[CF-metadata] proposals for new standard names (ECMWF-GCM)

Jonathan Gregory j.m.gregory at reading.ac.uk
Tue Feb 7 02:47:26 MST 2006


Dear Beate

>   dry_static_energy_flux_due_to_diffusion,  T flux: Vert diffusion, W m-2
needs upward_ or downward_ as a prefix. We can include both.

>   specific_humidity_flux_due_to_diffusion,  Q flux: Vert diffusion, kg m-2 
> s-1
We already have upward_water_vapor_flux_in_air, so I think this new quantity
should be upward_water_vapor_flux_in_air_due_to_diffusion. (It doesn't have
the right units to be a "specific humidity flux"; since specific humidity is
dimensionless, so a flux of it would have units m-2 s-1.) We can add both
upward_ and downward_.

>   eastward_momentum_flux_due_to_diffusion,  U flux: Vert diffusion, Pa
>   northward_momentum_flux_due_to_diffusion, V flux: Vert diffusion, Pa
A momentum flux is called a stress in existing standard names. We have names
of atmosphere_eastward|northward_stress_due_to_gravity_wave_drag, so these
new quantities could be atmosphere_eastward|northward_stress_due_to_diffusion,
correspondingly.

OK
>   water_evaporation_amount_from_canopy, Intercepted water evap, kg m-2
>   liquid_water_content_of_soil_layer, Soil water, kg m-2
>   surface_snow_melt_and_sublimation_heat_flux,Snow phase change energy, W 
> m-2 
> for evaporation from Snow (not Ice)
>   surface_snow_sublimation_amount, Snow evaporation, kg m-2
I wish I could think of a single word for "melt and sublimation"!

OK except I think we should have _for_ instead of _of_. I propose that the
roughness length names ought similarly to have _for_. 
>   surface_roughness_length_of_momentum, surface roughness length momentum, 
> 1
>   surface_roughness_length_of_heat, surface roughness length heat, 1

>   snow_basal_heat_flux, Snow basal heat flux, W m-2 
Is this the heat flux into or out of the ground? That is, does it relate
specifically to snow? If not, we could relate this to the existing name
downward_heat_flux_in_soil. I would propose
upward|downward_heat_flux_at_ground_level_in_snow|soil
with the _in_ part indicating whether measured/calculated on the snow or the
soil side of the interface.

Best wishes

Jonathan


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