[CF-metadata] Copernicus Marine Service standard_names

[Elodie Fernandez]

Dear all,

This is my first post to the list, so I hope I'm doing things "right". I
work at Mercator Ocean, for the European Copernicus Marine Service
(http://marine.copernicus.eu/). I am now in charge of making sure that
the products we disseminate are CF compliant, and a big part of that
task is to ensure that our parameters follow the standard_name table.
Most of what we use is already described and available in the table.
Thanks for a great job maintaining this table! But some parameters are
not yet described.

I found these standard_names in the list of proposals. As far as I can
tell, it seems to be agreed they should be added to the standard name
table, but it hasn't happened yet. Can you tell me more about their status?

- divergence_of_surface_downward_stress
Proposed by Bruce Hackett on January 2016
- curl_of_surface_downward_stress
Proposed by Bruce Hackett on January 2016
- sea_water_potential_temperature_at_sea_floor
Proposed by Jonathan Gregory/Stephen Griffies in January 2015

I also would like to suggest the addition of the following
standard_name:
"mole_concentration_of_zooplankton_expressed_as_nitrogen_in_sea_water".
Standard_names already exist for the microzooplankton and the
mesozooplankton, but not for the total zooplankton. A name also exists
for the total zooplankton expressed as carbon in sea water. I tried
building a definition using the already existing ones for micro and meso
zooplankton.

- mole_concentration_of_zooplankton_expressed_as_nitrogen_in_sea_water
unit: mol/m3
definition: Mole concentration means number of moles per unit volume,
also called "molarity", and is used in the construction
mole_concentration_of_X_in_Y, where X is a material constituent of Y. A
chemical species denoted by X may be described by a single term such as
'nitrogen' or a phrase such as 'nox_expressed_as_nitrogen'. 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 in terms of B alone, neglecting all other
chemical constituents of A. Standard names also exist for the mole
concentration of a number of components that make up the total
zooplankton population, such as mesozooplankton, and microzooplankton.

I am also working on preparing the next release of the European
Copernicus Marine Service that will include waves. We are planning on
introducing 35 variables, of which only 7 have already existing
standard_names. What do you think is the best way to proceed? Start a
new thread on this topic and propose for each variable a standard_name,
unit and definition?

Best regards,
Elodie Fernandez

[a***@stfc.ac.uk]

Dear Elodie,

Thank you for your post. This mailing list is the correct place to ask questions about all aspects of CF, including standard names, and to propose changes and additions.

Your post refers to names proposed by a number of other people who I hope will also comment on my suggestions below.

I see that Bruce has provided defintions for his proposed names although they haven't as yet been formally accepted for inclusion in the standard name table.

divergence_of_surface_downward_stress
' The divergence is a signed scalar that represents the magnitude of the 2D surface wind downward stress vector field's source (positive) or sink (negative) at a given point. The surface called "surface" means the lower boundary of the atmosphere. "Downward" indicates a downward flux of momentum, which accelerates the lower medium along the vector and the upper medium against the vector. The surface downward stress is the wind stress on the surface.'

curl_of_surface_downward_stress
' The curl is a signed scalar that represents the magnitude of the 2D surface wind downward stress vector field's local anti-clock-wise rotation at a given point; clockwise rotation is thus given as negative curl. The surface called "surface" means the lower boundary of the atmosphere. "Downward" indicates a downward flux of momentum, which accelerates the lower medium along the vector and the upper medium against the vector. The surface downward stress is the wind stress on the surface.'

The names themselves and defintions look generally OK to me. If these really are both scalar quantities that would imply a canonical unit of '1', i.e., dimensionless in both cases. Is that right? Also, isn't 'curl' usually a vector quantity?

The name proposed by Jonathan and Stephen hasn't received any discussion and I do still need to go through the whole set of names they proposed. However, to take this particular proposal just for now:
sea_water_potential_temperature_at_sea_floor (canonical units: Celsius)
' Potential temperature adjacent to the ocean bottom (at the deepest grid cell).'

The name itself looks fine and fits with existing syntax. I think the canonical units should be Kelvin which would still allow Celsius to be used in the data files because UDunits can convert between them. The definition needs to be expanded a bit to include the standard CF text for potential temperature:
' Potential temperature is the temperature a parcel of air or sea water would have if moved adiabatically to sea level pressure. The potential temperature at the sea floor is that of water adjacent to the ocean bottom, which would usually be the deepest grid cell in an ocean model.'
If Jonathan and Stephen are happy with my suggestions, then I think this name can be accepted for inclusion in the standard name table.

