The gml:coverageFunction property is shifted "up" to this place in the inheritance hierarchy because it is included in both discrete and continuous coverages (i.e., all subtypes of AbstractCoverageType) and, hence, does not change syntax nor semantic in any way. It permits, however, coverages in the gmlcov:AbstractCoverage substitutionGroup to be used for either discrete and continuous coverages, in preparation for expected future elimination of this distinction. <br/>