[CF-metadata] proposed changes to various standard names

From: Jonathan Gregory <j.m.gregory>
Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 15:55:46 +0100

Dear Jonathan

> > downwelling_mole_flux instead? I think "sinking" and "downwelling"
> > mean the same thing, and "downwelling" was already in the lexicon.
>
> The two definitions have different reference frames - Sinking is a
> velocity relative to the fluid, while downwelling is a velocity of the
> fluid itself.

Fine. That is a clear distinction.

> > * What's the difference between inorganic_phosphorus and
> > inorganic_phosphate,and likewise inorganic_silicon and
> > inorganic_silicate?
>
> phosphorus and silicon is more general, but I think they are intended to
> mean the same things in each case.

In that case, I think we should change inorganic phosphate and silicate (one
occurrence of each) to inorganic phosphorus and silicon (two occurrences of
each) in the newly added names.

> > * For elemental_nitrogen, could we say molecular_nitrogen, which
> > would be consistent with molecular_hydrogen and molecular_oxygen?
>
> molecular nitrogen is only appropriate for N2 gas, like for H2 and O2,
> distinct from nitrogen in other forms.

We say dissolved_molecular_oxygen_in_sea_water in some other standard names.
Could we do the same for nitrogen?

> > * We have an existing name of surface_carbon_dioxide_mole_flux,
> > whose sign
> > convention is not clear. Could we change this to
> > surface_up|downward_mole_flux_of_carbon_dioxide
> > to be consistent with some newly introduced names?
>
> This flux was previously aggreed to be positive up from the atmospheric
> folks wanting consistency between the land and ocean estimates, but for
> an ocean output alone, seems like there would be more flexibility.

Yes, one could define it either way, and it would be fine to have standard
names for both up and down. Which one to choose is an issue for the users of
the standard, not the standard itself. If the existing ambiguous name is
likely to mean "up", I suggest we make it an alias for
surface_upward_mole_flux_of_carbon_dioxide

Thanks for your advice and best wishes

Jonathan
Received on Thu May 13 2010 - 08:55:46 BST