GLIMS: Global Land Ice Measurements from Space

Monitoring the World's Changing Glaciers

GLIMS Tables

Date: 2005-06-02

Ancillary_Data
Area_Histogram
Area_Histogram_Data
ASTER_Footprints
Band
Country
Completeness_Level_Valids
Debris_Cover_Valids
Debris_Distribution_Valids
Dominant_Mass_Source_Valids
Form_Valids
Frontal_Characteristics_Valids
Glacier_Dynamic
Glacier_Image_Info
Glacier_Line
Glacier_Reference
Glacier_Static
Image
Image_Band
Instituion
Instrument
Instrument_Valids
Lon_Char_Valids
Package_Info
People
Point_Measurement
Primary_Classification_Valids
Reference_Doc_Code
Reference_Document
Reference_Point
Regional_Centers
Segment
Submission_Metadata
Tiepoint_Region
Tiepoint_Region_Outline
Tongue_Activity_Valids
Vector
Vector_Set

Note: The GLIMS database is implemented in PostgreSQL and PostGIS.

See previous versions of the data dictionary.

Data Dictionary

Ancillary_Data Stores basic metadata about supporting raster datasets.
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description	Abbreviated Name	Corresponding Shapefile
glac_analysis_id	varchar(20)		X	glacier_ID or analysis_ID	ID	ancillary
data_type	varchar(20)		X	Data type of the ancillary data	ancdat_typ	ancillary
location	varchar(100)		X	Location of the ancillary data. This can be a URL.	ancdat_loc	ancillary
size	int			Number of bytes	ancdat_sz	ancillary
comment	text			Free text	comment	ancillary

Area_Histogram Stores information about a set of data on the area-elevation statistics of a glacier. The data themselves are in the Area_Histogram_Data table.
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description	Abbreviated Name	Corresponding Shapefile
area_histogram_id	int	P	X	Primary Key	---	---
analysis_id	int	F	X	Glacier to which this relates (unique), foreign key, from Glacier_Dynamic	---	---
bin_width	numeric(5,1)		X	width (in m) of elevation bin	binwidth_m	histograms
registration	char(1)		X	flag, indicates whether data are bin-centered (C), lower (L), or upper (U) boundary	regist	histograms

Area_Histogram_Data
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description	Abbreviated Name	Corresponding Shapefile
area_histogram_id	int	F	X	foreign key, from Area_Histogram table	---	---
elevation	float		X	representative elevation of bin, m above geoid	elev_m	histograms
area	float		X	area of glacier in this elevation bin (km2)	area_km2	histograms

