[CF-metadata] Proposal for new standard_names for biomass burning emissions

From: Jonathan Gregory <j.m.gregory>
Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2013 14:16:26 +0000

Dear Philip

> Jonathan: we already have std_names without a fixed ratio, although it isn't explicit in the descriptions (eg, atmosphere_mass_content_of_anthropogenic_nmvoc_expressed_as_carbon). Indeed, this is one of the main reasons people use the 'expressed_as' concept.
>
> I did note the tiniest inconsistency for the future. As proposed, NOx_expressed_as_NO is consistent with the current description "The phrase 'expressed_as' is used in the construction A_expressed_as_B, where B is a chemical constituent of A. It means that the quantity indicated by the standard name is calculated solely with respect to the B contained in A, neglecting all other chemical constituents of A."
>
> However, in the future someone may want NOx_expressed_as_NO2, and NO2 is not entirely contained in NOx. To put it another way, the mass of the emission expressed as NO2 is larger than the mass of the actual NOx emission.

I think your point is similar to what I was trying to say, but it might be that
I don't understand this properly. I think nmvoc_expressed_as_carbon is fine.
It just means we count up the C, never mind what compounds actually contain the
C. I assume that nox_expressed_as_no means that we pretend all the N in the
NOx is actually present as NO. Is that right? If so, I think it is well-
defined, but it's a bit different from previous situations, where B is truly
contained in A. C is truly contained in nmvoc.

Best wishes

Jonathan
Received on Sat Jan 05 2013 - 07:16:26 GMT