[CF-metadata] New LUMIP variables

Discussion:

David Lawrence

2016-09-23 19:57:00 UTC

For LUMIP we would like to propose several new variables, listed in the
attached excel spreadsheet, to the list.

Thanks,

Dave Lawrence and Elena Shevliakova

David Lawrence

2016-09-26 21:35:20 UTC

Permalink

Jonathan Gregory requested that we list in text format. For each variable,
fields are Short Name, Proposed CFStandard Name, Long Name, and Units.

necbLut
surface_net_downward_mass_flux_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon_due_to_all_land_processes

net rate of C accumulation (or loss) on land use tile

kg m-2 s-1

nwdFracLut

area_fraction, plus a new area_type of vegetation_excluding_trees_and_shrubs

fraction of land use tile tile that is non-woody vegetation ( e.g.
herbaceous crops)1

mrsosLut

moisture_content_of_soil_layer

Moisture in top 10cm of Soil Column of land use tile

kg m-2

mrsoLut

soil_moisture_content

Total soil moisture

kg m-2

irrLut

surface_downward_mass_flux_of_water_due_to_crop_irrigation

cropland irrigation flux

kg m-2

fahUrb

surface_upward_sensible_heat_flux_due_to_anthropogenic_energy_consumptionAntanthropogenic
heat flux

W m-2

fProductDecompLuttendency_of_atmosphere_mass_content_of_carbon_due_to_emission_from_anthropogenic_product_pool

flux from anthropogenic pools on land use tile into atmosphere

kg s-1

fLulccProductLut

carbon_mass_flux_into_anthropogenic_product_pools_due_to_land_use_land_cover_change

carbon harvested due to land-use or land-cover change process that enters
anthropogenic product pools on tile

kg s-1

fLulccResidueLutcarbon_mass_flux_into_soil_or_litter_pools_due_to_land_use_land_cover_change

carbon transferred to soil or litter pools due to land-use or land-cover
change processes on tile

kg s-1

fLulccAtmLut

carbon_mass_flux_direct_to_atmosphere_due_to_land_use_land_cover_change

carbon transferred directly to atmosphere due to any land-use or land-cover
change activities including deforestation or agricultural fire

kg s-1

fracOutLut

change_over_time_in_area_fraction

annual gross fraction of land use tile that was transferred into other land
use tiles

1

fracInLut

change_over_time_in_area_fraction

annual gross fraction that was transferred into this tile from other land
use tiles

1

Post by David Lawrence
For LUMIP we would like to propose several new variables, listed in the
attached excel spreadsheet, to the list.
Thanks,
Dave Lawrence and Elena Shevliakova

Jonathan Gregory

2016-09-27 13:37:21 UTC

Permalink

Dear Dave

Thanks for the text listing of your proposals. Here are a few comments:

These ones are existing standard names:
surface_net_downward_mass_flux_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon_due_to_all_land_processes
moisture_content_of_soil_layer
soil_moisture_content

I see that there is already a standard name of surface_downward_water_flux.
For consistency, I think the existing standard name should be changed (by
alias) to surface_downward_mass_flux_of_water for consistency with your
proposal
surface_downward_mass_flux_of_water_due_to_crop_irrigation
or yours should be changed to
surface_downward_water_flux_due_to_crop_irrigation

* surface_upward_sensible_heat_flux_due_to_anthropogenic_energy_consumption
In the definition you call this "anthropogenic heat flux". That sounds more
general. Is it really an upward sensible heat flux specifically - no latent
heat flux, for instance? Or do you mean the heat released per unit area and
per unit time by anthropogenic energy use, no matter what happens to it?

* tendency_of_atmosphere_mass_content_of_carbon_due_to_emission_from_anthropogenic_product_pool
Is this really carbon and not carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon, like
others? What is the difference between this and the existing standard name
tendency_of_atmosphere_mass_content_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon_due_to_anthropogenic_emission
Actually I don't know what "anthropogenic product pool" means. It isn't a
phrase known to Google. Is there an alternative? Consequently I also don't
understand this one
carbon_mass_flux_into_anthropogenic_product_pools_due_to_land_use_land_cover_change

* carbon_mass_flux_into_soil_or_litter_pools_due_to_land_use_land_cover_change
I guess this should be ..._due_to_land_use_or_land_cover_change

* carbon_mass_flux_direct_to_atmosphere_due_to_land_use_land_cover_change
By analogy with several existing names of the form
surface_upward_mass_flux_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon_due_to_X
could this one be
surface_upward_mass_flux_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon_due_to_land_use_or_land_cover_change

* change_over_time_in_area_fraction
It is OK for this to be change_over_time but would it be better as a rate i.e.
tendency_of_area_fraction
for which the canonical unit would be s-1? It could still be expressed as
yr-1 so numerically the same.

Best wishes

Jonathan

David Lawrence

2016-09-29 22:09:43 UTC

Permalink

Thanks for your detailed assessment Jonathan,

Answers embedded below.

Thanks,

Dave

Post by Jonathan Gregory
Dear Dave
surface_net_downward_mass_flux_of_carbon_dioxide_
expressed_as_carbon_due_to_all_land_processes
moisture_content_of_soil_layer
soil_moisture_content
OK. Alison Pamment suggested that we post these to the list, so I did,

but I think you are right.

Post by Jonathan Gregory
I see that there is already a standard name of surface_downward_water_flux.
For consistency, I think the existing standard name should be changed (by
alias) to surface_downward_mass_flux_of_water for consistency with your
proposal
surface_downward_mass_flux_of_water_due_to_crop_irrigation
or yours should be changed to
surface_downward_water_flux_due_to_crop_irrigation
Changing our name to surface_downward_water_flux_due_to_crop_irrigation

is good.

* surface_upward_sensible_heat_flux_due_to_anthropogenic_energy_consumption

Post by Jonathan Gregory
In the definition you call this "anthropogenic heat flux". That sounds more
general. Is it really an upward sensible heat flux specifically - no latent
heat flux, for instance? Or do you mean the heat released per unit area and
per unit time by anthropogenic energy use, no matter what happens to it?

Yes, this should be more general: surface_upward_heat_
flux_due_to_anthropogenic_energy_consumption

Post by Jonathan Gregory
* tendency_of_atmosphere_mass_content_of_carbon_due_to_
emission_from_anthropogenic_product_pool
Is this really carbon and not carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon, like
others? What is the difference between this and the existing standard name
tendency_of_atmosphere_mass_content_of_carbon_dioxide_
expressed_as_carbon_due_to_anthropogenic_emission
Actually I don't know what "anthropogenic product pool" means. It isn't a
phrase known to Google. Is there an alternative? Consequently I also don't
understand this one
carbon_mass_flux_into_anthropogenic_product_pools_
due_to_land_use_land_cover_change

Anthropogenic product pools are carbon pools where carbon from wood or crop
harvest is put. I am not sure that there is a generally accepted term for
this, but anthropogenic product pools is commonly used and should be
understood (with the additional comments) by those in the land modeling
community. So, the term tendency_of_atmosphere_mass_
content_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon_due_to_anthropogenic_emission
would include tendency_of_atmosphere_mass_content_of_carbon_due_to_
emission_from_anthropogenic_product_pool as one of it's components. Agreed
about adding _of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon to this standard name.