Aster_Footprints Stores metadata about ASTER scenes acquired over glacierized areas.
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description
ASTER_ID	INT	P	X	NSIDC assigned ID
EDC_ID	INT		X	EDC assigned ID
INSERT_TIME	Varchar(30)			Time ASTER scene was inserted at EDC
SHORT_NAME	Varchar(10)			Short name of ASTER (L1A or L1B)
VERSION_ID	INT
SIZE_MB	Varchar(30)			Total size of ASTER scene in megabytes
DAY_OR_NIGHT	Varchar(10)			Whether the ASTER was captured during the Day or Night
PRODUCTION_DATE	Varchar(30)			Date ASTER scene was produced at EDC
PGEVersion	Varchar(10)
CAPTURE_DATE	Varchar(30)			Actual date of image acquisition at the satellite
CAPTURE_TIME	Varchar(30)			Actual time of image acquisition at the satellite
MISSING_DATA	INT			Percent of missing data
OUT_OF_BOUNDS	INT			Percent of data out of bounds
INTERPOLATED	INT			Percent of data interpolated
CLOUD_COVER	INT			Percent of total cloud cover
ASTER_PROJ	Varchar(50)			Projection of ASTER Scene
QUALITY_RATING	Varchar(20)			Comment of quality of scene
ORDER_ID	Varchar(50)
AZIMUTH_ANGLE	Varchar(30)
ASTER_GAINS	Varchar(100)			Complete band availability list
BAND3	Varchar(30)			Band Availability (yes/no)
BAND10	Varchar(30)			Band Availability (yes/no)
UR_CLOUD_COV	INT			Percent of cloud cover in upper right quad.
BAND1	Varchar(30)			Band Availability (yes/no)
UL_CLOUD_COV	INT			Percent of cloud cover in upper left quad.
BAND8	Varchar(30)			Band Availability (yes/no)
VNIR_ANGLE	Varchar(30)
BAND3N	Varchar(30)			Band Availability (yes/no)
BAND6	Varchar(30)			Band Availability (yes/no)
DAR_ID	INT
TIR_ObservationMode	Varchar(5)			Mode on or off?
VNIR2_Ob_Mode	Varchar(5)			Mode on or off?
BAND13	Varchar(30)			Band Availability (yes/no)
PROCESSING_CENTER	Varchar(10)			Center where scene was processed
GRANULE_ID	Varchar(50)			Official ASTER Granule ID
BAND4	Varchar(30)			Band Availability (yes/no)
RadiometricDBVersion	Varchar(30)
SWIR_ANGLE	Varchar(30)
BAND11	Varchar(30)			Band Availability (yes/no)
CLOUD_COVERAGE	INT			Percent cloud cover
BAND2	Varchar(30)			Band Availability (yes/no)
VNIR1_Ob_Mode	Varchar(5)			Mode on or off?
BAND9	Varchar(30)			Band Availability (yes/no)
SCENE_ORIENT_ANGLE	Varchar(30)			Angle of scene orientation
GENERATION_DATE	Varchar(30)			Date scene was generated
RECIEVING_CENTER	Varchar(10)			Centers that received the scene
GEOMETRIC_DBVERSION	Varchar(50)
BAND7	Varchar(30)			Band Availability (yes/no)
TIR_ANGLE	Varchar(50)
DEM_TYPE	Varchar(20)			Type of Digital Elevation Model
DEM_SUCCESS	Varchar(30)			Percent succes of DEM correlation
BAND14	Varchar(30)			Band Availability (yes/no)
SWIR_ObservationMode	Varchar(5)			Mode on or off?
LR_CLOUD_COVER	INT			Percent of cloud cover in lower right quad.
ELEVATION_ANGLE	Varchar(50)
BAND5	Varchar(30)			Band Availability (yes/no)
LL_CLOUD_COVER	INT			Percent of cloud cover in lower left quad.
BAND12	varchar(30)			Band Availability (yes/no)
NSIDC_LOAD_DATE	date			Date loaded into GLIMS Database

Band Stores information about individual instrument bands. This table supports the Instrument table.
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description
band_id	varchar(2)	P	X	Band/Mode name (or number)
instrument_id	int	F	X	ID of instrument, from Instrument table
scan_type	varchar(10)			Scan type (whisk broom, push broom, etc)
ifov_x	numeric(11,6)			Instantaneous field of view, X (radians)
ifov_y	numeric(11,6)			Instantaneous field of view, Y (radians)
sample_interval_x	numeric(6,2)			Nominal sample interval X (meters)
sample_interval_y	numeric(6,2)			Nominal sample interval Y (meters)
passband_low	numeric(7,3)			Low edge of passband
passband_high	numeric(7,3)			High edge of passband
passband_unit	varchar(5)			Standard international unit used for the passband
num_bits	int			Number of bits in DN (radiometric resolution)
num_lines	int			Number of lines per nominal scene
num_samples	int			Number of samples per line
polarization	varchar(5)			Polarization (for radar, e.g. HH, VH, etc.)

Completeness_Level_Valids This table and the associated valids are not yet complete. We're waiting for agreement from the community on level definitions.
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description
completeness_level	INT	X	X	Code for level of data completion
description	varchar(30)			Description of corresponding code

Completeness_Level_Valids Definitions

Code	Description
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Country
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description	Abbreviated Name	Corresponding Shapefile
country_code	char(2)		X	ISO-3166 2-letter code	---	---
country_name	varchar(45)		X	Name of country	---	---

Debris_Cover_Valids Not yet finalized.
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description
debris_cover	INT	X	X	Numerical code used for classification
description	Varchar(30)			Description of corresponding code

Debris_Cover_Valids Definitions

Code	Description
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Debris_Distribution_Valids Not yet finalized.
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description
debris_cover	INT	X	X	Numerical code used for classification
description	Varchar(30)			Description of corresponding code

