WMO Core Metadata

Notes: The following table provides an overview of the WMO Community Core Metadata Profile suitable for use by decision makers and users - NOT implementers. To implement this standard the ISO DIS 19115 document, which describes the complete ISO standard, must be consulted.

This standard provides a general definition for directory searches and exchange that should be applicable to a wide variety of WMO datasets. It does not specify how these metadata should be archived or presented to users. It also does not specify any particular implementation and could be implemented as a database, a flat file, or any other suitable mechanism. However, XML is recommended as the standard for exchange. The comprehensive and technical details required for implementation of this standard in XML are provided in the WMO Core Metadata XML Schema, which is given in the annex to paragraph 4.2 below. In the XML Schema, Class names (such as MD_Metadata) are reserved for data types. These data type names do not appear in the XML instance. Instead the classes are referenced by the name of an object (e.g. metadata) which is an instance of the class (MD_Metadata).

Of the core elements listed, those in bold are required, with all others being optional.

It must be remembered that this list defines a minimum set of information to describe data for WMO exchange and is not exhaustive. To fully meet the requirements of WMO Programmes for metadata, application of far more comprehensive standards would be required. The development of these comprehensive standards should be pursued by the individual programmes.

Generic Name

ISO Field/Class Name and Reference Lines

 Definition

Metadata ID		 MD_Metadata (1)
   fileIdentifier (2)
Unique identifier for this metadata item
Metadata language    language (3) Language of this metadata item
Metadata char. set    characterSet (4) Character set of this metadata item (Default of ISO 10646-1)
Metadata contact    contact (8)
        CI_ResponsibleParty		 Party responsible for this metadata item
Metadata date    dateStamp (9) Date that this metadata item was created
Metadata name    metadataStandardName (10) Name of the metadata standard (including profile name) used
Metadata Version    metadataStandardVersion (11) Version (profile) of the metadata standard used
Data Reference System    referenceSystemInfo (13)

      MD_ReferenceSystem (186)

         ReferenceSystemIdentifier (187)

         ReferenceAuthority (206)
           CI_ResponsibleParty

         referenceDescription (207)

 Description of the data temporal and spatial reference system
Information about the reference systems used (temporal, coordinate and geographic)
Name of reference system

Person or party responsible for maintenance of the reference system

Description of the Reference System
Data information    IdentificationInfo(15)
      MD_DataIndentification		 Basic information about the data
Data distribution Information    distributionInfo(17)
      MD_Distribution		 Information about the data distribution and availability
Data Lineage or Quality    dataQualityInfo(18)
      LI_Lineage		 Information about the data lineage or quality
 

Title

 MD_DataIdentification (36)
   Citation (24)
      title (360)		 Basic information required to uniquely identify a dataset

Name of the dataset
Reference Date        referenceDate (362)
        CI_Date		 Reference date for the dataset
Identifier    identifier (365)
      identifierType (366)		 Unique identifier for dataset
Form of the unique identifier (if standardized)
Abstract    abstract (25) Brief narrative summary of the contents of the dataset
Dataset Contact    pointOfContact (29)
      CI_ResponsibleParty		 Identification of, and means of communication with, person(s) and organizations(s) associated with the dataset
Update frequency    resourceMaintenance(30)
      maintenanceAnd
        UpdateFrequency(143)
      maintenanceNote(148)		 Frequency with which changes are made to the dataset after the intial dataset is created

Information regarding specific requirements for maintaining the dataset
Access Rights or Restrictions    resourceConstraints (35)
      MD_Constraints		 Restrictions on the access and use of the resource or metadata
Spatial Resolution    spatialResolution (38)

   spatialRepresentationType (37)

 Spatial density of the data in the dataset (e.g. grid spacing)
Method used to spatially represent data in the dataset [Code list: B.5.26]
Language    language(39) Language(s) used in the dataset, if applicable
Character set    characterSet (40) Character set used in the dataset, if applicable
Topic Category    topicCategory (41) Discipline covered by this dataset [ISO code list B.5.27] - Note this field is of limited use for WMO purposes but is a required field within the ISO standard and is included to ensure conformity.
Keywords    descriptiveKeywords (33) List of predefined and other keywords used to describe the dataset
Date or period CI_Date (393)
   date or period (394)
   dateType (395)
Reference date or period for the dataset
Type of date [code list: creation, publication or revision date]
Responsible Party CI_ResponsibleParty (374)  
Organisation    organisationName (376) Name of the responsible organization
Org. role    role(379) Function performed by the responsible party [code list: resourceProvider, custodian, owner, user, distributer, originator, etc¨]
Individual name    individualName (375) Name of the responsible person
Position    positionName (377) Position of the responsible person
     contactInfo (378)
      CI_Contact (387)		 NOTE: Either a phone number or address is required
           phone (388)  
Phone number             voice (408) Telephone by which individuals can speak to the responsible party
Fax number             facsimile (409) Telephone number of a fax machine for the responsible party
Address          address(389)
            deliveryPoint (381)
            city (382)
            postalCode (384)
            country (385)
Address line for the location
City of the location
Postal code
Country
E-mail address              electronicMailAddress (386) Electronic mail address of the responsible party
Web Site          onLineAddress (390) URL of organisation
  EX_Extent (334) Information about spatial, vertical, and temporal extent of the dataset
     Description (335) Spatial and temporal extent for the dataset (in text)
Vertical Extent    Ex_VerticalExtent (354) Vertical domain of the dataset
        minimumValue (355) Lowest vertical extent contained in the dataset
        maximumValue (356) Highest vertical extent contained in the dataset
        unitOfMeasure (357) Vertical units used for vertical extent information (E.g.: metres, feet, hectopascals)
        verticalDatum (358) Information about the origin from which the maximum and minimum elevation values are measured (see ISO 1911)
Geographic Extent    EX_GeographicExtent (339) Note: At least either a description, bounding box or bounding polygon is required
Geographic name       EX_GeographicDescription (348) Description of the geographic area using identifiers (names)
           geographicIdentifier (349) Identifier used to represent a geographic area or location
Bounding box     EX_GeographicBoundingBox NOTE This is only an approximate reference so specifying the co-ordinate system is unnecessary
           westBoundLongitude (344) Western-most limit of the dataset, longitude in decimal degrees (positive east)
           eastBoundLongitude (345) Eastern-most limit of the dataset, longitude in decimal degrees (positive east)
           southBoundLatitude (346) Southern-most limit of the dataset, latitude in decimal degrees (positive north)
           northBoundLatitude (347) Northern-most, limit of the dataset, latitude in decimal degrees (positive north)
Bounding polygon       EX_BoundingPolygon (341)  
           polygon (342) Sets of points defining a bounding polygon
Temporal Extent    EX_TemporalExtent (350)
      Extent (351)		 NOTE: Each of the 3 fields below is required if applicable
           beginDateTime (new) Beginning date of the data in the dataset
           endDateTime (new) Ending date of data in the dataset
           dataFrequency (new) Observing frequency of the data in the dataset [code: WMO_DataFrequencyCode
Access Rights or Restrictions