Post by Jonathan Gregory
* carbon_mass_flux_into_soil_or_litter_pools_due_to_land_use_
land_cover_change
I guess this should be ..._due_to_land_use_or_land_cover_change

Correct.

Post by Jonathan Gregory
* carbon_mass_flux_direct_to_atmosphere_due_to_land_use_land_cover_change
By analogy with several existing names of the form
surface_upward_mass_flux_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon_due_to_X
could this one be
surface_upward_mass_flux_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_
carbon_due_to_land_use_or_land_cover_change

Yes, if this is the common form, then that would be correct.

Post by Jonathan Gregory
* change_over_time_in_area_fraction
It is OK for this to be change_over_time but would it be better as a rate i.e.
tendency_of_area_fraction
for which the canonical unit would be s-1? It could still be expressed as
yr-1 so numerically the same.
I think that this would be ok, especially if that is how other

area_fraction change variables are reported.

Post by Jonathan Gregory
Best wishes
Jonathan
_______________________________________________
CF-metadata mailing list
http://mailman.cgd.ucar.edu/mailman/listinfo/cf-metadata

a***@stfc.ac.uk

2016-11-21 12:57:56 UTC

Permalink

Dear Dave,

Thank you for proposing new standard names for LUMIP and apologies for the delay in responding. Thanks also to Jonathan for commenting in this discussion.

I have added the LUMIP proposals to my list of standard names under discussion and you can view a summary of them all here: http://cfeditor.ceda.ac.uk/proposals/1?status=active&namefilter=&proposerfilter=&descfilter=&unitfilter=&yearfilter=&commentfilter=LUMIP&filter+and+display=Filter. This shows the latest status of the names, including changes that have already been agreed during the discussion.

I have not added an entry for surface_net_downward_mass_flux_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon_due_to_all_land_processes because, as Jonathan pointed out, this is actually an existing name.

Regarding your other proposals, please see below for my comments on the individual names.

1. moisture_content_of_soil_layer (canonical units: kg m-2)
'Moisture in top 10 cm of soil column of land use tile.'

soil_moisture_content (canonical units: kg m-2)
'Total soil moisture'.

Jonathan is correct that these two names already exist. However, the reason I suggested raising them on the mailing list is that I think we should improve the wording of the existing names by changing them to mass_content_of_water_in_soil_layer and soil_mass_content_of_water respectively. This would make the syntax of the soil names more consistent with other existing names such as atmosphere_mass_content_of_water and mass_content_of_water_vapor_in_atmosphere_layer, for example. There are also existing soil names that refer to "frozen_water" and "condensed_water" rather than "moisture" so I think it would be sensible to standardize the terminology used across all the names. The soil names could continue to use their existing definitions as follows:

mass_content_of_water_in_soil_layer (kg m-2)
' "Water" means water in all phases. "Content" indicates a quantity per unit area. "Layer" means any layer with upper and lower boundaries that have constant values in some vertical coordinate. There must be a vertical coordinate variable indicating the extent of the layer(s). If the layers are model layers, the vertical coordinate can be model_level_number, but it is recommended to specify a physical coordinate (in a scalar or auxiliary coordinate variable) as well. Quantities defined for a soil layer must have a vertical coordinate variable with boundaries indicating the extent of the layer(s).'

soil_mass_content_of_water (kg m-2)
' "Water" means water in all phases. "Content" indicates a quantity per unit area. The "soil content" of a quantity refers to the vertical integral from the surface down to the bottom of the soil model. For the content between specified levels in the soil, standard names including content_of_soil_layer are used.'

Is this OK? If so, I think these names can be accepted for inclusion in the standard name table (the older versions of the names would be retained as aliases).

2. surface_downward_mass_flux_of_water_due_to_crop_irrigation (canonical_units: kg m-2)
'cropland irrigation flux'

I think the name and units are fine. We need to expand the definition and based on text used for existing names I would suggest:
' "Downward" indicates a vector component which is positive when directed downward (negative upward). The surface called "surface" means the lower boundary of the atmosphere. In accordance with common usage in geophysical disciplines, "flux" implies per unit area, called "flux density" in physics. The specification of a physical process by the phrase "due_to_" process means that the quantity named is a single term in a sum of terms which together compose the general quantity named by omitting the phrase.'

Is this OK? I am wondering if this name refers to any particular definition of 'crop', for example, arable crops, fruit trees, trees grown for timber, or perhaps all of the above? It would be useful to add that into the text too.

3. surface_upward_sensible_heat_flux_due_to_anthropogenic_energy_consumption (canonical units: W m-2)
' anthropogenic heat flux'

I note that after discussion with Jonathan, Dave has agreed that the name should be more general, i.e., it is not only a sensible heat flux and the proposal is now
surface_upward_heat_flux_due_to_anthropogenic_energy_consumption (Wm-2).

That name and the units are fine, so now we need a definition. Based on the definitions of existing names we would have the following:
'The surface called "surface" means the lower boundary of the atmosphere. "Upward" indicates a vector component which is positive when directed upward (negative downward). The vertical heat flux in air is the sum of all heat fluxes i.e. radiative, latent and sensible. In accordance with common usage in geophysical disciplines, "flux" implies per unit area, called "flux density" in physics. The specification of a physical process by the phrase "due_to_" process means that the quantity named is a single term in a sum of terms which together compose the general quantity named by omitting the phrase. "Anthropogenic" means influenced, caused, or created by human activity.'

Does 'anthropogenic_energy_consumption' mean all anthropogenic processes, e.g., domestic, industrial, transport, agriculture, and so on? It would make the definition (and hence the name) more useful if we can say something about which processes are included or excluded.

4. tendency_of_atmosphere_mass_content_of_carbon_due_to_emission_from_anthropogenic_product_pool (canonical units: kg s-1)
' flux from anthropogenic pools on land use tile into atmosphere'

Jonathan asked whether this name should really be carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon and Dave has agreed, so the proposal is now
tendency_of_atmosphere_mass_content_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon_due_to_emission_from_anthropogenic_product_pool (kg s-1).

Post by David Lawrence
Anthropogenic product pools are carbon pools where carbon from wood or crop
harvest is put. I am not sure that there is a generally accepted term for
this, but anthropogenic product pools is commonly used and should be
understood (with the additional comments) by those in the land modeling
community.

We do have one existing standard name, introduced for CMIP5, carbon_content_of_products_of_anthropogenic_land_use_change with the following definition:
' "Content" indicates a quantity per unit area. "products_of_anthropogenic_land_use_change" means the different end-products of wood that has been removed from the environment by deforestation. Examples are paper, cardboard, furniture and timber for construction. Models that simulate land use changes have one or more pools of carbon that represent these products in order to conserve carbon and allow its eventual release into the atmosphere, for example, when the products decompose in landfill sites. "Anthropogenic" means influenced, caused, or created by human activity.'

I think the existing definition sounds very similar to Dave's description, so I suggest we keep it and use it in all the anthropogenic product names. For consistency with the LUMIP proposals, I suggest we change the existing name to carbon_content_of_anthropogenic_product_pool.

