1. A method for providing proximate dataset recommendations comprising: creating of a plurality of metadata records that correspond to a plurality of datasets representing scientific data by a scientific dataset search tool, wherein said plurality of metadata records conform to a standardized structural definition, wherein values for data elements of a metadata record are contained within a corresponding dataset; identifying at least one metadata record from the plurality of metadata records having a value that is proximate to one or more user-entered search parameters, wherein one of the search parameters is a temporal parameter, wherein proximity is determined with respect to a range represented by the corresponding user-entered search parameters; calculating a proximity score for each identified metadata record, wherein said proximity score expresses a relevance of the corresponding dataset to the user-entered search parameters, wherein calculating the proximity score comprises calculating a temporal proximity score, wherein calculating the temporal proximity score further comprises: determining a temporal distance, d Tdist , from a central point of the user-entered temporal search parameter for the dataset using the following formula or a variation or derivative thereof: d Tdist = { 0 d Tmin ≥ Q Tmin , d Tmax ≤ Q Tmax (  d Rmax  - 1 ) 2 2 ⁢  d Rmax - d Rmin  d Tmin ≥ Q Tmin , d Tmax > Q Tmax (  d Rmin  - 1 ) 2 2 ⁢  d Rmax - d Rmin  d Tmin < Q Tmin , d Tmax ≤ Q Tmax (  d Rmax  - 1 ) 2 + (  d Rmax  - 1 ) 2 2 ⁢  d Rmax - d Rmin  d Tmin < Q Tmin , d Tmax > Q Tmax (  d Rmin + d Rmax  / 2 ) - 1 d Tmin > Q Tmin ⁢ ⁢ or ⁢ ⁢ d Tmax < Q Tmax , wherein Q Tmin and Q Tmax represent the minimum and maximum bounds of the temporal search parameter range, d Tmin and d Tmax represent the minimum and maximum time values of the dataset, and d Rmin and d Rmax represent the distance of d Tmin and d Tmax from the central point of the range; and using the proximity score to filter or order metadata records to create a listing of dataset results.
1. A method for providing proximate dataset recommendations comprising: creating of a plurality of metadata records that correspond to a plurality of datasets representing scientific data by a scientific dataset search tool, wherein said plurality of metadata records conform to a standardized structural definition, wherein values for data elements of a metadata record are contained within a corresponding dataset; identifying at least one metadata record from the plurality of metadata records having a value that is proximate to one or more user-entered search parameters, wherein one of the search parameters is a temporal parameter, wherein proximity is determined with respect to a range represented by the corresponding user-entered search parameters; calculating a proximity score for each identified metadata record, wherein said proximity score expresses a relevance of the corresponding dataset to the user-entered search parameters, wherein calculating the proximity score comprises calculating a temporal proximity score, wherein calculating the temporal proximity score further comprises: determining a temporal distance, d Tdist , from a central point of the user-entered temporal search parameter for the dataset using the following formula or a variation or derivative thereof: d Tdist = { 0 d Tmin ≥ Q Tmin , d Tmax ≤ Q Tmax (  d Rmax  - 1 ) 2 2 ⁢  d Rmax - d Rmin  d Tmin ≥ Q Tmin , d Tmax > Q Tmax (  d Rmin  - 1 ) 2 2 ⁢  d Rmax - d Rmin  d Tmin < Q Tmin , d Tmax ≤ Q Tmax (  d Rmax  - 1 ) 2 + (  d Rmax  - 1 ) 2 2 ⁢  d Rmax - d Rmin  d Tmin < Q Tmin , d Tmax > Q Tmax (  d Rmin + d Rmax  / 2 ) - 1 d Tmin > Q Tmin ⁢ ⁢ or ⁢ ⁢ d Tmax < Q Tmax , wherein Q Tmin and Q Tmax represent the minimum and maximum bounds of the temporal search parameter range, d Tmin and d Tmax represent the minimum and maximum time values of the dataset, and d Rmin and d Rmax represent the distance of d Tmin and d Tmax from the central point of the range; and using the proximity score to filter or order metadata records to create a listing of dataset results. 15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user-entered search parameters include at least one limiting value for at least one of the user-entered search parameters, wherein the calculated proximity score is further scaled with respect to the at least one limiting value.