U.S. GLOBEC Data Thesaurus
Revised: December 3, 2002
The following field names, instrument names and protocols
are used by the U.S.
GLOBEC Program. This list will be updated as necessary. For further information
contact the Data Management Office.
The general guidelines
used to define field names and data attributes are based on the
JGOFS Program
although there are differences between the two programs.
Field Names
- cast = cast number
- chl_a = chlorophyll a pigment, in milligrams per meter cubed (mg/m³)
or micrograms per liter (µg/l)
- chl_b = chlorophyll b pigment, in milligrams per meter cubed (mg/m³)
or micrograms per liter (µg/l)
- chl_c = sum of Chlorophyll c1 + chlorophyll c2 + Mg 3,8 divinyl
pheoporphyrin a5, in milligrams per meter cubed (mg/m³)
or micrograms per liter (µg/l)
- chl_c1_c2 = chlorophylls c1 and c2, in milligrams per meter cubed
(mg/m³)
or micrograms per liter (µg/l)
- chl_c3 = chlorophyll c3 pigment, in milligrams per meter cubed
(mg/m³)
or micrograms per liter (µg/l)
- chl_c4 = phytolated chlorophyll c-like pigment, in milligrams per
meter cubed (mg/m³)
or micrograms per liter (µg/l)
- chl_tot = total chlorophyll pigments, in milligrams per meter
cubed (mg/m³)
or micrograms per liter (µg/l)
- cond_ctd = CTD conductivity, in mmho/cm
- course_mag = Magellan GPS course made good, in degrees
- course_trim = Trimble GPS course made good, in degrees
- cruiseid = cruise identifier, e.g. en9402 R/V Endeavor cruise 9402
- curr_dir_abs = absolute current direction, in degrees
- curr_dir_rel = relative current direction, in degrees
- curr_speed_abs = absolute current speed, in cm/second
- curr_speed_rel = relative current speed, in cm/second
- date_gmt = gmt month, day and year, usually as a text
string, e.g. feb10_1995. It is better to use one of the
other forms of presenting date and time data so that
the data can be used in computations and for comparisons.
Note, if the string begins with numbers but also includes
letters, there may be problems using the field name
for retrieval. Use date_utc for
future data sets.
- date_utc = UTC month, day and year, usually as a text
string, e.g. feb10_1995. It is better to use one of the
other forms of presenting date and time data so that
the data can be used in computations and for comparisons.
Note, if the string begins with numbers but also includes
letters, there may be problems using the field name
for retrieval.
- date_local = local month, day and year, usually as a text
string, e.g. feb10_1995. It is better to use one of the
other forms of presenting date and time data so that
the data can be used in computations and for comparisons.
Note, if the string begins with numbers but also includes
letters, there may be problems using the field name
for retrieval.
- day_gmt = GMT day, e.g. 22. Use the name day_utc for
future data sets.
- day_local = local day, e.g. 22
- day_utc = UTC day, e.g. 22
- depth = observation/sample depth, in meters
- depth_cs = chirp Sonar depth below transducer, in meters
- depth_edo = Edo water depth, in meters
- depth_w = water depth, in meters
- ed_lw = downward long wave irradiance, in watts per square meter
- ed_sw = downward short wave irradiance, in watts per square meter
- event = event or operation number
- fixtype = code specifies the type of fix, e.g. Magellan, Trimble, etc.
- fluor = fluorescence
- flvolt = fluorometer voltage measurements, in volts
- head = ship's heading, in degrees
- head2 = aternate (secondary) ship's heading measurement, in degrees
- humidity = relative humidity, in percent
- inst = instrument used to collect or process data
- lat = latitude (south in negative), in decimal degress
- lat_begin = latitude at starting time of measurement (south in negative),
in decimal degress
- lat_end = latitude at end time of measurement (south in negative),
in decimal degress
- lat2 = alternate (secondary) latitude (south in negative),
in decimal degress
- light_tran = percent transmission of light, usually measured with
a transmissometer
- light_tran_v = transmission of light measurement, in volts
- lon = longitude (west is negative), in decimal degrees
- lon_begin = longitude at starting time of measurement (west is negative),
in decimal degrees
- lon_end = longitude at end time of measurement (west is negative),
in decimal degrees
- lon2 = alternate (secondary) longitude (west is negative), in
decimal degress
- month_gmt = gmt month, e.g. 11. Use month_utc for future
data sets.
