For the purposes of the Global Change Master
Directory (GCMD), metadata is defined as:
"Descriptive information
that characterizes a set of quantitative and/or
qualitative measurements and distinguishes
that set from other similar measurement sets."
(L. Olsen)
The metadata used by the GCMD is considered
to be that set of attributes that are instrumental
in helping users to determine if a data set
meets their qualifications. The set of attributes
(fields) and its associated syntax is known
as the Directory Interchange Format
(DIF) . It has evolved over a twelve
year period and serves the user community
in the discovery of Earth science data.
In addition to the Directory Interchange
Format (DIF) standard, the Global Change Master
Directory works with other groups involved
with promoting standards and has cross-mapped
the DIF with other metadata standards:
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