GCOOS Vocabulary
The GCOOS vocabulary is open to the public and users are welcome to use the compilation and we welcome comments on the list. The following are the formats that the table can be exported to:
File Format |
Remarks |
RDF/OWL File Format | The Resource Description Framework (RDF), a lightweight ontology system is fully compatible to Web Ontology Language (OWL), a language for authoring ontologies, and is endorsed by the World Web Consortium and used by the marine Metadara Interoperability Project to map ontologies in their registry, of which GCOOS is an active participant. |
Comman Separated Value (Text Format) | This table may also be exported to a Comma Separated Value (CSV) file format that can be imported onto a spreadsheet, database and other programs that supports this format. |
SQLite Data Format | The table as displayed below, are stored in SQLite database format, the most widely deployed SQL database engine. A copy of this database may also be downloaded as they are presented below. |
The URI for the GCOOS Vocabulary in the Ontology Registry and Repository is: http://mmisw.org/ont/gcoos/parameter
Total Number of Records: 124 |
[Click on the header to sort (ascending) the rows if desired.]
Label | Definition | minRange | maxRange | UnitOfMeasure | Abbreviation |
spectral_irradiance | Light energy of specific wavelength from all directions at a point and time in space. | W m-2 m-1 | E | ||
downwelling_irradiance | Irradiance from above. | W m-2 m-1 | Ed | ||
upwelling_irradiance | Irradiance from below | W m-2 m-1 | Eu | ||
spectral_radiance | Light energy of specific wavelength from a set of directions (solid angle) at a point and time in space. | W m-2 m-1 sr-1 | L | ||
downwelling_radiance | Radiance from below. | W m-2 m-1 sr-1 | Ld | ||
upwelling_radiance | Radiance from above. | W m-2 m-1 sr-1 | Lu | ||
water_leaving_radiance | Radiance from below, leaving the water surface. | W m-2 m-1 sr-1 | Luw | ||
photosynthetically_available_radiation | Integrated downwelling irradiance for wavelengths from 400 to 700nm. | W m-2 | PAR | ||
downward_longwave_radiation | Downward IR radiation. Positive is downward. | 250.0 | 450.0 | W m-2 | Q_dlw |
downward_shortwave_radiation | Downward solar insolation. Positive is downward. | 0.0 | 1400.0 | W m-2 | Q_dsw |
latent_heat_flux | Evaporative exchange of heat from the atmosphere to the ocean. Positive is downward. | W m-2 | Q_latent | ||
net_longwave_radiation | Net IR radiation includes reflected IR radiation. Positive is downward. | W m-2 | Q_lw | ||
net_heat_flux | Combined net shortwave, net longwave, sensible and latent heat fluxes. Positive is downward. | W m-2 | Q_net | ||
sensible_heat_flux | Conductive or convective exchange of heat from the atmosphere to the ocean. Positive is downward. | W m-2 | Q_sensible | ||
net_shortwave_radiation | Net solar insolation considering albedo effects. Positive is downward. | 0.0 | 1400.0 | W m-2 | Q_sw |
spectral_reflectance | Upwelling irradiance (Eu) divided by downwelling radiance (Ed) at a specific spectral wavelength. | R | |||
remote_sensing_spectral_reflectance | Upwelling radiance (Lu) divided by downwelling radiance (Ed) at a specific spectral wavelength. | sr-1 | Rrs | ||
air_density | Mass of air per unit volume. | kg m-3 | air density | ||
air_pressure | Pressure exerted by overlying air. | 822.0 | 1040.0 | hPa | air_press |
air_temperature | Temperature of air (in situ). | 10.0 | 38.0 | celsius | air_temp |
albedo | Fraction of downward radiation that is reflected or scattered | 0.0 | 1.0 | alb | |
altitude | Z-coordinate of observation in vertical distance above reference. Up is positive. | meter | altitude | ||
