovery v1.0" for NetCDF files that follow this convention.
0 Metadata_Link or metadata_link This attribute provides a link to a complete metadata record for this dataset or the collection that contains this dataset. This attribute is not included in Version 1 of the Unidata Attribute Convention for Data Discovery. It is recommended here because a complete metadata collection for a dataset will likely contain more information than can be included in granule formats. This attribute contains a link to that information.
Identification | Text Search | Extent Search | Other Extent Information | Creator Search | Contributor Search | Publisher Search | Other Attributes

Text Search Score: 6/7

Text searches are a very important mechanism for data discovery. This group includes attributes that contain descriptive text that could be the target of these searches. Some of these attributes, for example title and summary, might also be displayed in the results of text searches.

Score Attribute Description THREDDS ISO 19115-2
1 title
A short description of the dataset.
dataset@name
/gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:title/gco:CharacterString
1 summary
A paragraph describing the dataset.
metadata/documentation[@type="summary"]
/gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:abstract/gco:CharacterString
1 keywords
A comma separated list of key words and phrases.
metadata/keyword
/gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:descriptiveKeywords/gmd:MD_Keywords/gmd:keyword/gco:CharacterString
0 keywords_vocabulary
If you are following a guideline for the words/phrases in your "keywords" attribute, put the name of that guideline here.
metadata/keyword@vocabulary /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:descriptiveKeywords/gmd:MD_Keywords/gmd:thesaurusName/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:title/gco:CharacterString
1 standard_name_vocabulary
The name of the controlled vocabulary from which variable standard names are taken.
metadata/variables@vocabulary /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:descriptiveKeywords/gmd:MD_Keywords/gmd:thesaurusName/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:title/gco:CharacterString
1 history
Provides an audit trail for modifications to the original data. /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:dataQualityInfo/gmd:DQ_DataQuality/gmd:lineage/gmd:LI_Lineage/gmd:statement/gco:CharacterString
1 comment
Miscellaneous information about the data. metadata/documentation
/gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:supplementalInformation
Identification | Text Search | Extent Search | Other Extent Information | Creator Search | Contributor Search | Publisher Search | Other Attributes

Extent Search Score: 8/8

This basic extent information supports spatial/temporal searches that are increasingly important as the number of map based search interfaces increases. Many of the attributes included in this spiral can be calculated from the data if the file is compliant with the NetCDF Climate and Forecast (CF) Metadata Convention.

Score Attribute Description THREDDS ISO 19115-2
1 geospatial_lat_min
Describes a simple latitude, longitude, vertical and temporal bounding box. For a more detailed geospatial coverage, see the suggested geospatial attributes.
Further refinement of the geospatial bounding box can be provided by using these units and resolution attributes.

Many of these extent attributes are calculated using the CF-Conventions.
metadata/geospatialCoverage/northsouth/start
/gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:geographicElement/gmd:EX_GeographicBoundingBox/gmd:southBoundLatitude/gco:Decimal
1 geospatial_lat_max metadata/geospatialCoverage/northsouth/size /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:geographicElement/gmd:EX_GeographicBoundingBox/gmd:northBoundLatitude/gco:Decimal
1 geospatial_lon_min metadata/geospatialCoverage/eastwest/start /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:geographicElement/gmd:EX_GeographicBoundingBox/gmd:westBoundLongitude/gco:Decimal
1 geospatial_lon_max metadata/geospatialCoverage/eastwest/size /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:geographicElement/gmd:EX_GeographicBoundingBox/gmd:eastBoundLongitude/gco:Decimal
1 time_coverage_start metadata/timeCoverage/start /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:temporalElement/gmd:EX_TemporalExtent/gmd:extent/gml:TimePeriod/gml:beginPosition
1 time_coverage_end metadata/timeCoverage/end /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:temporalElement/gmd:EX_TemporalExtent/gmd:extent/gml:TimePeriod/gml:endPosition
1 geospatial_vertical_min
metadata/geospatialCoverage/updown/start /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:verticalElement/gmd:EX_VerticalExtent/gmd:minimumValue/gco:Real
1 geospatial_vertical_max metadata/geospatialCoverage/updown/size /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:verticalElement/gmd:EX_VerticalExtent/gmd:maximumValue/gco:Real
Identification | Text Search | Extent Search | Other Extent Information | Creator Search | Contributor Search | Publisher Search | Other Attributes

Other Extent Information Score: 6/10

This information provides more details on the extent attributes than the basic information included in the Extent Spiral. Many of the attributes included in this spiral can be calculated from the data if the file is compliant with the NetCDF Climate and Forecast (CF) Metadata Convention .