Debris_Distribution_Valids Definitions

Code	Description
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Dominant_Mass_Source_ Valids
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description
debris_cover	INT	X	X	Numerical code used for classification
description	varchar(30)			Description of corresponding code

Dominant_Mass_Source_Valids Definitions

Code	Description
0	Unknown
1	Snow/Drift snow
2	Avalanches
3	Superimposed ice

Form_Valids
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description
debris_cover	INT	X	X	Numerical code used for classification
description	varchar(30)			Description of corresponding code

Form_Valids Definitions

Code	Description
0	Uncertain or miscellaneous
1	Compound basins
2	Compound basin
3	Simple basin
4	Cirque
5	Niche
6	Crater
7	Ice apron
8	Group
9	Remnant

Frontal_Characteristics_Valids
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description
frontal_characteristics	INT	X	X	Numerical code used for classification
description	varchar(30)			Description of corresponding code

Frontal_Characteristics_Valids Definitions

Code	Description
0	Normal or miscellaneous
1	Piedmont
2	Expanded
3	Lobed
4	Calving
5	Coalescing, non contributing
10	Calving and Piedmont
11	Calving and expanded
12	Calving and lobed
13	Ice shelf nourishing
14	Floating
15	Terrestrial calving
16	Confluent

Glacier_Dynamic
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description	Abbreviated Name	Corresponding Shapefiles
analysis_id	int	P	X	ID for this analysis (snapshot). An "analysis" is a particular glacier at a particular time. All segments and outlines for a particular glacier at a particular time have the same analysis_id.	---	---
glacier_id	varchar(20)	F	X	Glacier ID number, from Glacier_Static table	ID	segments, glaciers
data_source	varchar(255)ﾠ or Integer		X	Description of data source, e.g. ASTER image, GPS survey, etc. (TEXT) *or numeric code for specific type of image*	data_src	session
analysis_timestamp	timestamp		X	Time stamp for this analysis (date and time)	analy_time	session
institution_id	int	F	X	ID of institution where the analysis was done, from Institution table	RC_ID	session
analyst_given_name	varchar(50)		X	First name of the person in charge of the analysis	anlst_givn	session
analyst_surname	varchar(50)		X	Last name of the person in charge of the analysis	anlst_surn	session
three_d_desc	text			Description of how 3-D information was derived (e.g. SRTM DEM, ASTER DEM, etc.)	3d_desc	session
width	float			Representative width of glacier, in meters. Note that this is difficult to define for some glaciers. We've talked about including a line_type in the segments table for storing the place where the width was measured. This is not yet implemented.	width_m	glaciers
length	float			Representative length of glacier, meters	length_m	glaciers
area	float			Representative total area of glacier, km2	area_km2	glaciers
abzone_area	float			Area of ablation zone of glacier, km2	abarea_km2	glaciers
speed	float			Representative speed, m/a	speed_myr	glaciers
snowline_elev	float			Transient snow line elevation, meters.	snowline	glaciers
ela	float			ELA value	ela_m	glaciers
ela_desc	text			Description of how ELA was determined. This is not the transient snow line.	ela_desc	glaciers
primary_classification	smallint			Classification of glaciers, currently 10 valids from WGI	prm_class	glaciers
primary_classification2	smallint			Classification of glaciers, currently 10 valids from WGI	prm_class2	glaciers
form	smallint			Form of glaciers, currently 10 valids from WGI	form	glaciers
frontal_characteristics	smallint			Enumerated field, 6 valids from WGI	frnt_char	glaciers
frontal_characteristics2	smallint			Enumerated field, 6 valids from WGI	frnt_char2	glaciers
longitudinal_characteristics	smallint			Enumerated field, 6 valids from WGI	long_char	glaciers
dominant_mass_source	smallint			Enumerated field, 4 valids from WGI	mass_src	glaciers
tongue_activity	smallint			Enumerated field, 9 valids from WGI	tngue_act	glaciers
tongue_activity2	smallint			Enumerated field, 9 valids from WGI	tngue_act2	glaciers
source_timestamp	timestamp			Timestamp of the data source.	src_time	session
debris_cover	smallint			valids indicating the debris cover condition	dbr_cov
debris_distribution	varchar(50)			description of debris distribution	dbr_dist
record_status	varchar(20)			Status of this record, e.g. retired, hidden, current, ok, etc.	rec_stat	---
completeness_level	smallint			Enumerated field indicating the level of completeness of the analysis	comp_lev	---
package_id	varchar(20)			ID of package which provides info about this record.	pack_id	---