light_attenuation_coefficient | Measure of combined effects on light caused by absorption and scattering over a defined distance for a specific wavelength of light. | m-1 | attenuate | ||
averaging_interval | Time periood over which several observations are averaged. | seconds | average_interval | ||
beam1_echo_intensity | Measure of the echo intensity returning to beam 1 from the ADCP transmit pulse | 0.0 | 200.0 | db | beam1_echo |
beam1_velocity | Current velocity measured parallel to the path of beam 1 | -300.0 | 300.0 | cm s-1 | beam1_vel |
beam2_echo_intensity | Measure of the echo intensity returning to beam 2 from the ADCP transmit pulse | 0.0 | db | beam2_echo | |
beam2_velocity | Current velocity measured parallel to the path of beam 2 | cm s-1 | beam2_vel | ||
beam3_echo_intensity | Measure of the echo intensity returning to beam 3 from the ADCP transmit pulse | 0.0 | 200.0 | db | beam3_echo |
beam3_velocity | Current velocity measured parallel to the path of beam 3 | cm s-1 | beam3_vel | ||
beam4_echo_intensity | Measure of the echo intensity returning to beam 4 from the ADCP transmit pulse | 0.0 | 200.0 | db | beam4_echo |
beam4_velocity | Current velocity measured parallel to the path of beam 4 | cm s-1 | beam4_vel | ||
beam_echo_intensity | Measure of the echo intensity returning to beam 1 from the ADCP transmit pulse | 0.0 | 200.0 | db | beam_echo |
beam_velocity | Current velocity measured parallel to the path of an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler beam | -300.0 | 300.0 | cm s-1 | beam_vel |
bin_direction | Current direction of bin | 0.0 | 360.0 | cm s-1 | bin_dir |
bin_u_vector | East/West component of bin vector. Eastward is positive. | cm s-1 | bin_u | ||
bin_v_vector | North/South component of bin vector. Northward is positive. | cm s-1 | bin_v | ||
bin_velocity | Current velocity of bin | cm s-1 | bin_vel | ||
bin_width | Width distance between bins | meters | bin_width | ||
bottom | Ocean bottom. | bottom | |||
bottom_tracking_depth | Distance to sea floor determined by a series of long pulses sent out from ADCP | meters | btm_track_depth | ||
btm_track_heading | Heading in degrees to by a series of long pulses sent out from ADCP | degrees | btm_track_hdg | ||
bw_irradiance | Irradiance for black body and white light source. | W m-2 | bw_irrad | ||
bw_radiance | Radiance for black body and white light source. | W m-2 sr-1 | bw_rad | ||
current_to_direction | Direction towards which ocean current is going. | 0.0 | 360.0 | degrees_true | c_dir |
current_speed | Magnitude of velocity of ocean current. | 0.0 | 360.0 | cm s-1 | c_spd |
cdom | colored (or chromophoric) dissolved organic matter, of riverine origin | mg/l or 1/m | cdom | ||
chl_concentration | concentration of chloropyll-a in a defined volume of water | ug L-1 (not kg m-3) | chl_conc | ||
cloud_cover | Percent of sky covered by clouds of all types. | 0.0 | 100.0 | percent | cloud cover |
conductivity | Ability of a material to pass an electrical current. Inverse of resistance. | siemens | uS | cond | ||
date_time_string | Date and time character string of observation that includes year, month, day, hour, minute and second. | string YYYY MM DD hh mm ss | date_time_string | ||
water_density | Mass of water per unit volume | kg m-3 | density | ||
depth | Z-coordinate of observation in vertical distance below reference. Down is positive. | 0.0 | 300.0 | meter/decibar | depth |
dew_point_temperature | Temperature at which air begins to condense. | celsius | dew_point | ||
day_of_year | Number of days since day 1 of reference year. | 0.0 | 366.0 | days | doy |
eastward_wind | East/West component of wind vector. Eastward wind is positive. | m s-1 | east_wind | ||
gps_elevation | Elevation from where the GPS reading was made | km | gps_elev | ||
height | Z-coordinate of observation in vertical distance above reference. Up is positive. | meter | height | ||
