What is metadata for?
Metadata describes important information about a dataset, such as where data were collected, when data were collected, and who collected them. Metadata, ideally, also provides a direct link to an online copy of the dataset. Metadata conforms to a standard format ensuring that different datasets are described in a consistent manner. The standard currently in use by the Australian Antarctic Data Centre – and by the entire Antarctic Community – is Directory Interchange Format (DIF) maintained by the Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). Metadata is used for two purposes: • to locate data (in the same way a library catalogue is used to find books), and • to describe datasets in such a way that anyone should be able to use the data. Due to the greater amount of information contained in a metadata entry compared to the entries in a library catalogue, metadata can be used to describe all types of data, from paper records to biological samples to digital databases, and even research projects
