Basics of Time Series Key Characteristics

  • Each record consists of timestamps with measurements.
  • Different time series can have different frequencies (e.g., hourly, daily).
  • Always check the unit of measurement for each field (e.g., cm, $, etc.).

Metric types:

  • Counter: Monotonically increases.
  • Gauge: Can go up or down.
  • Summary: Aggregate calculation over a period.

Data Structure Considerations

  • Time series data is often stored in a long column format.
  • Partition datasets by period (e.g., monthly) for:
    • Easier period-based querying.
    • Computing aggregates.
    • Focusing on recent data efficiently.

Common Applications

  • Finance: Stock prices, interest rates, economic indicators.
  • Weather Forecasting: Temperature, precipitation, wind speed.