Score Attribute Description THREDDS ISO 19115-2
1 geospatial_lon_units
metadata/geospatialCoverage/eastwest/units /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:spatialRepresentationInfo/gmd:MD_Georectified/gmd:axisDimensionProperties/gmd:MD_Dimension/gmd:resolution/gco:Measure/@uom
0 geospatial_lon_resolution metadata/geospatialCoverage/eastwest/resolution /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:spatialRepresentationInfo/gmd:MD_Georectified/gmd:axisDimensionProperties/gmd:MD_Dimension/gmd:resolution/gco:Measure
1 geospatial_lat_units
metadata/geospatialCoverage/northsouth/units /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:spatialRepresentationInfo/gmd:MD_Georectified/gmd:axisDimensionProperties/gmd:MD_Dimension/gmd:resolution/gco:Measure/@uom
0 geospatial_lat_resolution metadata/geospatialCoverage/northsouth/resolution /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:spatialRepresentationInfo/gmd:MD_Georectified/gmd:axisDimensionProperties/gmd:MD_Dimension/gmd:resolution/gco:Measure
0 geospatial_vertical_units
metadata/geospatialCoverage/updown/units /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:verticalElement/gmd:EX_VerticalExtent/gmd:verticalCRS
0 geospatial_vertical_resolution
metadata/geospatialCoverage/updown/resolution
1 geospatial_vertical_positive
metadata/geospatialCoverage@zpositive
1 time_coverage_units This attribute is calculated using the CF Conventions /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:spatialRepresentationInfo/gmd:MD_GridSpatialRepresentation/gmd:axisDimensionProperties/gmd:MD_Dimension/gmd:resolution/gco:Measure/@uom.
1 time_coverage_duration metadata/timeCoverage/duration /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:temporalElement/gmd:EX_TemporalExtent/gmd:extent/gml:TimePeriod/gml:beginPosition provides an ISO8601 compliant description of the time period covered by the dataset. This standard supports descriptions of durations.
1 time_coverage_resolution metadata/timeCoverage/resolution
Identification | Text Search | Extent Search | Other Extent Information | Creator Search | Contributor Search | Publisher Search | Other Attributes

Creator Search Score: 7/9

This group includes attributes that could support searches for people/institutions/projects that are responsible for datasets. This information is also critical for the correct attribution of the people and institutions that produce datasets.

