[CF-metadata] new standard names for CIN, LFC,LCL; update to CAPE

From: Seth McGinnis <mcginnis>
Date: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:44:36 -0600

Hi all,

Here are the updated proposals for new standard names for CIN, LFC, and LCL;
an update to the standard name for CAPE; and the two standard names for the
starting and ending heights of lifted parcels.

Following the suggestion that came up in our discussion, these come in pairs:
the basic standard name for quantities based on parcels lifted from some
starting height (which should be specified as a coordinate variable), and a
name ending in _from_the_surface for parcel starting at the surface.

Cheers,

--Seth


#####

original_air_pressure_of_lifted_parcel
        
Various stability and convective potential indices are calculated by
"lifting" a parcel of air: moving it dry adiabatically from a starting
height (often the surface) to the Lifting Condensation Level, and then
wet adiabatically from there to a final height (often the top of the
troposphere). original_air_pressure_of_lifted_parcel is the pressure
height at the start of lifting.

canonical units: Pa


#####

final_air_pressure_of_lifted_parcel

Various stability and convective potential indices are calculated by
"lifting" a parcel of air: moving it dry adiabatically from a starting
height (often the surface) to the Lifting Condensation Level, and then
wet adiabatically from there to an ending height (often the top of the
troposphere). final_air_pressure_of_lifted_parcel is the pressure
height at the end of lifting.

canonical units: Pa


#####

atmosphere_specific_convective_inhibition

"Specific" means per unit mass. Convective inhibition is the amount of
energy required to overcome the negatively buoyant energy exerted by
the environment on a parcel of air. Convective inhibition is often
abbreviated as "CIN" or "CINH". It is calculated by integrating the
negative temperature difference between the surrounding atmosphere and
a parcel of air lifted adiabatically from a given starting height to
its equilibrium level. A coordinate variable of
original_air_pressure_of_lifted_parcel should be specified to indicate
the starting height of the lifted parcel.

canonical units: J kg-1


#####

atmosphere_specific_convective_inhibition_from_the_surface

Convective inhibition is the amount of energy required to overcome the
negatively buoyant energy exerted by the environment on a parcel of
air. Convective inhibition is often abbreviated as "CIN" or "CINH".
It is calculated by integrating the negative temperature difference
between the surrounding atmosphere and a parcel of air lifted
adiabatically from the surface to its equilibrium level. "Specific"
means per unit mass.

canonical units: J kg-1


#####

atmosphere_lifting_condensation_level

The lifting condensation level is the height at which the relative
humidity of an air parcel cooled by dry adiabatic lifting would reach
100%. A coordinate variable of original_air_pressure_of_lifted_parcel
should be specified to indicate the starting height of the lifted
parcel.

canonical units: m


#####

atmosphere_lifting_condensation_level_from_the_surface

The lifting condensation level is the height at which the relative
humidity of an air parcel cooled by dry adiabatic lifting from the
surface would reach 100%.

canonical units: m


#####

atmosphere_level_of_free_convection

The level of free convection is the altitude where the temperature of
the environment decreases faster than the moist adiabatic lapse rate
of a saturated air parcel at the same level. It is calculated by
lifting a parcel of air dry adiabatically to the LCL (lifting
condensation level), then moist adiabatically until the parcel
temperature is equal to the ambient temperature. A coordinate
variable of original_air_pressure_of_lifted_parcel should be specified
to indicate the starting height of the lifted parcel.

canonical units: m


#####

atmosphere_level_of_free_convection_from_the_surface

The level of free convection is the altitude where the temperature of
the environment decreases faster than the moist adiabatic lapse rate
of a saturated air parcel at the same level. It is calculated by
lifting a parcel of air dry adiabatically from the surface to the LCL
(lifting condensation level), then moist adiabatically until the
parcel temperature is equal to the ambient temperature.

canonical units: m


#####


[update to existing standard_name]

atmosphere_specific_convective_available_potential_energy

Convective(ly) available potential energy (often abbreviated CAPE) is
a stability measure calculated by integrating the positive temperature
difference between the surrounding atmosphere and a parcel of air
lifted adiabatically from a given starting height to its equilibrium
level. A coordinate variable of original_air_pressure_of_lifted_parcel
should be specified to indicate the starting height of the lifted
parcel. "Specific" means per unit mass. Potential energy is the sum of
the gravitational potential energy relative to the geoid and the
centripetal potential energy. (The geopotential is the specific
potential energy.)

canonical units: J kg-1


#####

atmosphere_specific_convective_available_potential_energy_from_the_surface

Convective(ly) available potential energy (often abbreviated CAPE) is
a stability measure calculated by integrating the positive temperature
difference between the surrounding atmosphere and a parcel of air
lifted adiabatically from the surface to its equilibrium
level. "Specific" means per unit mass. Potential energy is the sum of
the gravitational potential energy relative to the geoid and the
centripetal potential energy. (The geopotential is the specific
potential energy.)

canonical units: J kg-1

#####
Received on Fri Jun 14 2013 - 16:44:36 BST