So the LUMIP name and definition would then be as follows:
tendency_of_atmosphere_mass_content_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon_due_to_emission_from_anthropogenic_product_pool (kg s-1)
"tendency_of_X" means derivative of X with respect to time. 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. The chemical formula for carbon dioxide is CO2. "Content" indicates a quantity per unit area. The "atmosphere content" of a quantity refers to the vertical integral from the surface to the top of the atmosphere. For the content between specified levels in the atmosphere, standard names including "content_of_atmosphere_layer" are used. The specification of a physical process by the phrase "due_to_" process means that the quantity named is a single term in a sum of terms which together compose the general quantity named by omitting the phrase. "Emission" means emission from a primary source located anywhere within the atmosphere, including at the lower boundary (i.e. the surface of the earth). "Emission" is a process entirely distinct from "re-emission" which is used in some standard names. "anthropogenic_product_pool" means the different end-products of wood that has been removed from the environment by deforestation or harvesting. Examples are paper, cardboard, furniture and timber for construction. Models that simulate land use changes have one or more pools of carbon that represent these products in order to conserve carbon and allow its eventual release into the atmosphere, for example, when the products decompose in landfill sites. "Anthropogenic" means influenced, caused, or created by human activity.'

Is this OK? If so, I think this name (and the creation of an alias for the existing product pool name) can be accepted for publication in the standard name table.

5. carbon_mass_flux_into_anthropogenic_product_pools_due_to_land_use_land_cover_change (canonical units: kg s-1)
'carbon harvested due to land-use or land-cover change process that enters anthropogenic product pools on tile'

In this case is it correct to refer simply to 'carbon' rather than carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon? (Either would be OK, we just need to choose the most appropriate phrase). Following one of Jonathan's comments should we refer to 'land_use_or_land_cover_change'? Thus the name and definition would then be:
mass_flux_of_carbon_into_anthropogenic_product_pool_due_to_land_use_or_land_cover_change (kg s-1)
'In accordance with common usage in geophysical disciplines, "flux" implies per unit area, called "flux density" in physics. The specification of a physical process by the phrase "due_to_" process means that the quantity named is a single term in a sum of terms which together compose the general quantity named by omitting the phrase. "anthropogenic_product_pool" means the different end-products of wood that has been removed from the environment by deforestation or harvesting. Examples are paper, cardboard, furniture and timber for construction. Models that simulate land use changes have one or more pools of carbon that represent these products in order to conserve carbon and allow its eventual release into the atmosphere, for example, when the products decompose in landfill sites. "Anthropogenic" means influenced, caused, or created by human activity.'

OK?

6. carbon_mass_flux_into_soil_or_litter_pools_due_to_land_use_land_cover_change (canonical_units: kg s-1)
'carbon transferred to soil or litter pools due to land-use or land-cover change processes on tile'

As with the previous proposal, is it correct to refer simply to 'carbon' rather than carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon? Dave and Jonathan agreed that we should refer to 'land_use_or_land_cover_change. Perhaps the name should say soil_and_litter, rather than soil_or_litter because presumably the carbon is going into both pools? Also, existing names refer simply to 'soil' and/or 'litter' without using the word 'pool', so I think we should leave that word out for consistency.

So then the name would be:
carbon_mass_flux_into_soil_and_litter_due_to_land_use_or_land_cover_change (kg s-1)
'In accordance with common usage in geophysical disciplines, "flux" implies per unit area, called "flux density" in physics. "Litter" is dead plant material in or above the soil. The specification of a physical process by the phrase "due_to_" process means that the quantity named is a single term in a sum of terms which together compose the general quantity named by omitting the phrase.'

OK?

7. carbon_mass_flux_direct_to_atmosphere_due_to_land_use_land_cover_change (canonical units: kg s1)
'carbon transferred directly to atmosphere due to any land-use or land-cover change activities including deforestation or agricultural fire'

Jonathan suggested that this name would be better expressed as surface_upward_mass_flux_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon_due_to_land_use_or_land_cover_change for consistency with other surface flux names and Dave agreed with this change. For the definition, I note that agricultural fires are included but what about natural ones? Do all these 'land_use_or_land_cover_change' names really refer to anthropogenic changes rather than natural ones? If so, we should really say 'anthropogenic_land_use_or_land_cover_change' in all of them.

8. change_over_time_in_area_fraction (canonical units: 1)
'annual gross fraction of land use tile that was transferred into other land use tiles'

Jonathan suggested that this quantity could be described as tendency_of_area_fraction (canonical unit: s-1) and that units of yr-1 could be used in the data files. Dave agreed that this would be an acceptable approach.

Thus the name, units and definition would be:
tendency_of_area_fraction (s-1)
' "tendency_of_X" means derivative of X with respect to time. "X_area_fraction" means the fraction of horizontal area occupied by X. Annual gross fraction of land use tile that was transferred into other land use tiles.'

OK? If so, I think this one can be accepted for inclusion in the standard name table.

Best wishes,
Alison

------
Alison Pamment Tel: +44 1235 778065
Centre for Environmental Data Analysis Email: ***@stfc.ac.uk
STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
R25, 2.22
Harwell Campus, Didcot, OX11 0QX, U.K.

From: CF-metadata [mailto:cf-metadata-***@cgd.ucar.edu] On Behalf Of David Lawrence
Sent: 29 September 2016 23:10
To: Jonathan Gregory; Elena Shevliakova
Cc: cf-***@cgd.ucar.edu
Subject: Re: [CF-metadata] New LUMIP variables

Thanks for your detailed assessment Jonathan,

Answers embedded below.
Thanks,
Dave

On Tue, Sep 27, 2016 at 7:37 AM, Jonathan Gregory <***@reading.ac.uk> wrote:
Dear Dave

Thanks for the text listing of your proposals. Here are a few comments:

These ones are existing standard names:
surface_net_downward_mass_flux_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon_due_to_all_land_processes
moisture_content_of_soil_layer
soil_moisture_content
OK. Alison Pamment suggested that we post these to the list, so I did, but I think you are right.

I see that there is already a standard name of surface_downward_water_flux.
For consistency, I think the existing standard name should be changed (by
alias) to surface_downward_mass_flux_of_water for consistency with your
proposal
surface_downward_mass_flux_of_water_due_to_crop_irrigation
or yours should be changed to
surface_downward_water_flux_due_to_crop_irrigation
Changing our name to surface_downward_water_flux_due_to_crop_irrigation is good.
* surface_upward_sensible_heat_flux_due_to_anthropogenic_energy_consumption
In the definition you call this "anthropogenic heat flux". That sounds more
general. Is it really an upward sensible heat flux specifically - no latent
heat flux, for instance? Or do you mean the heat released per unit area and
per unit time by anthropogenic energy use, no matter what happens to it?

Yes, this should be more general: surface_upward_heat_flux_due_to_anthropogenic_energy_consumption

* tendency_of_atmosphere_mass_content_of_carbon_due_to_emission_from_anthropogenic_product_pool
Is this really carbon and not carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon, like
others? What is the difference between this and the existing standard name
tendency_of_atmosphere_mass_content_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon_due_to_anthropogenic_emission
Actually I don't know what "anthropogenic product pool" means. It isn't a
phrase known to Google. Is there an alternative? Consequently I also don't
understand this one
carbon_mass_flux_into_anthropogenic_product_pools_due_to_land_use_land_cover_change

Anthropogenic product pools are carbon pools where carbon from wood or crop harvest is put. I am not sure that there is a generally accepted term for this, but anthropogenic product pools is commonly used and should be understood (with the additional comments) by those in the land modeling community. So, the term tendency_of_atmosphere_mass_content_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon_due_to_anthropogenic_emission would include tendency_of_atmosphere_mass_content_of_carbon_due_to_emission_from_anthropogenic_product_pool as one of it's components. Agreed about adding _of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon to this standard name.

