[CF-metadata] standard names for ocean volume transport

From: Jonathan Gregory <j.m.gregory>
Date: Sat, 9 Feb 2013 09:49:50 +1100

Dear Matthias

> ocean_volume_transport_across_line
> ocean_volume_x_transport
> ocean_volume_y_transport

These seem fine.

> northward_ocean_volume_transport_due_to_overturning
We already have ocean_meridional_overturning_streamfunction. Is that
applicable for what you want? I would say that in an overturning circulation
there is zero net northward or southward transport by construction. But
perhaps you have something else in mind.

> Although oceanographers will probably expect this property in units of
> Sverdrup, I am fine with a canonical unit of m^3 s^(-1).

It has been proposed to include sverdrup in a CF version of the udunits
database. I can't remember if that has been done yet. But if not, you could
use units of 1e6 m3 s-1, so it will be numerically sverdrups. Any unit which
is dimensionally equivalent to the canonical unit is acceptable.


> I noticed some of the existing names contain "ocean_", others "sea_water_". If
> one is preferred over the other, let us please use that.

In general "ocean" is used in large-scale properties e.g. of the circulation,
sea-water for small-scale properties of the medium that can be measured
locally. It's the same for atmosphere and air.

Cheers

Jonathan
Received on Fri Feb 08 2013 - 15:49:50 GMT