[CF-metadata] what standard names are for

From: Bryan Lawrence <b.n.lawrence>
Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2008 20:58:57 +0100

Hi Martin

> although the subject has been changed I feel that this discussion has
> been closely related to my recent question about adding extra tags in
> the XML file and mdefining a way how these can survive. To ask again
> much more specifically this time:
> (1) who is maintaining the xml file (and the asociated syntax definiiton
> file which I could not locate on the web)?

We (BADC) and specificaly Alison Pamment maintain the CF standard names. We
maintain the authorative version at cfconventions.org, and the
non-authorative (but version controlled) list via vocab.ndg.nerc.ac.uk.

There is no associated syntax definition file, if I have understood what you
mean by that.

> (2) if I would send an edited XML file which included <htap> tags to
> contain the TFHTAP multi-model assessment variable names (just like it
> is the case for <amip> at present) to the person named in (1): would
> this xml file be further maintained and future updates would keep this
> additional tag?

I don't think we're currently in the business of maintaining other folks
namespaces. and particularly not by locking into any specific xml syntax. I
think the earlier response to your message from John Graybeal is a better way
forward for you ...

That said, the cf common concept (a current proposal thread) could also
provide a useful mechanism which we (CF) could maintain. However, that
doesn't exist now!

> If these two points can be satisfied, it would constitute a great
> step forward for me to actually make use of the cf standard names and
> other standards around it. And I believe that this will also proliferate
> into many other international (atmospheric chemistry) modelling
> initiatives, because many groups are involved in HTAP. If not, then I
> fear that the HTAP community for example will quickly loose interest to
> follow standard names as there will for a long time be no "super
> software" that eliminates the need to know the actual variable names in
> order to process the data.
>
> Sorry for being somewhat pushy on this, but I need to get some work done
> here.

As do we all :-)

best wishes,
Bryan
Received on Wed Apr 09 2008 - 13:58:57 BST