[CF-metadata] [cf-satellite] Sharing quality flags among multiple variables

From: Jonathan Gregory <j.m.gregory>
Date: Tue, 1 Nov 2011 15:38:30 +0000

Dear Upendra

> On 11/1/2011 10:47 AM, Upendra Dadi wrote:
> >The same issue occurs with World Ocean Database which consists of
> >mainly profile data. Each profile typically consists of several
> >variables measured along the depth. The quality flags used for all
> >the variable are same.

> >On 10/31/2011 12:12 PM, Randy Horne wrote:
> >>The current CF conventions dictate that quality flags are
> >>attached to specific variables. The implication is that
> >>comforming with CF conventions would require the same quality
> >>flags to be stored multiple times in our NetCDF product files.

Quality flags are attached to variables using the ancillary_variables att of
the data variable. If several data variables had the same quality flags and
dimensions, they could all point to the same quality variable. Perhaps the
problem is that the different variables have different standard names, and
this means the quality variables would also have different standard names
(and therefore could not be the same variable)? If that is the problem, perhaps
we could find a way round it. Or have I missed the point?

Best wishes

Jonathan
Received on Tue Nov 01 2011 - 09:38:30 GMT