initial_bin_distance | Distance from instrument to first bin measurement | meters | init_bin_dist | ||
latitude | Y-coordinate of dependent observation in geographic coordinate. North is positive. Alternate definition: The angular distance north and south of the equator, with the equator being 0° and the poles 90°. | degrees_north | lat | ||
latitude_degrees | Integer degrees of latitude | degrees_north | lat_deg | ||
latitude_hemisphere | Northern or Southern hemisphere | N | S | lat_hem | ||
latitude_minutes | Fraction of latitude degree divided by 60. | 0.0 | 60.0 | angular_minute | lat_min |
latitude_seconds | Fraction of lat_min divided by 60. | 0.0 | 60.0 | angular_second | lat_sec |
longitude | X-coordinate of dependent observation in geographic coordinate. East is positive. Alternate definition: The angular distance east and west of the prime meridian (0° lon.), that runs through Greenwich, England. | degrees_east | lon | ||
longitude_degrees | Integer degrees of longitude | degrees_east | lon_deg | ||
longitude_hemisphere | Eastern or Western hemisphere | E | W | lon_hem | ||
longitude_minutes | Fraction of longitude degree divided by 60. | 0.0 | 60.0 | angular_minute | lon_min |
longitude_seconds+A151 | Fraction of lon_min divided by 60. | 0.0 | 60.0 | angular_second | lon_sec |
mixing_ratio | The ratio of mass of water vapor to the mass of dry air in the sample. | g kg-1 | mix | ||
nitrate_concentration | Measured nitrate concentration in the immediate environment | ug L-1 | nitrate | ||
northward_wind | North/South component of wind vector. Northward wind is positive. | m s-1 | north_wind | ||
number_adcp_beams | Number of directionally independent beams of the ADCP | 2.0 | 6.0 | number_beams | |
number_profile_bins | Number of uniformely spaced depth cells where data is collected | number_bins | |||
oxygen_concentration | Concentration in water of dissolved oxygen. | ug L-1 | oxygen_concen | ||
oxygen_saturation | Concentration at which oxygen becomes saturated in water. | ug L-1 | oxygen_sat | ||
downwelling_longwave_irradiance | Integrated downwelling irradiance for spectral wavelengths greater than 700nm. | W m-2 | pir_irrad | ||
precipitation_accumlated_daily | Amount of wet equivalent precipitation accumulated for a 24 hour period. | mm | precip_accum | ||
precipitation_rate | Amount of wet equivalent precipitation per unit time. | mm hr-1 | precip_rate | ||
downwelling_shortwave_irradiance | Integrated downwelling irradiance for spectral wavelengths less than 700nm. | W m-2 | psp_irrad | ||
relative_humidity | Amount of moisture in the air as vapor relative to how much it can possibly hold at the same temperature. | 0.0 | 105.0 | precent | rel_humid |
relative_wind_from_direction | Direction from which wind is blowing relative to a moving platform, e.g. ship. | 0.0 | 360.0 | degrees_true | rel_wnddirec |
relative_wind_speed | Magnitude of wind velocity relative to a moving platform, e.g. ship. | 0.0 | 70.0 | m s-1 | rel_wndspd |
salinity | Measure of salt content of a seawater sample follows UNESCO standards; approximately parts per thousand. | 20.0 | 38.0 | PSS or PSU or PPT | salinity |
sample_interval | Time period between observations. | seconds | sample_interval | ||
signifcant_wave_to_direction | Significant wave direction. | degrees_true | sig_wv_dir | ||
signifcant_wave_height | Average height of the highest one-third of the waves. | meter | sig_wv_ht | ||
significant_wave_period | Period of the significant wave. | second | sig_wv_per | ||
skin | Upper millimeter to centimeter of a surface. | meter | skin | ||
sound_velocity | Magnitude of velocity of sound in water. | m s-1 | sound_velocity | ||
