[CF-metadata] Representing statistics in CF

From: Jon Blower <j.d.blower>
Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2017 20:03:28 +0000

Hi all,

I?m sure this question has come up before, but I?m looking for the best way to represent statistical quantities. I have two use cases:

1. Representing the mean and spread of an ensemble of simulations (i.e. boiling down a set of ensemble members to two variables: mean and spread).
2. Representing the variability of a quantity within a time period (e.g. expressing the annual mean plus a measure of the spread of values around the mean).

I assume that (2) is solved by using cell methods on the time axis (e.g. cell_methods = ?t: mean? or ?t: standard_deviation? etc). Please correct me if I?m wrong!

For (1) should I use a standard name modifier? If so, is there a reason why ?mean? and ?standard deviation? are not listed as standard name modifiers? ?Standard error? is listed, but this is different from standard deviation, and I think that what I will need is probably a standard deviation.

I?m happy to propose new standard name modifiers of course, if this is the right solution.

Many thanks,
Jon
Received on Sun Apr 23 2017 - 14:03:28 BST