Glacier_Image_Info Intersection table between glacier_dynamic and image. An image can contain more than one glacier, and a glacier can be contained by more than one image.
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description
analysis_id	int	F	X	foreign key from Glacier_Dynamic table
image_id	int	F	X	foreign key from Image table

Glacier_Line Each glacier, at a particular time, can have a number of line segments associated with it. They can be of various types, such as glac_bound (glacier boundary) or intrnl_rock (internal rock), etc. This is the intersection table between glacier_dynamic and segment.
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description	Corresponding Shapefile
analysis_id	int	F	X	from Glacier_Dynamic table	---
segment_id	int	F	X	from Segment table	---
segment_order	int		X	Serial number for the segment on glacier outline or other feature. All polygons will be made to be counter-clockwise before ingest into the database, but still, the explicit storage of segment order might be useful.	---
line_type	varchar(20)			Type of glacier lines, may be from valids	segments

Glacier_Reference Intersection table between glacier_static (a "glacier") and reference_document (literature articles about the glacier)
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description
glacier_id	varchar(20)	F	X	Glacier ID number, from Glacier_Static table
reference_doc_id	int	F	X	Reference Document ID number, from Reference_Document table

Glacier_Static
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description	Abbreviated Name	Corresponding Shapefile
glacier_id	varchar(20)	P	X	Unique Glacier ID number, generated from lon/lat of glacier.ﾠ Must be of the form: GnnnnnnEmmmmm[N\|S], where [N\|S] means "either N or S", nnnnnn has the range [000000,359999], and mmmmm has the range [00000,90000]	ID	All
glacier_name	varchar(40)			Glacier name, if there is one.	name	glaciers
wgms_id	varchar(14)			World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) ID, if assigned	wgms_id	glaciers
local_glacier_id	varchar(20)			Glacier ID used by RCs	local_id	glaciers
parent_icemass_id	varchar(20)			Reference for parent glacier ID	parent_id	glaciers
record_status	varchar(20)			Status of this record, e.g. retired, hidden, current, ok, etc.	---	---
package_id	varchar(20)			ID of package which provides info about this record.	---	---
glacier_static_points	POINT			Point geometry, center of glaciers	static_pnt	glaciers

Image
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description	Abbreviated Name	Corresponding Shapefile
image_id	int	P	X	ID of image in GLIMS	image_id	images
instrument_id	int	F	X	ID of source instrument, from Instrument table	inst_id	images
orig_id	varchar(50)			Original ID from data provider (ECS,SPOT,etc)	orig_id	images
image_loc_url	varchar(120)			URL of source of image	imglocurl	images
acq_timestamp	timestamp		X	Date/Time of image exposure	acq_time	images
image_center_lon_unc	numeric(11,4)			Uncertainty of image georeferencing - lon (m)	imglon_unc	images
image_center_lat_unc	numeric(11,4)			Uncertainty of image georeferencing - lat (m)	imglat_unc	images
image_azim	numeric(7,4)			Orientation of image (degrees east of north)	image_azim	images
cloud_pct	numeric(3,0)			Cloud severity (0 to 100%, 100% being totally cloudy)	cloud_pct	images
sun_azim	numeric(7,4)			Sun azimuth (degrees east of north)	sun_azim	images
sun_elev	numeric(7,4)			Sun elevation (degrees from horizon)	sun_elev	images
instrument_zenith	numeric(7,4)			Zenith angle of instrument pointing (degrees, 0=nadir)	inst_zen	images
instrument_azimuth	numeric(7,4)			Azimuth of instrument pointing (degrees east of north)	inst_azim	images
projection	varchar(30)			Name of projection used (e.g. polar stereographic) during digitizing of glaciers	projection	images
image_center_loc	POINT			Center point location of images	---	---

Image_Band Intersection table between Image and Band
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description
band_id	int	F	X	ID of band in this image, from Band table
image_id	int	F	X	ID of image cube, from Image table