* carbon_mass_flux_into_soil_or_litter_pools_due_to_land_use_land_cover_change
I guess this should be ..._due_to_land_use_or_land_cover_change

Correct.

* carbon_mass_flux_direct_to_atmosphere_due_to_land_use_land_cover_change
By analogy with several existing names of the form
surface_upward_mass_flux_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon_due_to_X
could this one be
surface_upward_mass_flux_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon_due_to_land_use_or_land_cover_change

Yes, if this is the common form, then that would be correct.

* change_over_time_in_area_fraction
It is OK for this to be change_over_time but would it be better as a rate i.e.
tendency_of_area_fraction
for which the canonical unit would be s-1? It could still be expressed as
yr-1 so numerically the same.
I think that this would be ok, especially if that is how other area_fraction change variables are reported.

Best wishes

Jonathan
_______________________________________________
CF-metadata mailing list
CF-***@cgd.ucar.edu
http://mailman.cgd.ucar.edu/mailman/listinfo/cf-metadata

David Lawrence

2016-11-21 22:31:53 UTC

Permalink

Hi Alison,

Responses are embedded below.

Post by a***@stfc.ac.uk
Dear Dave,
Thank you for proposing new standard names for LUMIP and apologies for the
delay in responding. Thanks also to Jonathan for commenting in this
discussion.
I have added the LUMIP proposals to my list of standard names under
http://cfeditor.ceda.ac.uk/proposals/1?status=active&namefil
ter=&proposerfilter=&descfilter=&unitfilter=&yearfilter=&com
mentfilter=LUMIP&filter+and+display=Filter. This shows the latest status
of the names, including changes that have already been agreed during the
discussion.
I have not added an entry for surface_net_downward_mass_flux
_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon_due_to_all_land_processes because,
as Jonathan pointed out, this is actually an existing name.
Regarding your other proposals, please see below for my comments on the individual names.
1. moisture_content_of_soil_layer (canonical units: kg m-2)
'Moisture in top 10 cm of soil column of land use tile.'
soil_moisture_content (canonical units: kg m-2)
'Total soil moisture'.
Jonathan is correct that these two names already exist. However, the
reason I suggested raising them on the mailing list is that I think we
should improve the wording of the existing names by changing them to
mass_content_of_water_in_soil_layer and soil_mass_content_of_water
respectively. This would make the syntax of the soil names more consistent
with other existing names such as atmosphere_mass_content_of_water and
mass_content_of_water_vapor_in_atmosphere_layer, for example. There are
also existing soil names that refer to "frozen_water" and "condensed_water"
rather than "moisture" so I think it would be sensible to standardize the
terminology used across all the names. The soil names could continue to use
mass_content_of_water_in_soil_layer (kg m-2)
' "Water" means water in all phases. "Content" indicates a quantity per
unit area. "Layer" means any layer with upper and lower boundaries that
have constant values in some vertical coordinate. There must be a vertical
coordinate variable indicating the extent of the layer(s). If the layers
are model layers, the vertical coordinate can be model_level_number, but it
is recommended to specify a physical coordinate (in a scalar or auxiliary
coordinate variable) as well. Quantities defined for a soil layer must have
a vertical coordinate variable with boundaries indicating the extent of the
layer(s).'
soil_mass_content_of_water (kg m-2)
' "Water" means water in all phases. "Content" indicates a quantity per
unit area. The "soil content" of a quantity refers to the vertical integral
from the surface down to the bottom of the soil model. For the content
between specified levels in the soil, standard names including
content_of_soil_layer are used.'
Is this OK? If so, I think these names can be accepted for inclusion in
the standard name table (the older versions of the names would be retained
as aliases).

This is fine with me. Presumably this will affect not only LUMIP variable
request but that of other MIPs like LS3MIP. But, main thing is getting a
consistent naming convention and this seems good.

Post by a***@stfc.ac.uk
2. surface_downward_mass_flux_of_water_due_to_crop_irrigation
(canonical_units: kg m-2)
'cropland irrigation flux'
I think the name and units are fine. We need to expand the definition and
' "Downward" indicates a vector component which is positive when directed
downward (negative upward). The surface called "surface" means the lower
boundary of the atmosphere. In accordance with common usage in geophysical
disciplines, "flux" implies per unit area, called "flux density" in
physics. The specification of a physical process by the phrase "due_to_"
process means that the quantity named is a single term in a sum of terms
which together compose the general quantity named by omitting the phrase.'
Is this OK? I am wondering if this name refers to any particular
definition of 'crop', for example, arable crops, fruit trees, trees grown
for timber, or perhaps all of the above? It would be useful to add that
into the text too.

I would suggest changing to (note the unit change as well as name change),
removing the term crop to be more general.

surface_downward_mass_flux_of_water_due_to_irrigation (canonical_units: kg
m-2 s-1 or kg s-1)

The description would then be: Irrigation flux including any irrigation
for crops, trees, pasture, or urban lawns.

As with other flux variables, is the per unit area implied since this is a
flux term?

Post by a***@stfc.ac.uk
3. surface_upward_sensible_heat_flux_due_to_anthropogenic_energy_consumption
(canonical units: W m-2)
' anthropogenic heat flux'
I note that after discussion with Jonathan, Dave has agreed that the name
should be more general, i.e., it is not only a sensible heat flux and the
proposal is now
surface_upward_heat_flux_due_to_anthropogenic_energy_consumption (Wm-2).
That name and the units are fine, so now we need a definition. Based on
'The surface called "surface" means the lower boundary of the atmosphere.
"Upward" indicates a vector component which is positive when directed
upward (negative downward). The vertical heat flux in air is the sum of all
heat fluxes i.e. radiative, latent and sensible. In accordance with common
usage in geophysical disciplines, "flux" implies per unit area, called
"flux density" in physics. The specification of a physical process by the
phrase "due_to_" process means that the quantity named is a single term in
a sum of terms which together compose the general quantity named by
omitting the phrase. "Anthropogenic" means influenced, caused, or created
by human activity.'
Does 'anthropogenic_energy_consumption' mean all anthropogenic processes,
e.g., domestic, industrial, transport, agriculture, and so on? It would
make the definition (and hence the name) more useful if we can say
something about which processes are included or excluded.

Anthropogenic heat flux generated from non-renewable human primary energy
consumption, including energy use by vehicles, commercial and residential
buildings, industry, and power plants. Primary energy refers to energy in
natural resources, fossil and nonfossil, before conversion into other
forms, such as electricity.

