[eml-dev] EML for Ecotrons

[Matt Jones]

Hi David --

You are right that geo coverage could be misleading if people aren't
careful in interpreting the data.  This is true of all 'laboratory' work
and is the main reason that geo coverage is not a required field in both
EML and the BDP.  Nevertheless, having the spatial location might still be
useful -- its a judgement call as to whether you should include it.  I
would argue probably yes, just in case the ecotron designers didn't manage
to control absolutely all aspects of the environment (e.g., direction of
earth's magnetic field as a far-fetched example).  Then, the most important
thing is to be extremely clear in the methods that these are manipulated,
experimental conditions, and specify exactly what those conditions are in
enough detail for the data to be properly interpreted.  One can not really
control for people who cavalierly download a data set and use it improperly
in an analysis without considering its fitness for use.  Presumably the
peer review process would catch any problems with data misuse, right? So
I'd say, just document fully and release!

Matt

On Wed, Dec 7, 2011 at 2:02 AM, David Blankman <dblankman1 at gmail.com> wrote:

> One of the projects I am involved includes ecotrons. These are artificial
> laboratory "ecosystems" (see attached document).
>
> I would appreciate any ideas for a "best practice" for documenting data
> produced at an ecotron. Clearly geographic coverage in the sense of
> locating the ecotron is, at best, irrelevant, and probably misleading.
>
> David
>
>
>
> *David Blankman                                                  *
> Chair, ILTER Information Management Committee
>
> Director, Information Management
> Israel LTER / MARAG
>
> 972-54-685-9345 (cell)
> 972-77-442-1951 (work)
> Skype: dblankman
>
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>
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