source_time | Time coordinate of observation based on unit of time (seconds, hours, days) since a defined reference time. | {sec | hr | day} since YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS.xxx {+/- ZONE} | source_time | ||
specific_conductance | Ability of a specific volume (1 cubic centimeter) of water to pass an electrical current. | uS cm-1 | sp_cond | ||
wave_steepness | Measure of departure from typical wave slope. | steepness | |||
sea_surface_elevation | Height or altitude of the sea surface above specified reference. | meter | surf_el | ||
surface | Upper 1-2 meters of an interface between two layers, commonly the sea surface. | surface | |||
swell_to_direction | Direction the swell is coming from. | degrees_true | swell_dir | ||
swell_height | Average height of the highest one-third of the swells, if a separation between swell and wind-wave energy peak exists. | meter | swell_ht | ||
swell_period | Period of the swells. | second | swell_per | ||
wind_stress | Magnitude of wind stress. Wind stress is the force of wind imposed on a unit area. | N m-2 | tau | ||
wind_stress_to_direction | Direction toward which wind stress is acting. | degrees_true | tau_dir | ||
eastward_wind_stress | East/West component of wind stress. Eastward is positive. | N m-2 | tau_x | ||
northward_wind_stress | North/South component of wind stress. Northward is positive. | N m-2 | tau_y | ||
time | Time coordinate of observation based on number of seconds since the defined reference time. | sec since 1970-1-1 00:00:00 | time | ||
turbidity | Measure of light scattering due to suspended material in water. | NTU | turb | ||
downwelling_uv_irradiance | Integrated downwelling irradiance for wavelengths in the ultraviolet region. | W m-2 | uv_irrad | ||
downwelling_uv_radiance | Integrated downwelling radiance for wavelengths in the ultraviolet region. | W m-2 sr-1 | uv_rad | ||
visibility | Greatest distance an object can be seen and identified. Usually refering to visibility in air but could be other medium. | m | visibility | ||
voltage | Voltage measurement of the battery | volts | volt | ||
water_pressure | Amount of pressure caused by overlying water column. | Pa | bar | dbar | atm | water_press | ||
eastward_current | East/West component of ocean current. Eastward is positive. | cm s-1 | water_u | ||
northward_current | North/South component of ocean current. Northward is positive. | cm s-1 | water_v | ||
vertical_current | Upward/Downward component of ocean current. Upward is positive. | cm s-1 | water_w | ||
electromagnetic_wavelength | specific frequency of energy within the electromagnetic spectrum. | m | wavelength | ||
wind_from_direction | Direction from which wind is blowing. Meteorological Convention. | 0.0 | 360.0 | degrees_true | wdir |
wind_to_direction | Direction toward which wind is blowing. Oceanographic convention. | 0.0 | 360.0 | degrees_true | wdir |
wet_bulb_temperature | Temperature of evaporative cooling. | celsius | wet_bulb_temp | ||
wind_gust | Maximum instantaneous wind speed (usually no more than but not limited to 10 seconds) within a sample averaging interval. | 0.0 | 250.0 | m s-1 | wgust |
wind_wave_to_direction | Direction the wind-waves are coming from. | degrees_true | wind_wv_dir | ||
wind_wave_height | Average height of the highest one-third of the wind-waves, if a separation between swell and wind-wave energy peak exists. | meter | wind_wv_ht | ||
wind_wave_period | Period of wind-waves. | second | wind_wv_per | ||
wind_speed | Magnitude of wind velocity. | 0.0 | 150.0 | m s-1 | wspd |
water_temperature | In situ water temperature | 5.0 | 35.0 | celsius | wtemp |
z | Z-coordinate of observation. Zero (z=0) is defined by reference. Up is positive. | meter | z | ||
upward_wind | Up/Down component of wind vector. Up is positive. | m s-1 | z_wind | ||