Score Attribute Description THREDDS ISO 19115-2
1 creator_name
The data creator's name, URL, and email. The "institution" attribute will be used if the "creator_name" attribute does not exist.
metadata/creator/name
/gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:citedResponsibleParty/gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty/gmd:individualName/gco:CharacterString
CI_RoleCode="originator"
1 creator_url
metadata/creator/contact@url
/gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:citedResponsibleParty/gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty/gmd:contactInfo/gmd:CI_Contact/gmd:onlineResource/gmd:CI_OnlineResource/gmd:linkage/gmd:URL
1 creator_email
metadata/creator/contact@email /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:citedResponsibleParty/gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty/gmd:contactInfo/gmd:CI_Contact/gmd:address/gmd:CI_Address/gmd:electronicMailAddress/gco:CharacterString
1 institution
metadata/creator/name /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:citedResponsibleParty/gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty/gmd:organisationName/gco:CharacterString
1 date_created The date on which the data was created.
metadata/date[@type="created"] /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:date/gmd:CI_Date/gmd:date/gco:Date
/gmd:dateType/gmd:CI_DateTypeCode="creation"
1 date_modified
The date on which this data was last modified.
metadata/date[@type="modified"] /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:date/gmd:CI_Date/gmd:date/gco:Date
/gmd:dateType/gmd:CI_DateTypeCode="revision"
0 date_issued
The date on which this data was formally issued.
metadata/date[@type="issued"] /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:date/gmd:CI_Date/gmd:date/gco:Date
/gmd:dateType/gmd:CI_DateTypeCode="publication"
1 project
The scientific project that produced the data.
metadata/project
/gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:aggregationInfo/gmd:MD_AggregateInformation/gmd:aggregateDataSetName/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:title/gco:CharacterString
DS_AssociationTypeCode="largerWorkCitation" and DS_InitiativeTypeCode="project"
and/or
/gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:descriptiveKeywords/gmd:MD_Keywords/gmd:keyword/gco:CharacterString with gmd:MD_KeywordTypeCode="project"
0 acknowledgment A place to acknowledge various type of support for the project that produced this data.
metadata/documentation[@type="funding"] /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:credit/gco:CharacterString
Identification | Text Search | Extent Search | Other Extent Information | Creator Search | Contributor Search | Publisher Search | Other Attributes

Contributor Search Score: 2/2

This section allows a data provider to include information about those that contribute to a data product in the metadata for the product. This is important for many reasons.

Score Attribute Description THREDDS ISO 19115-2
1 contributor_name
The name and role of any individuals or institutions that contributed to the creation of this data.
metadata/contributor
/gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:citedResponsibleParty/gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty/gmd:individualName/gco:CharacterString
1 contributor_role
metadata/contributor@role /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:citedResponsibleParty/gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty/gmd:role/gmd:CI_RoleCode
="principalInvestigator" | "author"
Identification | Text Search | Extent Search | Other Extent Information | Creator Search | Contributor Search | Publisher Search | Other Attributes

Publisher Search Score: 3/3

This section allows a data provider to include contact information for the publisher of a data product in the metadata for the product.

Score Attribute Description THREDDS ISO 19115-2
1 publisher_name
The data publisher's name, URL, and email. The publisher may be an individual or an institution. metadata/publisher/name
/gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:citedResponsibleParty/gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty/gmd:individualName/gco:CharacterString
CI_RoleCode="publisher"
and/or
/gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:descriptiveKeywords/gmd:MD_Keywords/gmd:keyword/gco:CharacterString with gmd:MD_KeywordTypeCode="dataCenter"
1 publisher_url
metadata/publisher/contact@url
/gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:citedResponsibleParty/gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty/gmd:contactInfo/gmd:CI_Contact/gmd:onlineResource/gmd:CI_OnlineResource/gmd:linkage/gmd:URL
CI_RoleCode="publisher"
1 publisher_email
metadata/publisher/contact@email /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:citedResponsibleParty/gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty/gmd:contactInfo/gmd:CI_Contact/gmd:address/gmd:CI_Address/gmd:electronicMailAddress/gco:CharacterString
CI_RoleCode="publisher"
Identification | Text Search | Extent Search | Other Extent Information | Creator Search | Contributor Search | Publisher Search | Other Attributes

Other Attributes Score: 3/3

This group includes attributes that don't seem to fit in the other categories.

Score Attribute Description THREDDS ISO 19115-2
1 processing_level A textual description of the processing (or quality control) level of the data.
metadata/documentation[@type="processing_level"]
1 license Describe the restrictions to data access and distribution. metadata/documentation[@type="rights"] /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:resourceConstraints/gmd:MD_LegalConstraints/gmd:useLimitation/gco:CharacterString
1 cdm_data_type
The THREDDS data type appropriate for this dataset. metadata/dataType /gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:spatialRepresentationType/gmd:MD_SpatialRepresentationTypeCode
May need some extensions to this codelist. Current values: vector, grid, textTable, tin, stereoModel, video.
Identification | Text Search | Extent Search | Other Extent Information | Creator Search | Contributor Search | Publisher Search | Other Attributes
Rubric Version: 2.0
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