- month_local = local month, e.g. 11
- month_utc = UTC month, e.g. 11
- mooring = mooring identification
- net = net number
- NH4 = Ammonium, µM (micromolar) or µg-at NH3-N/l
- NO3_NO2 = Nitrate and Nitrite,
µM (micromolar) or µg-at NO3-N and NO2-N/l
- numb_obs = number of observations
- o2 = oxygen in milliliter per liter (Contact the
DMO for units verification. These
units are subject to change.
- par = Use par_d for future data sets.
- par_d = downwelling (upperface) photosynthetically available radiation
(400-700nm) with cosine sensor response, at the indicated water
depth, in micro Einsteins per meters squared - seconds
- par_d_s = downwelling (upperface) photosynthetically available radiation
(400-700nm) with cosine sensor response, at the surface,
in micro Einsteins per meters squared - seconds
- par_scalar = photosynthetically available radiation
(400-700nm) from all directions, at the indicated water
depth, in micro Einsteins per meters squared - seconds
- par_scalar_s = photosynthetically available radiation (400-700nm) from all
directions, at the surface, in micro Einsteins per meters
squared - seconds
- par_scalar_v = photosynthetically available radiation
(400-700nm) from all directions, at the indicated water
depth, in volts
- par_u = upwelling (lowerface) photosynthetically available radiation
(400-700nm) with cosine sensor response, at the indicated water
depth, in micro Einsteins per meters squared - seconds
- platform = name of the platform (See also ship)
- phaeo = total phaeopigment, in milligrams per meter cubed (mg/m³)
or micrograms per liter (µg/l)
- PO4 = Orthophosphate, µM (micromolar) or µg-at PO4-P/l
- potemp = potential temperature (International Practical Temperature
Scale - 68, IPTS-68)
- potemp_ctd = CTD potential temperature (International Practical
Temperature Scale - 68, IPTS-68)
- precip_level = pricipation level in gauge, in centimeters (cm). Note: if the
gauge self-siphoned, then precipation is +50cm.
- press = depth of sample reported as pressure, in decibars
- press_bar = barometric pressure, in millibars
- q_code = originator assigned quality code
- qual_mag = Magellan GPS quality indicator
- qual_trim = Trimble GPS quality indicator
- radiation_l = long wave radiation, 4 - 50 micrometers, in watts per square
meter
- radiation_s = short wave radiation, 285 - 2800 nanometers, in watts per square
meter
- region = geographical region
- rms_err_cond = rms error for conductivity measurements, in siemans
per meter
- sal = Practical Salinity, the ratio of two electrical conductivities, dimensionless.
1
- sal_bottle = bottle salinity, Practical Salinity,
dimensionless 1
- sal_ctd = CTD salinity, Practical Salinity,
dimensionless1
- sal_ss3 = sea surface salinity nominally measured three (3) meters
below the surface, Practical Salinity,
dimensionless1
- sample = sample identifier or number
- ship = name of the ship or vessel (See also platform.)
- si = scientific investigator's name
- sigma_0 = sigma-theta, potential density, in kg/m3
(See
How do we measure the density of sea water?)
- sigma_0_ctd = CTD sigma-theta potential density, in kg/m3
(See
How do we measure the density of sea water?)
- sigma_t = sigma-t density, in kg/m3 - 1000
(See
How do we measure the density of sea water?)
- sigma_t_ctd = CTD sigma-t density, kg/m3 - 1000
(See
How do we measure the density of sea water?)
- Si(OH)4 = Orthosilicic Acid, µM (micromolar) or µg-at Si(OH)4-Si/l
[Note: this field name will be redefined to remove the parenthesis.
Contact the DMO]
- sldepth = speed log depth below transducer, in meters
- speed_f_b = forward speed with respect to the bottom, in m/s
- speed_f_w = forward speed with respect to water, in m/s
- speed_mag = Magellan GPS speed made good, in m/s
- speed_s_b = starboard speed with respect to the bottom, in m/s
- speed_s_w = starboard speed with respect to water, in m/s
- speed_edo = Edo speed, in m/s
- speed_trim = Trimble GPS speed made good, in m/s
- station = consecutive station number
- station_std = standard broad-scale station number
- taxon = taxanomic group or entity
- taxon_code = taxanomic group or entity code, a ten digit number based
on the NODC Taxonomic List, v. 8.
