[CF-metadata] Sea water velocity

[Nan Galbraith]

Is there any reason the standard name for Stephane's flag value can't
be "sea_water_speed status_flag" ?

The spec implies,  but, if I read it correctly,  it doesn't explicitly
state that the standard names must match, and the ancillary_variables
attribute provides a clear link between the variables.

There are only 4 standard name modifiers; I was hoping to use
"sea_water_speed error" for the error velocity reported by an
ADCP, and assign it as an ancillary variable to the component
velocities.  I thought I'd ask about adding "error" as a modifier,
or possibly sea_water_speed_error as a new standard name.

Not sure which of these would be more acceptable - or more
useful - in the long run.

Thanks -
Nan



> Dear Stephane
>
>   
>> float ewct(time, latitude, longitude) ;
>>    ewct:standard_name = "eastward_sea_water_velocity";
>>    ewct:ancillary_variables = "ct_flag";
>> float nsct(time, latitude, longitude) ;
>>    nsct:standard_name = "northward_sea_water_velocity";
>>    nsct:ancillary_variables = "ct_flag";
>> byte ct_flag(time, latitude, longitude) ;
>>    ct_flag:standard_name = "eastward_sea_water_velocity status_flag";
>>
>> That's it ?  Both ewct and nsct variables have the same ancillary variable.
>> But it's not obvious when you look at ct_flag that it applies to two 
>> variables !
>>     
>
> I know. I think it is correct, but obviously not ideal. However the standard
> doesn't have any other provision for this at the moment, so there is no
> other immediate solution, as far as I can see.
>
> We could extend the convention, but that will take a bit more thought and
> debate, I expect. Proposals for modifying the convention are discussed on
> the CF trac site.
>
> Best wishes
>
> Jonathan
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>
>   


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