Hi,
The use of the variable unit value "degrees" would appear to discount a
data set from being both COARDS and CF compliant, at least according to
the CF conventions document, i.e. v1.5, section 3.1 states "The COARDS
convention prohibits the unit "degrees" altogether" while also stating
"this unit is not forbidden by the CF convention". Is this in fact true?
The COARDS convention does indeed state, when refering to UDUNITS,
"names therein...will be regarded as acceptable unit names for this
standard with the following additions and deletions: "degrees" -
deleted". However, it then goes on to say "The unit "degrees" creates
ambiguities when attempting to differentiate longitude and latitude
coordinate variables; files must use "degrees_east"...and
"degrees_north"".
Is it not a case that the COARDS convention is disallowing the use of
the "degrees" value simply for coordinate variables, and subsequently
mandating the use of "degrees_east" and "degrees_north", to remove any
potential ambiguity with regards to the position the data relates, i.e.
COARDS requires "degrees_east" and "degrees_north" for coordinates
variables, but allows uses of "degrees" for a data variable such wind
direction (NOTE: I am aware that the CF standard canonical unit is
"degree").
Is there some convention (pun intended :-) to interpretating the COARDS
convention as meaning that "degrees" is prohibited, period?
Kind regards,
Glenn Comiskey
Data System Administrator
Fugro Global Environment & Ocean Sciences
Fugro House, Hithercroft Road
Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 9RB, UK
Registration No: 2985431 / VAT No: GB 655475606
Tel: +44 (0) 1491 820500 (Switchboard) / Tel: +44 (0) 1491 820559
(Direct) / Fax: +44 (0) 1491 820599
E-mail: g.comiskey at geos.com <mailto:g.comiskey at g.comiskey_at_geos.com> /
Website: www.geos.com <
http://www.geos.com/>
Please note:
*
The information contained in this message is privileged and
confidential and intended only for the use of the addresses. If you are
not the intended recipient you should not read, copy, distribute or
otherwise use the information;
*
Fugro Global Environment & Ocean Sciences accepts no
responsibility for loss or damage of any kind arising from the use of
this message;
*
If you have received this message in error, please note the
sender immediately and delete the message.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <
http://mailman.cgd.ucar.edu/pipermail/cf-metadata/attachments/20110714/9491f05d/attachment-0001.html>
Received on Thu Jul 14 2011 - 08:48:04 BST