- temp = temperature, in degrees C (see
ref. 2 below)
- temp_air = air temperature, in degrees C
- temp_ctd = CTD temperature, in degrees C (see
ref. 2 below)
- temp_ss1 = sea surface temperature nominally measured one (1) meter below the surface,
in degrees C (see ref. 2 below)
- temp_ss3 = sea surface temperature nominally measured three (3) meters below the surface,
in degrees C (see ref. 2 below)
- temp_ss5 = sea surface temperature nominally measured five (5) meters below the surface,
in degrees C (see ref. 2 below)
- time_gmt = GMT time, using 2400 clock format. Use time_utc
for future data sets.
- time_local = local time, using 2400 clock format
- time_utc = UTC time, using 2400 clock format
- timezone = timezone, with 0 = Grenwich Mean Time (GMT)
- tow = tow number
- turbid_v = turbidity, in volts (scatterometer)
- u = eastward current, in cm/s. Eastward flow is positive.
- u_m = eastward current, in m/s. Eastward flow is positive.
- UTC = Coordinated
Universal Time
(UTC)
is the international
time standard. It is the current term for what was commonly
referred to as
Greenwich
Meridian Time (GMT). Zero (0) hours UTC is
midnight in Greenwich England, which lies on the zero longitudinal
meridian.
- v = northward current, in cm/s. Northward flow is positive.
- v_m = northward current, in m/s. Northward flow is positive.
- vol_filt = volume of sample filtered, in ?? [contact
the DMO]
- vol_filt_mass = volume filtered reported as mass, in ?? [contact
the DMO]
- vol_net = volume of water filtered by the net, in cubic meters
- wind_dir = wind direction reports as compass degrees, using
meteorologic convention of "from" not "to"
- wind_dir_c = wind direction corrected for ship motion, in degrees,
using meteorologic convention of "from" not "to"
- wind_dir_r = relative wind direction, in degrees
- wind_pawa = port apparent wind azimuth, in degrees
- wind_paws = port apparent wind speed, in m/s
- wind_sawa = starboard apparent wind azimuth, in degrees
- wind_saws = starboard apparent wind speed, in m/s
- wind_speed = wind speed, in m/s
- wind_speed_c = wind speed corrected for ship motion, in m/s
- wind_speed_r = relative wind speed, in m/s
- wind_taux = eastward wind stress, Pascals
- wind_tauy = northward wind stress, Pascals
- year_gmt = GMT year, e.g. 1995. Use year_utc for future
data sets.
- year_local = local year, e.g. 1995
- year_utc = UTC year, e.g. 1995
- yrday_gmt = GMT day and decimal time, as 326.5 for the 326th day of
1995, or November 22, 1995 at 1200 hours (noon). Use yrday_utc
for future data sets.
- yrday0_gmt = GMT day and decimal time, as 325.5 for the 326th day of
1995, or November 22, 1995 at 1200 hours (noon). Use yrday0_utc
for future data sets.
- yrday_utc = UTC day and decimal time, as 326.5 for the 326th day of
1995, or November 22, 1995 at 1200 hours (noon)
- yrday0_utc = UTC day and decimal time, as 325.5 for the 326th day of
1995, or November 22, 1995 at 1200 hours (noon)
- yrday_local = local day and decimal time, as 326.5 for the
326th day of 1995, or November 22, 1995 at 1200 hours (noon)
- yrday0_local = local day and decimal time, as 325.5 for the
326th day of 1995, or November 22, 1995 at 1200 hours (noon)
- The Practical Salinity Scale 1978 and the
International Equation of
State of Seawater 1980. Tenth report of the Joint Panel on Oceanographic
Tables and Standards (JPOTS), Sidney, B.C. Canada, 1-5 September 1980,
sponsored by Unesco, ICES, SCOR, IAPSO. Unesco technical papers in
marine science 36.
and
The International System of Units (SI) in Oceanography. Report of the IAPSCO
Working Group on Symbols, Units and Nomenclature in Physical Oceanography (SUN).
Unesco technical papers in marine science 45.
- ITS-9- Temperature Scale, Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc.,
Application
Note No. 42. Revised - November 1996. The linear relationship between the
ITS90 (T90) temperature standard and the IPTS68 (T68) standard is
T68 = 1.00024 * T90.
- ADCP = Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler
- Biomaper = Biomaper
- BiomaperII = BiomaperII
- Bongo = 60 cm Bongo nets (335 millimeter mesh)
- BongoSB = Bongo Sea Bird CTD
- Bottle_go-flo = Go-flo sample bottle used to collect water samples for
pigment values, etc.
