[lug] MEAS Data file format

[Bruce Raup]

David,

On Wed, 16 Aug 2000, David wrote:

> Wayde,
> 

[deletia]

> * You might have problems with all-numeric dates if you try
>   international data exchange.  Is the Fourth of July represented as
>   4-7-yy or 7-4-yy?  I choose this particular date intentionally, if
>   you do not get it read the sentence very carefully.  New Year's day
>   is easy because it is the same in each system - or is that a
>   trip-wire?

Again, see http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/iso-time.html.  It is an
*international* standard, used, for example, in many database programs
(e.g. MySQL), programs like RCS, etc.  The standard format is YYYY-MM-DD.  
Not ambiguous.  Easily machine sortable.

Bruce

-- 
Bruce Raup
National Snow and Ice Data Center                     Phone:  303-492-8814
Campus Box 449, University of Colorado                Fax:    303-492-2468
Boulder, CO  80309-0449                            Bruce.Raup at colorado.edu