Glossary

We will grow the glossary as we go along. Please suggest terms to add to the glossary in the MIN Moodle forum.

accuracy

how well the observation reproduces a well-defined standard that is usually set by an international group, from [], Chapter 6.2.

bias error

an offset of the measured values from the true values, from [], Chapter 6.2.

error

the difference between a measurement result and the value of the measurand, from [].

precision

the repeatability of an observation using a given instrument or observing system, from [], Chapter 6.2.

random error

see [], Chapter 6.2.

uncertainty

the reliability of the assertion that the stated measurement result represents the value of the measurand, or more specifically “a parameter, associated with the result of the measurement, that characterizes the dispersion of the values that could reasonably be attributed to the measurand” from [].