Common Column Definitions

Whenever possible, if your dataset includes any of the following columns, please try to use these names and standard definitions.  Note: This list is a work in progress.  If you have any recommendations for changes, or new standard column (i.e. variable) names we should add, please reach out to the IM team.

NameDescriptionTypeFormat/UnitsExample
Bottle or BottleNumberReference number of sample bottle from rosette Niskan bottle

number on the sampling rosette; data from Seabird CTD or BOPS
Text 
Cast or CastNumberReference number for ship-based over-the-side deployed and lowered instrumentationText 
CruiseNominal cruise designation Text NPB2301
DateSample date in GMTDateTimeYYYY-MM-DD
DateTimeGMTDate and time 

Date and time of sampling event, in GMT
DateTimeYYYY-MM-DD hh:mm:ss
DepthMeasurement of sample collection distance from water column surface 

… derived from pressure measured by the CTD; data from Seabird CTD or BOPS
Numericalmeter
EventSequence of cruise happenings ordered by time 

Event number from event log
Text 
GridLineLine on a pre-defined survey grid in the LTER Palmer study areaText 600
GridStationStation on a pre-defined survey grid in the LTER Palmer study areaText 040
LatitudeLatitude measured from the equator in decimal degrees, South is negativeNumericaldegree
LongitudeLongitude measured from the Prime Meridian in decimal degrees, West is negativeNumericaldegree
NominalStationName of Palmer LTER sampling stationText
RoundedGridLineGrid Line rounded to the nearest 100Numerical 
RoundedGridStationGrid station rounded to the nearest 20Numerical 
StationPalmer sampling grid nominal station 

Name of fixed Palmer LTER sampling station in the vicinity of Palmer Station
 Text “600.040” or “Station E”
Station NamePalmer LTER grid station Text 
StudyNameSampling expedition from which data were collected, generated, etc. 

Name of field season when samples were collected
TextPAL2425
Time GMTSample time in GMTDateTime hh:mm