Institution
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description
institution_id	int	P	X	ID of institution
long_name	varchar(100)		X	Long name of institution
short_name	Varchar (100)			Short name of Institution
address1	varchar(100)			Mailing address of institution
address2	varchar(100)			Secondary mailing address of institution
address3	varchar(100)			Third mailing address of institution
city	varchar(30)			City where institution is located
country_code	char(2)	F		Country where institution is located, ISO-3166 2-letter code
institution_points	POINT			Point geometries of physical location of institutions

Instrument
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description
instrument_id	int	P	X	ID of instrument
instrument_long_name	varchar(80)		X	Long name of instrument
instrument_short_name	varchar(10)			Short name for the instrument
instrument_platform_name	varchar(50)			Name of platform that instrument is on
altitude	numeric(8,3)			Average orbit altitude (km)
inclination	numeric(7,4)			Orbit inclination (degrees).
num_bands	int			Number of bands
band_list	varchar(255)		X	List of names of bands/modes
eq_crossing_time	time			Time of equator crossing, for sun-synchronous satellites, generally for descending node (daytime crossing)

Lon_Char_Valids
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description
lon_char	INT	X	X	Numerical code used for classification
description	archar(30)			Description of corresponding code

Lon_Char_Valids Definitions

Code	Description
0	Uncertain or Miscellaneous
1	Even, regular
2	Hanging
3	Cascading
4	Ice-fall
5	Interrupted

Package_Info
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description
package_id	Integer	P	X	ID of the package containing analysis from RCs.
ingest_time	timestamp			Time of ingest
ingest_sw_version	varchar(10)			Software version used for the ingest
submission_filename	varchar(30)			Name of submitted files
release_date_okay	timestamp			Date that data can be made available

People
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description
contact_num	SERIAL	P	X	Number assigned to each individual contact
surname	Varchar (50)
givennames	varchar (80)
affiliation	int	F
prof_title	varchar (30)
department	varchar (80)
office_loc	varchar (120)
indiv_address	varchar (50)
URL1	varchar (80)
URL2	varchar (80)
workphone1	varchar (30)
workphone2	varchar (30)
workfax	varchar (30)
homephone	varchar (30)
mobilephone	varchar (30)
work_email1	varchar (40)
work_email2	varchar(100)
home_email1	Varchar (40)
home_email2	Varchar (40)
prof_interest	Varchar (120)
add_date	date			Date contact was added to database
mod_date	date			Date of last information modification

Point_Measurement Stores results of possibly in-situ measurements taken on the glacier (e.g. temperature, debris thickness, albedo, etc.).
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description	Abbreviated Name	Corresponding Shapefile
pnt_meas_id	int	P	X	ID of point measurement	---	---
glacier_id	varchar(20)	F	X	Glacier that this measurement relates to, from Glacier_Static table	ID	point_meas
pnt_timestamp	timestamp		X	Time stamp for this measurement (e.g. 2005-12-12T14:23:21Z)	timestamp	point_meas
pnt_elev	float			vertical coordinate (geoidal) elevation of measurement (m)	elev_m	point_meas
pnt_label	text			Label for the measured quantity, e.g. "debris thickness"	label	point_meas
pnt_value	float			floating point number representing value of measurement	value_	point_meas
pnt_lon_unc	float			Uncertainty of lon	lon_unc	point_meas
pnt_lat_unc	float			Uncertainty of lat	lat_unc	point_meas
pnt_elev_unc	float			Uncertainty of elevation	elev_unc	point_meas
pnt_value_unc	float			Uncertainty of point measurement value	value_unc	point_meas
pnt_unit	varchar(10)			Unit for measurement (e.g. m, degrees C, etc.)	unit	point_meas
comment	text			Free text to describe measurement, instrument, conditions, etc)	comment	point_meas
record_status	varchar(20)			Status of this record, e.g. retired, hidden, current, ok, etc.	---	---
package_id	varchar(20)			ID of package which provides info about this record.	---	---
pnt_loc	POINT		X	Point location, Geometry	--	point_meas

Primary_Classification_Valids
Field Name	Data Type	Key	Not Null	Description
primary_classification	INT	X	X	Numerical code used for classification
description	varchar(30)			Description of corresponding code

Primary_Classification_Valids Definitions

Code	Description
0	Uncertain or miscellaneous
1	Continental ice sheet
2	Ice-field
3	Ice cap
4	Outlet glacier
5	Valley Glacier</