You can do anything you like since there are no rules in ecology :)

Yes, metadata standards exist and are critical in the field of marine ecosystem modeling. Using standards like ISO 19115, NetCDF-CF, and SeaDataNet vocabularies, we can ensure that model outputs are FAIR: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. By aligning with community practices and international initiatives (e.g., Fish-MIP, EMODnet, Copernicus), marine ecosystem specialists can produce metadata-rich, transparent, and scientifically robust model outputs that contribute meaningfully to global marine assessments

While you are free to apply the above model, please ensure that the inputs are vital and interpretation of results are far more important. Models normally over predict and you need to normalize according to your objective.

A K Shyam

As a marine ecosystem specialist, you likely work with complex outputs—such as species biomass, nutrient fluxes, temperature profiles, or trophic interactions—from biogeochemical and ecological models like Atlantis, ECOPATH, ERSEM, or FEISTY. Ensuring these outputs are documented with rich metadata is essential for proper reuse, validation, and ensemble forecasting. Below is a detailed explanation with technical references. 🔷 1. Why Metadata Standards Are Critical in Marine Ecosystem Modeling Model outputs: Are multidimensional (space, time, depth, taxa, functional groups). Involve physical, biogeochemical, and ecological variables. Vary across modeling frameworks and institutions. Without standard metadata: Outputs are non-interoperable. Reproducibility is compromised. Global assessments (e.g. IPBES, IPCC, GOOS) lack comparability. 📌 Reference: Payne et al. (2016). "Uncertainties in projecting climate-change impacts in marine ecosystems." ICES Journal of Marine Science. Highlights the need for harmonized metadata to ensure comparability of marine ecosystem projections. 🔷 2. Existing Metadata Standards Relevant to Marine Ecosystem Models ✅ a. ISO 19115 & ISO 19139 International Standard for Geographic Metadata Widely adopted in Earth and marine sciences. Describes datasets' spatial and temporal extent, lineage, contact, quality, etc. 📌 Used by: Copernicus Marine Service (CMEMS) SeaDataNet 📌 Reference: FGDC/ISO Metadata Standards (NOAA, 2022) ✅ b. NetCDF with CF Conventions (Climate and Forecast Metadata) Most marine models output results as NetCDF files, which require: CF Conventions (latest: CF-1.11) Attributes for dimensions, units, standard names, and grid descriptions. 📌 Example: txt Copy code float zooplankton_biomass(time, depth, lat, lon); zooplankton_biomass:units = "mmol N m-3"; zooplankton_biomass:standard_name = "zooplankton_biomass_concentration"; zooplankton_biomass:long_name = "Zooplankton Biomass Concentration"; 📌 Reference: Eaton et al. (2020). "NetCDF Climate and Forecast (CF) Metadata Conventions." ✅ c. OGC/IOOS/SeaDataNet Vocabularies (NVS, P01, P02) To ensure consistency in variable names, units, and processes, controlled vocabularies are used: P01: Describes individual parameter terms (e.g., "Concentration of nitrate in sea water"). P02: Groups P01 terms into broader topics (e.g., “Nutrient concentrations”). 📌 Reference: Schaap & Lowry (2010). "SeaDataNet, a standard for marine metadata." 🔷 3. Community-Driven Standards & Ontologies ✅ a. EMODnet & SeaDataCloud Uses ISO + SeaDataNet + CF conventions. Promotes common data models and semantic web compatibility for marine data. ✅ b. MIP Metadata for Model Intercomparison Projects For projects like Fish-MIP (part of ISIMIP), standardized metadata templates are required, including: Model name/version Scenario (RCP, SSP) Forcing datasets Grid resolution Biological functional groups Temporal/spatial coverage 📌 Reference: Tittensor et al. (2018). "A protocol for the intercomparison of marine fishery and ecosystem models." Nature Climate Change. 🔷 4. Metadata in Practice: What Should Be Included? A robust metadata standard for marine ecosystem model outputs should include: Category Metadata Fields Model Metadata Name, version, developer, publication Input Forcing Physical (SST, currents), biogeochemical, anthropogenic Scenarios Climate (RCP/SSP), fishing effort, MPA status Spatial-Temporal Grid resolution, vertical layers, time steps, extent Variables Units, standard names, taxa/groups, trophic levels Methodology Model structure, calibration, tuning, validation data Output Format File type (NetCDF), structure, compression, projections 🔷 5. Tools & Initiatives Supporting Metadata Standards 🌐 THREDDS Data Server (Unidata): Allows access to model outputs with embedded CF-compliant metadata. 🐟 Atlantis and EwE Communities: Moving toward metadata templates for ecosystem indicators. 🌍 GEOMAR, NOAA, ICES, IMBeR: Advocate for standardized metadata in model sharing.

That is pretty elaborate......I am afraid you need to include a variety of pollutants poured into the ocean all over the world.....that would perhaps change the objective results you would anticipate.