You have also proposed one new name:
mole_concentration_of_zooplankton_expressed_as_nitrogen_in_sea_water (canonical units: mol m-3)
' Mole concentration means number of moles per unit volume, also called "molarity", and is used in the construction mole_concentration_of_X_in_Y, where X is a material constituent of Y. A chemical species denoted by X may be described by a single term such as 'nitrogen' or a phrase such as 'nox_expressed_as_nitrogen'. 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 in terms of B alone, neglecting all other chemical constituents of A. Standard names also exist for the mole concentration of a number of components that make up the total zooplankton population, such as mesozooplankton, and microzooplankton.

I agree it's fine to have a generic zooplankton_expressed_as_nitrogen name, just as we do for phytoplankton. Your proposed name, units and definition all look fine to me so unless anyone objects within the next seven days, this name will be accepted for publication in the standard name table.

Best wishes,
Alison

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

-----Original Message-----
Of Elodie Fernandez
Sent: 27 April 2016 09:03
Subject: [CF-metadata] Copernicus Marine Service standard_names
Dear all,
This is my first post to the list, so I hope I'm doing things "right". I
work at Mercator Ocean, for the European Copernicus Marine Service
(http://marine.copernicus.eu/). I am now in charge of making sure that
the products we disseminate are CF compliant, and a big part of that
task is to ensure that our parameters follow the standard_name table.
Most of what we use is already described and available in the table.
Thanks for a great job maintaining this table! But some parameters are
not yet described.
I found these standard_names in the list of proposals. As far as I can
tell, it seems to be agreed they should be added to the standard name
table, but it hasn't happened yet. Can you tell me more about their status?
- divergence_of_surface_downward_stress
Proposed by Bruce Hackett on January 2016
- curl_of_surface_downward_stress
Proposed by Bruce Hackett on January 2016
- sea_water_potential_temperature_at_sea_floor
Proposed by Jonathan Gregory/Stephen Griffies in January 2015
I also would like to suggest the addition of the following
"mole_concentration_of_zooplankton_expressed_as_nitrogen_in_sea_wat
er".
Standard_names already exist for the microzooplankton and the
mesozooplankton, but not for the total zooplankton. A name also exists
for the total zooplankton expressed as carbon in sea water. I tried
building a definition using the already existing ones for micro and meso
zooplankton.
-
mole_concentration_of_zooplankton_expressed_as_nitrogen_in_sea_water
unit: mol/m3
definition: Mole concentration means number of moles per unit volume,
also called "molarity", and is used in the construction
mole_concentration_of_X_in_Y, where X is a material constituent of Y. A
chemical species denoted by X may be described by a single term such as
'nitrogen' or a phrase such as 'nox_expressed_as_nitrogen'. 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 in terms of B alone, neglecting all other
chemical constituents of A. Standard names also exist for the mole
concentration of a number of components that make up the total
zooplankton population, such as mesozooplankton, and microzooplankton.
I am also working on preparing the next release of the European
Copernicus Marine Service that will include waves. We are planning on
introducing 35 variables, of which only 7 have already existing
standard_names. What do you think is the best way to proceed? Start a
new thread on this topic and propose for each variable a standard_name,
unit and definition?
Best regards,
Elodie Fernandez
_______________________________________________
CF-metadata mailing list
http://mailman.cgd.ucar.edu/mailman/listinfo/cf-metadata

[a***@stfc.ac.uk]

Dear Elodie, Jonathan, All,

Jonathan has indicated that he is happy with
sea_water_potential_temperature_at_sea_floor (canonical units: K)
' Potential temperature is the temperature a parcel of air or sea water would have if moved adiabatically to sea level pressure. The potential temperature at the sea floor is that of water adjacent to the ocean bottom, which would usually be the deepest grid cell in an ocean model.'
This name is accepted for publication in the standard name table.

No further comments have been received on the following name:
mole_concentration_of_zooplankton_expressed_as_nitrogen_in_sea_water (canonical units: mol m-3)
' Mole concentration means number of moles per unit volume, also called "molarity", and is used in the construction mole_concentration_of_X_in_Y, where X is a material constituent of Y. A chemical species denoted by X may be described by a single term such as 'nitrogen' or a phrase such as 'nox_expressed_as_nitrogen'. 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 in terms of B alone, neglecting all other chemical constituents of A. Standard names also exist for the mole concentration of a number of components that make up the total zooplankton population, such as mesozooplankton, and microzooplankton.
This name is also accepted for publication in the standard name table.

Some further clarification is still needed on the definitions of the divergence and curl names for surface wind stress.

The next update of the standard name table will take place one week from today on 17th May 2016.