Post by a***@stfc.ac.uk
4. tendency_of_atmosphere_mass_content_of_carbon_due_to_emissio
n_from_anthropogenic_product_pool (canonical units: kg s-1)
' flux from anthropogenic pools on land use tile into atmosphere'
Jonathan asked whether this name should really be
carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon and Dave has agreed, so the proposal
is now
tendency_of_atmosphere_mass_content_of_carbon_dioxide_expres
sed_as_carbon_due_to_emission_from_anthropogenic_product_pool (kg s-1).
Jonathan asked about the meaning of the term "anthropogenic_product_pool"

Post by David Lawrence
Anthropogenic product pools are carbon pools where carbon from wood or

crop

Post by David Lawrence
harvest is put. I am not sure that there is a generally accepted term

for

Post by David Lawrence
this, but anthropogenic product pools is commonly used and should be
understood (with the additional comments) by those in the land modeling
community.

We do have one existing standard name, introduced for CMIP5,
carbon_content_of_products_of_anthropogenic_land_use_change with the
' "Content" indicates a quantity per unit area.
"products_of_anthropogenic_land_use_change" means the different
end-products of wood that has been removed from the environment by
deforestation. Examples are paper, cardboard, furniture and timber for
construction. Models that simulate land use changes have one or more pools
of carbon that represent these products in order to conserve carbon and
allow its eventual release into the atmosphere, for example, when the
products decompose in landfill sites. "Anthropogenic" means influenced,
caused, or created by human activity.'
I think the existing definition sounds very similar to Dave's description,
so I suggest we keep it and use it in all the anthropogenic product names.
For consistency with the LUMIP proposals, I suggest we change the existing
name to carbon_content_of_anthropogenic_product_pool.
tendency_of_atmosphere_mass_content_of_carbon_dioxide_expres
sed_as_carbon_due_to_emission_from_anthropogenic_product_pool (kg s-1)
"tendency_of_X" means derivative of X with respect to time. 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. The chemical formula for
carbon dioxide is CO2. "Content" indicates a quantity per unit area. The
"atmosphere content" of a quantity refers to the vertical integral from the
surface to the top of the atmosphere. For the content between specified
levels in the atmosphere, standard names including
"content_of_atmosphere_layer" are used. The specification of a physical
process by the phrase "due_to_" process means that the quantity named is a
single term in a sum of terms which together compose the general quantity
named by omitting the phrase. "Emission" means emission from a primary
source located anywhere within the atmosphere, including at the lower
boundary (i.e. the surface of the earth). "Emission" is a process entirely
distinct from "re-emission" which is used in some standard names.
"anthropogenic_product_pool" means the different end-products of wood that
has been removed from the environment by deforestation or harvesting.
Examples are paper, cardboard, furniture and timber for construction.
Models that simulate land use changes have one or more pools of carbon that
represent these products in order to conserve carbon and allow its eventual
release into the atmosphere, for example, when the products decompose in
landfill sites. "Anthropogenic" means influenced, caused, or created by
human activity.'
Is this OK? If so, I think this name (and the creation of an alias for the
existing product pool name) can be accepted for publication in the standard
name table.

Yes, this is OK, but we should add to the list of examples: "Examples are
paper, cardboard, timber for construction, and crop harvest for food or
fuel." (Some models put crop harvest into a short time-scale 'product' pool
which is treated the same way (e-folding decay) as the wood product pool).

Post by a***@stfc.ac.uk
5. carbon_mass_flux_into_anthropogenic_product_pools_due_to_land_use_land_cover_change
(canonical units: kg s-1)
'carbon harvested due to land-use or land-cover change process that enters
anthropogenic product pools on tile'
In this case is it correct to refer simply to 'carbon' rather than
carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon? (Either would be OK, we just need to
choose the most appropriate phrase). Following one of Jonathan's comments
should we refer to 'land_use_or_land_cover_change'? Thus the name and
mass_flux_of_carbon_into_anthropogenic_product_pool_due_to_land_use_or_land_cover_change
(kg s-1)
'In accordance with common usage in geophysical disciplines, "flux"
implies per unit area, called "flux density" in physics. The specification
of a physical process by the phrase "due_to_" process means that the
quantity named is a single term in a sum of terms which together compose
the general quantity named by omitting the phrase.
"anthropogenic_product_pool" means the different end-products of wood that
has been removed from the environment by deforestation or harvesting.
Examples are paper, cardboard, furniture and timber for construction.
Models that simulate land use changes have one or more pools of carbon that
represent these products in order to conserve carbon and allow its eventual
release into the atmosphere, for example, when the products decompose in
landfill sites. "Anthropogenic" means influenced, caused, or created by
human activity.'
OK?
It is more appropriate to refer to 'carbon' rather than

'carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon'. Please add, as above to the
examples: Examples are paper, cardboard, timber for construction, and crop
harvest for food or fuel.

Post by a***@stfc.ac.uk
6. carbon_mass_flux_into_soil_or_litter_pools_due_to_land_use_land_cover_change
(canonical_units: kg s-1)
'carbon transferred to soil or litter pools due to land-use or land-cover
change processes on tile'
As with the previous proposal, is it correct to refer simply to 'carbon'
rather than carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon? Dave and Jonathan agreed
that we should refer to 'land_use_or_land_cover_change. Perhaps the name
should say soil_and_litter, rather than soil_or_litter because presumably
the carbon is going into both pools? Also, existing names refer simply to
'soil' and/or 'litter' without using the word 'pool', so I think we should
leave that word out for consistency.
carbon_mass_flux_into_soil_and_litter_due_to_land_use_or_land_cover_change (kg s-1)
'In accordance with common usage in geophysical disciplines, "flux"
implies per unit area, called "flux density" in physics. "Litter" is dead
plant material in or above the soil. The specification of a physical
process by the phrase "due_to_" process means that the quantity named is a
single term in a sum of terms which together compose the general quantity
named by omitting the phrase.'
OK?

It is more appropriate to refer to 'carbon' rather than
'carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon'. Leaving out the word pool is fine.
Changing to soil and litter is fine.

Post by a***@stfc.ac.uk
7. carbon_mass_flux_direct_to_atmosphere_due_to_land_use_land_cover_change
(canonical units: kg s1)
'carbon transferred directly to atmosphere due to any land-use or
land-cover change activities including deforestation or agricultural fire'
Jonathan suggested that this name would be better expressed as
surface_upward_mass_flux_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carb
on_due_to_land_use_or_land_cover_change for consistency with other
surface flux names and Dave agreed with this change. For the definition, I
note that agricultural fires are included but what about natural ones? Do
all these 'land_use_or_land_cover_change' names really refer to
anthropogenic changes rather than natural ones? If so, we should really say
'anthropogenic_land_use_or_land_cover_change' in all of them.

Natural fire or natural land cover change due to shifts in vegetation
biogeography should not be included. Generally, the term land-use and
land-cover change implies anthropogenic, but to be more explicit, it would
be appropriate to add 'anthropogenic' in front of land-use and land-cover
change.

