Dear Randy

> In the problem domain I am working, there are multiple related data variables 
> in the same coordinate space for which the quality flags are the same.  It 
> would be a stretch to call these multiple related data variables "vectors" in 
> the true mathematical sense.

> Given this looser definition of "vector", the notion of having standard names 
> associated with the umbrella data variable does not seem to make sense as 
> different projects would potentially have project-unique groupings of 
> variables where it is desirable to share quality flags, etc.

I agree. The discussions of Thomas's umbrella variable have touched on this
point but it doesn't seem to suit the purpose of providing a single quality
flag variable for an arbitrary selection of geophysical quantities. Hence I
think the idea of generalising the standard_name att to the format
  standard_name [standard_name ...] modifier
i.e. permitting more than two words in it would be more suitable and
general-purpose. The main motivation for the umbrella variable is different
viz. to identify a group of data variables which together constitute a single
higher-level geophysical quantity.

Best wishes

Jonathan
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