Best wishes,
Alison

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

-----Original Message-----
Sent: 27 April 2016 14:09
Subject: Re: [CF-metadata] Copernicus Marine Service standard_names
Dear Elodie,
Thank you for your post. This mailing list is the correct place to ask questions
about all aspects of CF, including standard names, and to propose changes
and additions.
Your post refers to names proposed by a number of other people who I
hope will also comment on my suggestions below.
I see that Bruce has provided defintions for his proposed names although
they haven't as yet been formally accepted for inclusion in the standard
name table.
divergence_of_surface_downward_stress
' The divergence is a signed scalar that represents the magnitude of the 2D
surface wind downward stress vector field's source (positive) or sink
(negative) at a given point. The surface called "surface" means the lower
boundary of the atmosphere. "Downward" indicates a downward flux of
momentum, which accelerates the lower medium along the vector and the
upper medium against the vector. The surface downward stress is the wind
stress on the surface.'
curl_of_surface_downward_stress
' The curl is a signed scalar that represents the magnitude of the 2D surface
wind downward stress vector field's local anti-clock-wise rotation at a given
point; clockwise rotation is thus given as negative curl. The surface called
"surface" means the lower boundary of the atmosphere. "Downward"
indicates a downward flux of momentum, which accelerates the lower
medium along the vector and the upper medium against the vector. The
surface downward stress is the wind stress on the surface.'
The names themselves and defintions look generally OK to me. If these
really are both scalar quantities that would imply a canonical unit of '1', i.e.,
dimensionless in both cases. Is that right? Also, isn't 'curl' usually a vector
quantity?
The name proposed by Jonathan and Stephen hasn't received any discussion
and I do still need to go through the whole set of names they proposed.
sea_water_potential_temperature_at_sea_floor (canonical units: Celsius)
' Potential temperature adjacent to the ocean bottom (at the deepest grid cell).'
The name itself looks fine and fits with existing syntax. I think the canonical
units should be Kelvin which would still allow Celsius to be used in the data
files because UDunits can convert between them. The definition needs to
' Potential temperature is the temperature a parcel of air or sea water
would have if moved adiabatically to sea level pressure. The potential
temperature at the sea floor is that of water adjacent to the ocean bottom,
which would usually be the deepest grid cell in an ocean model.'
If Jonathan and Stephen are happy with my suggestions, then I think this
name can be accepted for inclusion in the standard name table.
mole_concentration_of_zooplankton_expressed_as_nitrogen_in_sea_water
(canonical units: mol m-3)
' Mole concentration means number of moles per unit volume, also called
"molarity", and is used in the construction mole_concentration_of_X_in_Y,
where X is a material constituent of Y. A chemical species denoted by X may
be described by a single term such as 'nitrogen' or a phrase such as
'nox_expressed_as_nitrogen'. 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 in
terms of B alone, neglecting all other chemical constituents of A. Standard
names also exist for the mole concentration of a number of components
that make up the total zooplankton population, such as mesozooplankton,
and microzooplankton.
I agree it's fine to have a generic zooplankton_expressed_as_nitrogen
name, just as we do for phytoplankton. Your proposed name, units and
definition all look fine to me so unless anyone objects within the next
seven days, this name will be accepted for publication in the standard name
table.
Best wishes,
Alison
------
Alison Pamment Tel: [phone]
STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
R25, 2.22
Harwell Campus, Didcot, OX11 0QX, U.K.

-----Original Message-----

Behalf

Of Elodie Fernandez
Sent: 27 April 2016 09:03
Subject: [CF-metadata] Copernicus Marine Service standard_names
Dear all,
This is my first post to the list, so I hope I'm doing things "right". I
work at Mercator Ocean, for the European Copernicus Marine Service
(http://marine.copernicus.eu/). I am now in charge of making sure that
the products we disseminate are CF compliant, and a big part of that
task is to ensure that our parameters follow the standard_name table.
Most of what we use is already described and available in the table.
Thanks for a great job maintaining this table! But some parameters are
not yet described.
I found these standard_names in the list of proposals. As far as I can
tell, it seems to be agreed they should be added to the standard name
table, but it hasn't happened yet. Can you tell me more about their status?
- divergence_of_surface_downward_stress
Proposed by Bruce Hackett on January 2016
- curl_of_surface_downward_stress
Proposed by Bruce Hackett on January 2016
- sea_water_potential_temperature_at_sea_floor
Proposed by Jonathan Gregory/Stephen Griffies in January 2015
I also would like to suggest the addition of the following

"mole_concentration_of_zooplankton_expressed_as_nitrogen_in_sea_wat

er".
Standard_names already exist for the microzooplankton and the
mesozooplankton, but not for the total zooplankton. A name also exists
for the total zooplankton expressed as carbon in sea water. I tried
building a definition using the already existing ones for micro and meso
zooplankton.
-

mole_concentration_of_zooplankton_expressed_as_nitrogen_in_sea_water

unit: mol/m3
definition: Mole concentration means number of moles per unit volume,
also called "molarity", and is used in the construction
mole_concentration_of_X_in_Y, where X is a material constituent of Y. A
chemical species denoted by X may be described by a single term such as
'nitrogen' or a phrase such as 'nox_expressed_as_nitrogen'. 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 in terms of B alone, neglecting all other
chemical constituents of A. Standard names also exist for the mole
concentration of a number of components that make up the total
zooplankton population, such as mesozooplankton, and

microzooplankton.