Post by a***@stfc.ac.uk
8. change_over_time_in_area_fraction (canonical units: 1)
'annual gross fraction of land use tile that was transferred into other land use tiles'
Jonathan suggested that this quantity could be described as
tendency_of_area_fraction (canonical unit: s-1) and that units of yr-1
could be used in the data files. Dave agreed that this would be an
acceptable approach.
tendency_of_area_fraction (s-1)
' "tendency_of_X" means derivative of X with respect to time.
"X_area_fraction" means the fraction of horizontal area occupied by X.
Annual gross fraction of land use tile that was transferred into other land
use tiles.'
OK? If so, I think this one can be accepted for inclusion in the standard name table.
Note that we want to track two variables separately, which we originally

labeled something like:

tendency_of_area_fraction_transitioned_out_of_land_use_tile (s-1)
annual gross fraction that was transferred out of this tile to other land
use tiles

tendency_of_area_fraction_transitioned_into_land_use_tile (s-1)
annual gross fraction that was transferred into this tile from other land
use tiles

The goal here is to be able to track the gross transitions. In principle,
for example, in a grid cell you could have 50% primary_and_secondary_land
and 50% cropland and then transfer all of the primary_and_secondary_land to
cropland and all of the cropland to primary_and_secondary_land giving a net
change of zero but a gross change of 50% in either direction. We want to
be able to track the gross change so we need to know both what is being
transferred out and transferred in for each land use tile.

Thanks,

Dave

Post by a***@stfc.ac.uk
Best wishes,
Alison
------
Alison Pamment Tel: +44 1235 778065
STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
R25, 2.22
Harwell Campus, Didcot, OX11 0QX, U.K.
Sent: 29 September 2016 23:10
To: Jonathan Gregory; Elena Shevliakova
Subject: Re: [CF-metadata] New LUMIP variables
Thanks for your detailed assessment Jonathan,
Answers embedded below.
Thanks,
Dave
On Tue, Sep 27, 2016 at 7:37 AM, Jonathan Gregory <
Dear Dave
surface_net_downward_mass_flux_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_a
s_carbon_due_to_all_land_processes
moisture_content_of_soil_layer
soil_moisture_content
OK. Alison Pamment suggested that we post these to the list, so I did,
but I think you are right.
I see that there is already a standard name of surface_downward_water_flux.
For consistency, I think the existing standard name should be changed (by
alias) to surface_downward_mass_flux_of_water for consistency with your
proposal
surface_downward_mass_flux_of_water_due_to_crop_irrigation
or yours should be changed to
surface_downward_water_flux_due_to_crop_irrigation
Changing our name to surface_downward_water_flux_due_to_crop_irrigation
is good.
* surface_upward_sensible_heat_flux_due_to_anthropogenic_energ
y_consumption
In the definition you call this "anthropogenic heat flux". That sounds more
general. Is it really an upward sensible heat flux specifically - no latent
heat flux, for instance? Or do you mean the heat released per unit area and
per unit time by anthropogenic energy use, no matter what happens to it?
Yes, this should be more general: surface_upward_heat_flux_due_t
o_anthropogenic_energy_consumption
* tendency_of_atmosphere_mass_content_of_carbon_due_to_emissio
n_from_anthropogenic_product_pool
Is this really carbon and not carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon, like
others? What is the difference between this and the existing standard name
tendency_of_atmosphere_mass_content_of_carbon_dioxide_expres
sed_as_carbon_due_to_anthropogenic_emission
Actually I don't know what "anthropogenic product pool" means. It isn't a
phrase known to Google. Is there an alternative? Consequently I also don't
understand this one
carbon_mass_flux_into_anthropogenic_product_pools_due_to_lan
d_use_land_cover_change
Anthropogenic product pools are carbon pools where carbon from wood or
crop harvest is put. I am not sure that there is a generally accepted term
for this, but anthropogenic product pools is commonly used and should be
understood (with the additional comments) by those in the land modeling
community. So, the term tendency_of_atmosphere_mass_co
ntent_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon_due_to_anthropogenic_emission
would include tendency_of_atmosphere_mass_content_of_carbon_due_to_emissio
n_from_anthropogenic_product_pool as one of it's components. Agreed
about adding _of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon to this standard name.
* carbon_mass_flux_into_soil_or_litter_pools_due_to_land_use_l
and_cover_change
I guess this should be ..._due_to_land_use_or_land_cover_change
Correct.
* carbon_mass_flux_direct_to_atmosphere_due_to_land_use_land_cover_change
By analogy with several existing names of the form
surface_upward_mass_flux_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon_due_to_X
could this one be
surface_upward_mass_flux_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carb
on_due_to_land_use_or_land_cover_change
Yes, if this is the common form, then that would be correct.
* change_over_time_in_area_fraction
It is OK for this to be change_over_time but would it be better as a rate i.e.
tendency_of_area_fraction
for which the canonical unit would be s-1? It could still be expressed as
yr-1 so numerically the same.
I think that this would be ok, especially if that is how other
area_fraction change variables are reported.
Best wishes
Jonathan
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a***@stfc.ac.uk

2016-12-01 21:00:42 UTC

Permalink

Dear Dave and Jonathan,

Thank you for the discussion of the product names and I see that we have now settled on wood_and_agricultural_products, which I agree is easier to understand for the non-expert. This same terminology will also need to be adopted for C4MIP so that we have a consistent approach for all the names.

Following on from our earlier discussion (http://mailman.cgd.ucar.edu/pipermail/cf-metadata/2016/059101.html) I have updated all the LUMIP names and definitions as detailed below. The majority of LUMIP names are now either agreed or very close to agreement. Dave, please could you check through the list once more and let me know if anything else needs changing for proposals 1 - 6. I do still have some outstanding questions regarding proposals 7 and 8.

Post by a***@stfc.ac.uk
1. moisture_content_of_soil_layer (canonical units: kg m-2)
'Moisture in top 10 cm of soil column of land use tile.'
soil_moisture_content (canonical units: kg m-2)
'Total soil moisture'.
Jonathan is correct that these two names already exist. However, the reason I suggested raising them on the mailing list is that I think we should improve the wording of
the existing names by changing them to mass_content_of_water_in_soil_layer and soil_mass_content_of_water respectively. This would make the syntax of the soil
names more consistent with other existing names such as atmosphere_mass_content_of_water and mass_content_of_water_vapor_in_atmosphere_layer, for example.
There are also existing soil names that refer to "frozen_water" and "condensed_water" rather than "moisture" so I think it would be sensible to standardize the
mass_content_of_water_in_soil_layer (kg m-2)
' "Water" means water in all phases. "Content" indicates a quantity per unit area. "Layer" means any layer with upper and lower boundaries that have constant values in
some vertical coordinate. There must be a vertical coordinate variable indicating the extent of the layer(s). If the layers are model layers, the vertical coordinate can be
model_level_number, but it is recommended to specify a physical coordinate (in a scalar or auxiliary coordinate variable) as well. Quantities defined for a soil layer must
have a vertical coordinate variable with boundaries indicating the extent of the layer(s).'
soil_mass_content_of_water (kg m-2)
' "Water" means water in all phases. "Content" indicates a quantity per unit area. The "soil content" of a quantity refers to the vertical integral from the surface down to
the bottom of the soil model. For the content between specified levels in the soil, standard names including content_of_soil_layer are used.'
Is this OK? If so, I think these names can be accepted for inclusion in the standard name table (the older versions of the names would be retained as aliases).

This is fine with me. Presumably this will affect not only LUMIP variable request but that of other MIPs like LS3MIP. But, main thing is getting a consistent naming
convention and this seems good.

