[CF-metadata] More canonical units or more standard names?

From: Aleksandar Jelenak - NOAA Affiliate <aleksandar.jelenak>
Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:03:00 -0400

Dear all,

I proposed last November a standard name:

toa_outgoing_spectral_radiance

Canonical units: mW m-2 sr-1 (cm-1)-1

Definition:
"toa" means top of atmosphere; "outgoing" means toward outer space;
"spectral" means per unit wavenumber or as a function of wavenumber.
Radiance is the radiant power per unit area in a particular direction
per unit of solid angle.
***

Spectral radiance can also be expressed as a function of either
wavelength or frequency so the problem here is that my proposal would
prevent using these two alternative forms of an invaluable piece of
standard name real estate for satellite remote sensing data. One way
to solve it is to allow more than one canonical units per standard
name where is justified, or have more than one standard name for the
same physical quantity.

If having more than one canonical units is deemed too much of a
radical change, how about these standard names:

toa_outgoing_spectral_radiance_per_unit_wavelength
units: mW m-2 sr-1 um-1

toa_outgoing_spectral_radiance_per_unit_ wavenumber
units: mW m-2 sr-1 (cm-1)-1

toa_outgoing_spectral_radiance_per_unit_frequency
units: W m?2 sr?1 Hz?1

or (I could not find any example to copy from):

toa_outgoing_spectral_radiance_function_of_wavelength
units: mW m-2 sr-1 um-1

toa_outgoing_spectral_radiance_function_of_ wavenumber
units: mW m-2 sr-1 (cm-1)-1

toa_outgoing_spectral_radiance_function_of_frequency
units: W m?2 sr?1 Hz?1

Any suggestion how to proceed will be welcome.

       -Aleksandar
Received on Fri Apr 12 2013 - 11:03:00 BST