Data Description is a section aiming to facilitate an accurate public understanding of the data described. It functions as a window through which readers get to know what your data is about and how to reuse it.

We suggest depositors describe their data from the following aspects.

• Describe data generation procedures, data processing methods and steps, devices and tools used, etc.

• Specify the temporal and geographical scopes, and temporal and spatial resolutions of your data wherever appropriate.

• Tabular data: describe the total number of data entries, the meaning of row and column headers, and the units of measurement wherever appropriate.

• Describe and explicate the missing data if any.

• Report data errors, error ranges, and causes wherever appropriate.

• Describe each data file including its content, format and size wherever appropriate.

• If your data are stored in a rare file format, specify the software application that can be used to open your files, coupled with the download address wherever appropriate.

The tips are for references only. Data Description should be casewise, customized by depositors based on specific scenarios. Your description should be submitted in one or more paragraphs rather than fragmentary responses to the points above.