I am also working on preparing the next release of the European
Copernicus Marine Service that will include waves. We are planning on
introducing 35 variables, of which only 7 have already existing
standard_names. What do you think is the best way to proceed? Start a
new thread on this topic and propose for each variable a standard_name,
unit and definition?
Best regards,
Elodie Fernandez
_______________________________________________
CF-metadata mailing list
http://mailman.cgd.ucar.edu/mailman/listinfo/cf-metadata

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

[a***@stfc.ac.uk]

Dear Elodie,

Post by Elodie Fernandez
I am also working on preparing the next release of the European
Copernicus Marine Service that will include waves. We are planning on
introducing 35 variables, of which only 7 have already existing
standard_names. What do you think is the best way to proceed? Start a
new thread on this topic and propose for each variable a standard_name,
unit and definition?

Yes, please. You only need to start one thread which can then be used to propose all your new names. Names will be added to the standard name table as they are agreed, so if some take longer to discuss they won't hold up the ones that can be agreed quickly. Please do provide the proposed name, unit and definition for each variable as this will help to focus the discussion.

Best wishes,
Alison

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

Post by Elodie Fernandez
-----Original Message-----
Of Elodie Fernandez
Sent: 27 April 2016 09:03
Subject: [CF-metadata] Copernicus Marine Service standard_names
Dear all,
This is my first post to the list, so I hope I'm doing things "right". I
work at Mercator Ocean, for the European Copernicus Marine Service
(http://marine.copernicus.eu/). I am now in charge of making sure that
the products we disseminate are CF compliant, and a big part of that
task is to ensure that our parameters follow the standard_name table.
Most of what we use is already described and available in the table.
Thanks for a great job maintaining this table! But some parameters are
not yet described.
I found these standard_names in the list of proposals. As far as I can
tell, it seems to be agreed they should be added to the standard name
table, but it hasn't happened yet. Can you tell me more about their status?
- divergence_of_surface_downward_stress
Proposed by Bruce Hackett on January 2016
- curl_of_surface_downward_stress
Proposed by Bruce Hackett on January 2016
- sea_water_potential_temperature_at_sea_floor
Proposed by Jonathan Gregory/Stephen Griffies in January 2015
I also would like to suggest the addition of the following
"mole_concentration_of_zooplankton_expressed_as_nitrogen_in_sea_wat
er".
Standard_names already exist for the microzooplankton and the
mesozooplankton, but not for the total zooplankton. A name also exists
for the total zooplankton expressed as carbon in sea water. I tried
building a definition using the already existing ones for micro and meso
zooplankton.
-
mole_concentration_of_zooplankton_expressed_as_nitrogen_in_sea_water
unit: mol/m3
definition: Mole concentration means number of moles per unit volume,
also called "molarity", and is used in the construction
mole_concentration_of_X_in_Y, where X is a material constituent of Y. A
chemical species denoted by X may be described by a single term such as
'nitrogen' or a phrase such as 'nox_expressed_as_nitrogen'. 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 in terms of B alone, neglecting all other
chemical constituents of A. Standard names also exist for the mole
concentration of a number of components that make up the total
zooplankton population, such as mesozooplankton, and microzooplankton.
I am also working on preparing the next release of the European
Copernicus Marine Service that will include waves. We are planning on
introducing 35 variables, of which only 7 have already existing
standard_names. What do you think is the best way to proceed? Start a
new thread on this topic and propose for each variable a standard_name,
unit and definition?
Best regards,
Elodie Fernandez
_______________________________________________
CF-metadata mailing list
http://mailman.cgd.ucar.edu/mailman/listinfo/cf-metadata

[Jonathan Gregory]

Dear Alison

Post by a***@stfc.ac.uk
sea_water_potential_temperature_at_sea_floor (canonical units: Celsius)
' Potential temperature adjacent to the ocean bottom (at the deepest grid cell).'
' Potential temperature is the temperature a parcel of air or sea water would have if moved adiabatically to sea level pressure. The potential temperature at the sea floor is that of water adjacent to the ocean bottom, which would usually be the deepest grid cell in an ocean model.'

This is fine, thank you.

Jonathan