MD_Constraints (67)
   useLimitation (68)

 Restrictions on the access and use of the dataset or metadata (Could specify WMO Additional Data as free text
     MD_LegalConstraints (69) Restrictions and legal prerequisites for accessing and using the dataset
        accessConstraints (70) Any special restrictions or limitations on obtaining the dataset
        useConstraints (71) Any special restrictions or limitations or warnings on using the dataset
        otherConstraints (72) Other restrictions and legal prerequisites for accessing and using the dataset
     MD_SecurityConstraints (73) Handling restrictions imposed on the dataset for security reasons
        classification (74) Name of the handling restrictions on the dataset
        userNote (75) Explanation of the application of the legal constraints or other restrictions and legal prerequisites for obtaining and using the dataset
        classificationSystem (76) Name of the classification system
        handlingDescription (78) Additional information about the restrictions on handling the dataset
  MD_Distribution (270) Information about the distributor of and options for obtaining the dataset
     distributionFormat (271) Provides a description of the format of the data to be distributed
Format name    name (285) Name of the data transfer format(s)
Format version    version (286) Version of the format (date, number, etc.)
     TransferOptions (273) NOTE: At least either on-line source or off-line media is required
On-line source       onLine (277) Information about online sources from which the dataset can be obtained
           linkage (397) Location (address) for on-line access using a Uniform Resource Locator
           WMO_Source (new) WMO centre identifier
Off-line media       offline (278) Information about offline media on which the dataset can be obtained
           mediumName (292) Name of the medium on which the dataset can be received [code list: ISO B.5.20]
Processing Level LI_Lineage (82) Information about the level of processing applied to the dataset
     statement(83) Information about the events or source data used in constructing the dataset
     processStep(84) Information about an event in the creation process for the dataset
     source(85) Information about the source data used in creating the dataset
Reference System MD_ReferenceSystem (186) Information about the reference systems used (temporal, coordinate and geographic)
   referenceSystemIdentifier (187) Name of reference system
   authority (206)
      CI_ResponsibleParty		 Person or party responsible for maintenance of the reference system namespace

 

    code(207) Alphanumeric value identifying an instance in the namespace

 

Extensions to ISO Code Lists

B.5.26 MD_SpatialRepresentationTypeCode <<CodeList>>
  Name Domain code Definition

1.

MD_SpatialRepresentationTypeCode

SpatRepTypCd

 method used to represent geographic information in the dataset

2.

vector

001

 vector data is used to represent geographic data

3.

grid

002

 grid data is used to represent geographic data

4.

textTable

003

 textual or tabular data is used to represent geographic data

5.

tin

004

 triangulated irregular network

6.

stereoModel

005

 three-dimensional view formed by the intersecting homologous rays of an overlapping pair of images

7.

video

006

 scene from a video recording
Additional entries

8.

irregularPoints

007

 Irregularly-spaced points, such as meteorological stations

 

NEW:

WMO_DataFrequencyCode <<CodeList>>
  Name Domain code Definition

1.

WMO_DataFrequencyCode

DataFreqCd

 Temporal sampling frequency of the data within the dataset

2.

Continuous

001

 More than once per minute

3.

1minute

002

  

4.

5minute

003

  

5.

10minute

004

  

6.

15minute

005

  

7.

30minute

006

  

8.

Hourly

007

  

9.

3hourly

008

  

10.

6hourly

009

  

11.

8hourly

010

  

12.

12hourly

011

  

13.

Daily

012

  

14.

Weekly

013

  

15.

10day

014

  

16.

Fortnightly

015

  

17.

Monthly

016

  

18.

3monthly

017

  

19.

6monthly

018

  

20.

Annual

019

  

21.

decade

020

 Decade or longer