David,
The earliest possible MySQL date is around 1000CE, so you could not store geologic dates in MySQL date cols. "Million years before present" is the geologic time unit that would most likely cohere with other geo databases, isn't it? Then the Cambrian would show up around 580 mya, the beginning of recorded human history around .005 mya, &c. A float, double or decimal col would handle such values.
Peter Brawley http://www.artfulsoftware.com
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David Blomstrom wrote:
I'm working on a geologic time database and want to ask a question about geologic time. Can/should you apply MySQL's date function to geologic time?
In other words, if I create a field for the number of years ago a certain geologic period began or ended - say 260 million years ago - could I designate that field "Date"?
I'll probably just designate a varchar field and enter data like this:
345-250
Then I can add "million years ago" or "mya" in my PHP script. Some scientists also use the term BP ("Before Present," I think).
Another thing I have to deal with is units of thousands. For example, the Pleistocene Epoch (Ice Age) ended about 10,000 years ago.
I just wondered if anyone had any suggestions for dealing with geologic time. Thanks.
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