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 Format
SectionRequirement / RecommendationSeaBASSIceBridge 

General
Requirements

Create files with separate header and data sections – R1yy y
Use a consistent delimiter between data values throughout the file – R1y- y

Use escape mechanism if the designated delimiter character appears in text or data – R1

y- -
Separate lines of text and rows of data with end-of-line (EOL) character(s), used consistently throughout the file – R1yy y
General
Recommendations
Use the standard US-ASCII character set, without extensions – R1yy y
Avoid ASCII control characters, except tab or EOL characters – R1yy -
Do not use empty lines or rows – R1y- -
Chose delimiter character to avoid need for escape mechanism – R1-- y
Terminate file with same end-of-line (EOL) character(s) used to separate data rows – R1-- -
Use unique, descriptive file names – R7-- y
Header Section
Required 
Clearly delineate header section as described in this document – R2yy y
List unique variable names (columns) – R2yy y
Define units of measure for each variable – R2yy y
Identify community-specific convention used for data representation and/or units of measure, if applicable – R3 y- -
Specify conventions used for latitude, longitude, and elevation if applicable – R4yy -
Identify type of elevation measurement used, if applicable – R4yy y
Indicate which data grid index runs faster, if applicable – R3-- -
Reference any additional documentation needed to understand the data in the file, preferably by DOI – R2y- y
Specify time representation if not using ISO 8601 – R5-y -
Specify time zone and offset if using local time instead of UTC or GMT – R5-- -
Specify single location or time associated with all data in the file, if not specified with each data row – R3yy y
Define missing or out of bounds data fill values, any other flag values – R6yy y
Header Section
Recommended 
Provide as much metadata as practical, all metadata if possible – R2yy y
For each variable, provide long and short names and description – R2-- y
Describe gridding scheme used, if applicable – R3-- -
Define geographic reference frame and ellipsoid – R4-y -
Specify coordinate reference system, and datum if applicable – R4-- -
Document type of location information used – R4yy y
Document location of GPS antenna on aircraft, if applicable – R4-y -
Provide geographic coordinates for place name associated with data – R4y- -
Define time base information, including source of time stamps – R5-y -
Identify time zone from IANA Time Zone Database if using local time – R5-- -
Specify whether time stamps identify start, stop, midpoint or average of measurement period – R5-- y
For averaged or derived products, indicate data collection window – R5-y -
Indicate whether internal computer clocks are synchronized to GPS time or other – R5-y -
Provide principal investigator name and contact information – R2y- y
Provide uncertainty information – R2-- y
Indicate dates of data collection and processing – R2y- y
Provide a record of data revision – R2y- y
Provide data DOI if available – R2-- -
Data Section
Required 
Organize data as matrix of rows and columns – R1 yy y
Provide geographic location and/or time tag (as applicable) for each data row or value – R3, R4, R5yy y
Use a designated flag value to indicate missing data when using space or tab delimiters – R1, R6yy y
Do not use daylight savings time if using local time instead of UTC or GMT – R5-- -
Data Section
Recommended 
Provide lat/lon in format applicable to coordinate reference system used – R4yy y
Provide elevation for each data row or value if applicable – R4yy y
Specify elevation in meters – R4yy y
Provide data in SI units, derived units (such as degree Celsius), or non-SI units accepted for use with SI (such as minute, hour, day, mixing ratio data) – R3yy -
Provide date/time in UTC or GMT, following ISO 8601 standard – R5yy y
If time is specified in seconds past some starting point (e.g., midnight) and measurements in the file span date boundaries, assure that time increases monotonically (>86400) and date does not change – R5-y y
Structure data so that consecutive rows have monotonically increasing or unique time tag where applicable – R5-y y
Represent years with four digits – R5yy y
Provide start and stop timestamps for measurements in irregular intervals – R5-- y
Indicate data above or below a limit of detection using a flag value – R6-y y
Represent flags (missing data, etc.) so as not to be construed as data – R6yy y
Provide a separate column for flag values that vary from point to point – R6-- -