- Bottom_grab = bottom grab, e.g. Van Veen bottom grab
- Chamber = Larval fish environmental chamber, a specially designed
nitex mesh enclosed chamber tethered below a drifter
- Cod_drifter = short-term drifter incubation deployment
- COOL_float = subsurface isopycnal COastal Ocean Lagrangian (COOL)
float, measures compass angle, pressure, and temperature
- CTD = conductivity, temperature and pressure sensor
- CTD_Bongo = CTD measurements taken during Bongo tows
- CTD_FSI = CTD measurements taken by the Falmouth Scientific
Instruments sensor
- CTD_MOCNESS = CTD measurements taken during MOCNESS tows
- CTD_SBE25 = SBE25 (SeabirdCTD) CTD instrument. See also SeabirdCTD.
- CTD_Seacat = Seabird Seacat CTD
- CTD_911 = CTD measurements taken by the Seabird 911 sensor
- DPP = Diaphragm pump
- Drifter = Drifter buoy
- Dye = Dye injection and detection, using Fluorescein for example
- GreeneB = Greene Bomber
- JelNet = Net system designed to quantify fragile zooplankton, used
during the 1999 broad-scale cruises. Replaces the Reeve net.
- JelNet2 = Net system designed to quantify fragile zooplankton, used
during the 1999 broad-scale cruises. Replaces the JelNet net.
It consists of a Bongo frame with a pair of 1mm mesh nets.
- Kimmerer = Kimmerer Bottle
- MCM = Moored current meter
- MicroSoar = measures turbulent microstructure
using robust, fast-response temperature and conductivity probes.
[See T. Dillon, et al., 1999: MicroSoar: A new instrument for
measuring microscale turbulence from rapidly moving submerged
platforms, J. Atmos. Ocean. Techn. (submitted)]
- MkIIICTD = Mark III CTD
- MkVCTD = Mark V CTD
- MOC.25 = MOCNESS 1/4 meter square nets
- MOC1 = MOCNESS 1 meter square nets (150 and 335 micrometer mesh)
- MOC10 = MOCNESS 10 meter square nets (3 millimeter mesh)
- Mooring = Mooring
- MVPR = Moored Video Plankton Recorder
- NBCTD = Neal Brown CTD
- PAR = Photosynthetically Available Radiation Sensors
- PDR = Precision Depth Recorder
- PPN = Phytoplankton net haul
- Pump = Gas-powered centrifugal water pump (may also be called ZPP)
- Pump2 = Air-powered, double diaphragm water pump
- Pump3 = Gas-powered, single diaphragm water pump
- Radiometer = Free-fall spectral radiometer (SPMR/SMSR System, Satlantic, Inc) measuring
downwelling irradieance and upwelling radiance, deployed away from the ship
- Reeve = Reeve Net system designed to quantify fragile zooplankton, used
during 1997 and 1998 broad-scale cruises
- ROV = Remotely operated vehicle
- SBcal - Sea Bird calibration cast consisting of a verticle cast with one
1.7l Niskin bottle above the profiler lowered to 20-30m where the bottle
is then closed.
- SBE_26 = Sea Bird bottom pressure recorder measuring temperature, pressure and
conductivity (salinity)
- Scanfish = towed vehicle provided by the University of Rhode Island
- SeabirdCTD = Sea Bird CTD. See also CTD_SBE25.
- SeaSoar = Towed, undulating vehicle usually equipped with a VPR, TAPS, PAR, CTD
- SurfSample = surface bucket water sample
- TAPS = TRACOR acoustic profiling system, zooplankton sampler
- VBS = Volume Backscattering
- VPR = Video Plankton Recorder
- ZPN = Zooplankton net for live zooplankton (aka "Ring net")
- ZPP = Zooplankton gas powered centrifugal pump (may also be call "Pump")
- ZPP/CTD/TAPS = Zooplankton pump on CTD with TAPS
- ZPP/NBCTD = Zooplankton pump on the Neil Brown CTD
Protocols
Platform Names and Their Abbreviations
- Albatross IV - AL
- Cape Hatteras - CH
- Columbus Islin - CI
- Delaware - DE
- Edwin Link - EL
- Endeavor - EN
- Hudson - HUD
- Knorr - KN
- Oceanus - OC
- Parizeau - PAR
- Seward Johnson - SJ
- Susan and Caitlin - SC
Miscellaneous
- nd = no data
- alongtrack = ship's navigation, together with other parameters
collected by the ship's sensors such as meteorological data,
surface water temperature and salinity and fluorescence
data