[Esip-documentation] ACDD: global attribute: source vs. variable attribute: coverage_content_type

[Aaron Sweeney]

Hi,

       I am planning to create a single netCDF file which contains both 
insitu observations and modelled values and am trying to understand how 
best to use ACDD to distinguish the two.

       It appears that I can provide each variable with a 
highly-recommended attribute "coverage_content_type" to distinguish 
between variables containing insitu observations ("physicalMeasurement") 
or modelled values ("modelResult").  This sounds reasonable.  However, 
their also exists a recommended global attribute "source", whose 
description (see below) seems to imply that the entire file contains 
either insitu observations or modelled values, but not both.

> The method of production of the original data. If it was 
> model-generated, source should name the model and its version. If it 
> is observational, source should characterize it. This attribute is 
> defined in the CF Conventions. Examples: 'temperature from CTD #1234'; 
> 'world model v.0.1'. 

       Am I interpreting the description of the global attribute 
"source" correctly?

       If not, would a comma-separated list be allowed in the global 
attribute "source" to enable inclusion of both insitu observations and 
modelled values in the same file?

       Thanks for your kind consideration.

Cordially,
Aaron

-- 
Aaron D. Sweeney
Water Level Data Manager

Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES)
University of Colorado at Boulder
and
NOAA National Geophysical Data Center
Marine Geology and Geophysics Division
325 Broadway, E/GC3
Boulder, CO 80305-3328

Phone: 303-497-4797, Fax: 303-497-6513

DISCLAIMER: The contents of this message are mine personally and do not necessarily reflect any position of NOAA.