Following discussion with Jonathan it was agreed to change the order of the words in the second name as follows:
mass_content_of_water_in_soil (kg m-2)
' "Water" means water in all phases. "Content" indicates a quantity per unit area. The mass content of water in soil refers to the vertical integral from the surface down to the bottom of the soil model. For the content between specified levels in the soil, standard names including "content_of_soil_layer" are used.'

Any changes to these names will affect all CF users. I will make sure that the LS3MIP team are aware of the change. The old versions of the names will be retained in the standard name table as aliases which means that any data already written with those names will not be invalidated. However, data written in the future should use the most up to date version of the names.

These changes are accepted for publication in the standard name table and will be added at the next update, scheduled for December 13th.

Post by a***@stfc.ac.uk
2. surface_downward_mass_flux_of_water_due_to_crop_irrigation (canonical_units: kg m-2)
'cropland irrigation flux'
' "Downward" indicates a vector component which is positive when directed downward (negative upward). The surface called "surface" means the lower boundary of the
atmosphere. In accordance with common usage in geophysical disciplines, "flux" implies per unit area, called "flux density" in physics. The specification of a physical
process by the phrase "due_to_" process means that the quantity named is a single term in a sum of terms which together compose the general quantity named by
omitting the phrase.'
Is this OK? I am wondering if this name refers to any particular definition of 'crop', for example, arable crops, fruit trees, trees grown for timber, or perhaps all of the
above? It would be useful to add that into the text too.

I would suggest changing to (note the unit change as well as name change), removing the term crop to be more general.
surface_downward_mass_flux_of_water_due_to_irrigation (canonical_units: kg m-2 s-1 or kg s-1)
The description would then be: Irrigation flux including any irrigation for crops, trees, pasture, or urban lawns.
As with other flux variables, is the per unit area implied since this is a flux term?

Yes, flux always does imply per unit area in standard names so the units should be kg m-2 s-1 as you say. The name looks fine. So then we would have:
surface_downward_mass_flux_of_water_due_to_irrigation (canonical_units: kg m-2 s-1)
' "Downward" indicates a vector component which is positive when directed downward (negative upward). The surface called "surface" means the lower boundary of the
atmosphere. In accordance with common usage in geophysical disciplines, "flux" implies per unit area, called "flux density" in physics. The specification of a physical
process by the phrase "due_to_" process means that the quantity named is a single term in a sum of terms which together compose the general quantity named by omitting
the phrase. "Irrigation" includes water used to sustain crops, trees, pastures and urban lawns.'

OK?

Post by a***@stfc.ac.uk
3. surface_upward_sensible_heat_flux_due_to_anthropogenic_energy_consumption (canonical units: W m-2)
' anthropogenic heat flux'
I note that after discussion with Jonathan, Dave has agreed that the name should be more general, i.e., it is not only a sensible heat flux and the proposal is now
surface_upward_heat_flux_due_to_anthropogenic_energy_consumption (Wm-2).
'The surface called "surface" means the lower boundary of the atmosphere. "Upward" indicates a vector component which is positive when directed upward (negative
downward). The vertical heat flux in air is the sum of all heat fluxes i.e. radiative, latent and sensible. In accordance with common usage in geophysical disciplines, "flux"
implies per unit area, called "flux density" in physics. The specification of a physical process by the phrase "due_to_" process means that the quantity named is a single
term in a sum of terms which together compose the general quantity named by omitting the phrase. "Anthropogenic" means influenced, caused, or created by human
activity.'
Does 'anthropogenic_energy_consumption' mean all anthropogenic processes, e.g., domestic, industrial, transport, agriculture, and so on? It would make the definition
(and hence the name) more useful if we can say something about which processes are included or excluded.

Anthropogenic heat flux generated from non-renewable human primary energy consumption, including energy use by vehicles, commercial and residential buildings,
industry, and power plants. Primary energy refers to energy in natural resources, fossil and nonfossil, before conversion into other forms, such as electricity.

Thank you for supplying the definition. So, in full, we have:
surface_upward_heat_flux_due_to_anthropogenic_energy_consumption (canonical units: W m-2)
'The surface called "surface" means the lower boundary of the atmosphere. "Upward" indicates a vector component which is positive when directed upward (negative downward). The vertical heat flux in air is the sum of all heat fluxes i.e. radiative, latent and sensible. In accordance with common usage in geophysical disciplines, "flux" implies per unit area, called "flux density" in physics. The specification of a physical process by the phrase "due_to_" process means that the quantity named is a single term in a sum of terms which together compose the general quantity named by omitting the phrase. "Anthropogenic" means influenced, caused, or created by human activity. The heat flux due to anthropogenic energy consumption results from non-renewable human primary energy consumption, including energy use by vehicles, commercial and residential buildings, industry, and power plants. Primary energy refers to energy in natural resources, fossil and non-fossil, before conversion into other forms, such as electricity.'

OK?

Following the discussion on product names, this proposal has now become:
tendency_of_atmosphere_mass_content_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon_due_to_emission_from_wood_and_agricultural_products (canonical units: kg s-1)
' "tendency_of_X" means derivative of X with respect to time. 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. The chemical formula for carbon dioxide is CO2. "Content" indicates a quantity per unit area. The "atmosphere content" of a quantity refers to the vertical integral from the surface to the top of the atmosphere. For the content between specified levels in the atmosphere, standard names including "content_of_atmosphere_layer" are used. The specification of a physical process by the phrase "due_to_" process means that the quantity named is a single term in a sum of terms which together compose the general quantity named by omitting the phrase. "Emission" means emission from a primary source located anywhere within the atmosphere, including at the lower boundary (i.e. the surface of the earth). "Emission" is a process entirely distinct from "re-emission" which is used in some standard names. Examples of "wood and agricultural products" are paper, cardboard, furniture, timber for construction, biofuels and food for both humans and livestock. Models that simulate land use changes have one or more pools of carbon that represent these products in order to conserve carbon and allow its eventual release into the atmosphere, for example, when the products decompose in landfill sites.

OK?

For consistency with this discussion, the existing standard name carbon_content_of_products_of_anthropogenic_land_use_change will be made into an alias. The new version of the name will then be:
carbon_content_of_wood_and_agricultural_products (kg m-2)
' "Content" indicates a quantity per unit area. Examples of "wood and agricultural products" are paper, cardboard, furniture, timber for construction, biofuels and food for both humans and livestock. Models that simulate land use changes have one or more pools of carbon that represent these products in order to conserve carbon and allow its eventual release into the atmosphere, for example, when the products decompose in landfill sites.'

OK?

Following the discussion on product names, and the discussion about anthropogenic land use or land cover change (see proposal 7 below), this proposal has now become:
mass_flux_of_carbon_into_wood_and_agricultural_products_due_to_anthropogenic_land_use_or_land_cover_change (canonical units: kg s-1)
'In accordance with common usage in geophysical disciplines, "flux" implies per unit area, called "flux density" in physics. The specification of a physical process by the phrase "due_to_" process means that the quantity named is a single term in a sum of terms which together compose the general quantity named by omitting the phrase. "Anthropogenic" means influenced, caused, or created by human activity. Examples of "wood and agricultural products" are paper, cardboard, furniture, timber for construction, biofuels and food for both humans and livestock. Models that simulate land use changes have one or more pools of carbon that represent these products in order to conserve carbon and allow its eventual release into the atmosphere, for example, when the products decompose in landfill sites.'

