[CF-metadata] CF-1.0 registration of new names for SST

From: Pamment, JA <J.A.Pamment>
Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2007 11:07:20 +0100

Dear Jonathan,

Thanks for your comments about these names.

>
> > > SSTsubskin, Sub-skin_SST, sub-skin_sea_surface_temperature, SST
> > > at a depth of
> > > 1-1.5mm as measured by a microwave radiometer operating in the
> > > 6-10GHz frequency
> > > SSTskin, skin_layer_SST, skin_layer_sea_surface_temperature, SST
> > at a depth
> > > of 10-20um as measureed by an infrared radiometer operating in
> > > the 3.5-13um frequency
>
> If the defining characteristic of the skin and subskin layers are
their
> depths,
> could we not give them the name of sea_water_temperature, and
> distinguish
> them
> by their depth coordinate? The bounds of the depth coordinate for the
> subskin
> later are 1.0-1.5 mm, and for the skin layer of 10-20 micrometer. If
we
> do that we don't need new standard names.
>
 
Yes, I did wonder about taking the approach you are suggesting, but
there
are really two defining "coordinates" for these quantities: layer depth
and frequency range. We could use the sea_water_temperature name and
require that both depth and frequency are supplied as coordinate bounds.
There is currently no definition of sea_water_temperature in the
standard
name table (just a reference to it in the definition of
sea_surface_temperature) so we could add a definition that describes the
possibility of also using a frequency coordinate variable.

On the other hand, if these two particular quantities are commonly used
remote sensing products whose definition never varies perhaps they
should
have distinct standard names. I think the deciding factor should be
whether it is likely that other, similar quantities are likely to be
needed in the future with slightly different depth/frequency
characteristics.

Best wishes,
Alison

------
Alison Pamment Tel: +44 1235 778065
NCAS/British Atmospheric Data Centre Fax: +44 1235 446314
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Email: J.A.Pamment at rl.ac.uk
Chilton, Didcot, OX11 0QX, U.K.
Received on Thu Jul 19 2007 - 04:07:20 BST