OK?

Post by a***@stfc.ac.uk
6. carbon_mass_flux_into_soil_or_litter_pools_due_to_land_use_land_cover_change (canonical_units: kg s-1)
'carbon transferred to soil or litter pools due to land-use or land-cover change processes on tile'
As with the previous proposal, is it correct to refer simply to 'carbon' rather than carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon? Dave and Jonathan agreed that we should refer to
'land_use_or_land_cover_change. Perhaps the name should say soil_and_litter, rather than soil_or_litter because presumably the carbon is going into both pools? Also,
existing names refer simply to 'soil' and/or 'litter' without using the word 'pool', so I think we should leave that word out for consistency.
carbon_mass_flux_into_soil_and_litter_due_to_land_use_or_land_cover_change (kg s-1)
'In accordance with common usage in geophysical disciplines, "flux" implies per unit area, called "flux density" in physics. "Litter" is dead plant material in or above the
soil. The specification of a physical process by the phrase "due_to_" process means that the quantity named is a single term in a sum of terms which together compose
the general quantity named by omitting the phrase.'
OK?

It is more appropriate to refer to 'carbon' rather than 'carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon'. Leaving out the word pool is fine. Changing to soil and litter is fine.

Thanks for clarifying. Following the discussion about anthropogenic land use or land cover change (see proposal 7 below) I have added 'anthropogenic' into this name, so we now have:
carbon_mass_flux_into_soil_and_litter_due_to_anthropogenic_land_use_or_land_cover_change (kg s-1)
'In accordance with common usage in geophysical disciplines, "flux" implies per unit area, called "flux density" in physics. "Litter" is dead plant material in or above the soil. The specification of a physical process by the phrase "due_to_" process means that the quantity named is a single term in a sum of terms which together compose
the general quantity named by omitting the phrase. "Anthropogenic" means influenced, caused, or created by human activity.'

OK?

Post by a***@stfc.ac.uk
7. carbon_mass_flux_direct_to_atmosphere_due_to_land_use_land_cover_change (canonical units: kg s1)
'carbon transferred directly to atmosphere due to any land-use or land-cover change activities including deforestation or agricultural fire'
Jonathan suggested that this name would be better expressed as
surface_upward_mass_flux_of_carbon_dioxide_expressed_as_carbon_due_to_land_use_or_land_cover_change for consistency with other surface flux names and Dave
agreed with this change. For the definition, I note that agricultural fires are included but what about natural ones? Do all these 'land_use_or_land_cover_change' names
really refer to anthropogenic changes rather than natural ones? If so, we should really say 'anthropogenic_land_use_or_land_cover_change' in all of them.

Natural fire or natural land cover change due to shifts in vegetation biogeography should not be included. Generally, the term land-use and land-cover change implies
anthropogenic, but to be more explicit, it would be appropriate to add 'anthropogenic' in front of land-use and land-cover change.

Thanks for clarifying. I think it is useful to be explicit about which processes are natural and which are anthropogenic. Looking back through the standard name table, I now see that we have some existing names that refer to anthropogenic_land_use_change which I think were proposed for CMIP5. The definitions of these names all say '"Anthropogenic land use change" means human changes to land, excluding forest regrowth. It includes fires ignited by humans for the purpose of land use change and the processes of eventual disposal and decomposition of wood products such as paper, cardboard, furniture and timber for construction.' Does all of that apply to this name?

Post by a***@stfc.ac.uk
8. change_over_time_in_area_fraction (canonical units: 1)
'annual gross fraction of land use tile that was transferred into other land use tiles'
Jonathan suggested that this quantity could be described as tendency_of_area_fraction (canonical unit: s-1) and that units of yr-1 could be used in the data files. Dave
agreed that this would be an acceptable approach.
tendency_of_area_fraction (s-1)
' "tendency_of_X" means derivative of X with respect to time. "X_area_fraction" means the fraction of horizontal area occupied by X. Annual gross fraction of land use tile > > that was transferred into other land use tiles.'
OK? If so, I think this one can be accepted for inclusion in the standard name table.

tendency_of_area_fraction_transitioned_out_of_land_use_tile (s-1)
annual gross fraction that was transferred out of this tile to other land use tiles
tendency_of_area_fraction_transitioned_into_land_use_tile (s-1)
annual gross fraction that was transferred into this tile from other land use tiles
The goal here is to be able to track the gross transitions. In principle, for example, in a grid cell you could have 50% primary_and_secondary_land and 50% cropland and
then transfer all of the primary_and_secondary_land to cropland and all of the cropland to primary_and_secondary_land giving a net change of zero but a gross change of
50% in either direction. We want to be able to track the gross change so we need to know both what is being transferred out and transferred in for each land use tile.

Thank you for explaining more about your use case - I hadn't understood it properly before. I think, on balance, the best way to handle this is to go back to your original idea of using two standard names to make the meaning as clear as possible. I think Jonathan's suggestion of having canonical units of s-1 is still a good one, because you can then use year-1 in your data files. For gross changes I think we need to be clear about the sign convention in the name itself, hence the following suggestions.

gross_rate_of_increase_in_area_fraction (s-1)
The "rate of increase in area fraction" is the fraction of a grid cell that transitions to a given area type per unit time, for example, as a result of land use changes. The quantity described by this standard name is a gross increase because it includes only land where the use transitions to the given area type and excludes land that transitions away from that area type during the same period. The area type should be specified using a coordinate or scalar coordinate variable with standard name area_type. There is also a standard name for gross_rate_of_decrease_in_area_fraction.

gross_rate_of_decrease_in_area_fraction (s-1)
The "gross rate of decrease in area fraction" is the fraction of a grid cell that transitions from a given area type per unit time, for example, as a result of land use changes. The quantity described by this standard name is a gross decrease because it includes only land where the use transitions away from the given area type and excludes land that transitions to that area type during the same period. The area type should be specified using a coordinate of scalar coordinate variable with standard name area_type. There is also a standard name for gross_rate_of_increase_in_area_fraction.

Does that sound better?

Best wishes,
Alison

------
Alison Pamment Tel: +44 1235 778065
Centre for Environmental Data Analysis Email: ***@stfc.ac.uk
STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
R25, 2.22
Harwell Campus, Didcot, OX11 0QX, U.K.

David Lawrence

2016-12-02 13:51:44 UTC

Permalink

Hi Alison,

My responses are below, but they mostly consist of "yes, I agree."

Post by a***@stfc.ac.uk
Dear Dave and Jonathan,
Thank you for the discussion of the product names and I see that we have
now settled on wood_and_agricultural_products, which I agree is easier to
understand for the non-expert. This same terminology will also need to be
adopted for C4MIP so that we have a consistent approach for all the names.
Following on from our earlier discussion (http://mailman.cgd.ucar.edu/
pipermail/cf-metadata/2016/059101.html) I have updated all the LUMIP
names and definitions as detailed below. The majority of LUMIP names are
now either agreed or very close to agreement. Dave, please could you check
through the list once more and let me know if anything else needs changing
for proposals 1 - 6. I do still have some outstanding questions regarding
proposals 7 and 8.