Dear Tuomas,

Thanks for your questions.

Firstly, I should mention that you appear to be looking at a rather old version 
of the standard name table (version 16). The table is updated periodically and 
the most recently published version can always be obtained at
http://cf-pcmdi.llnl.gov/documents/cf-standard-names/standard-name-table/current/cf-standard-name-table.html.
However, it may be that the current version of the table still does not contain 
all the quantities you need, in which case new names can be proposed on this 
mailing list.

You say that you are happy to use the existing names 
ocean_vertical_momentum_diffusivity (m2 s-1) and 
ocean_vertical_tracer_diffusivity (m2 s-1) for the first two quantities in your 
list. I think new names may well be needed for the other quantities. When 
proposing new names it is always helpful to try to follow as closely as 
possible the syntax of existing names. This also helps when writing the 
definitions of the names.

1. vertical eddy kinetic energy (per unit mass), unit m2 s-2.
We already have a name specific_kinetic_energy_of_sea_water (m2 s-2) for which 
the definition simply says ' "specific" means per unit mass.' We also have 
existing names that refer to ocean_eddy_kinetic_energy. Based on these, I would 
suggest adding a new name of specific_vertical_eddy_kinetic_energy_of_sea_water 
(m2 s-2).  Also, based on the definitions of the existing 
vertical_X_diffusivity names (where X is "momentum" or "tracer") I would 
suggest a definition along the lines of ' "specific" means per unit mass. The 
construction "vertical_eddy_kinetic_energy" means the kinetic energy of 
vertical motions which are not resolved on the grid scale of the model.' 

2. kinetic energy dissipation rate, unit m2 s-3.
There is an existing name 
ocean_kinetic_energy_dissipation_per_unit_area_due_to_vertical_friction with 
units of W m-2 and a corresponding name 
ocean_kinetic_energy_dissipation_per_unit_area_due_to_xy_friction. Your 
quantity is not "per_unit_area" so at first sight we might give it a unit of W 
= kg m2 s-3. However, you need m2 s-3 which is  the same as  W kg-1 and this 
suggests that we need to add "specific" to the name again.  If you want energy 
dissipation arising from all possible processes then we wouldn't need the 
"due_to_process" phrase so the name would  be 
ocean_specific_kinetic_energy_dissipation (m2 s-3). However, if you want to 
refer specifically to the vertical component of dissipation perhaps you might 
want to keep the "due_to_vertical_friction" part?

3. mixing length, unit m.
We don't currently have any standard names related to this quantity. I think 
the name needs to be more specific because, for example, we could have 
different mixing lengths in atmosphere and ocean. If the mixing length varies 
on a large scale then we would probably call it ocean_mixing_length, but if 
there is a lot of variation on a small scale then the appropriate name would be 
mixing_length_of_sea_water. Also, is the mixing length the same horizontally 
and vertically or is there a need to distinguish between lateral/vertical 
mixing? Is the mixing length the same for all properties such as temperature 
and salinity or do we need to make any distinction? If you could explain a bit 
more about the context in which the name will be used it will be easier to 
decide on the precise wording and also to produce a definition.

Best wishes,
Alison

------
Alison Pamment                          Tel: +44 1235 778065
NCAS/British Atmospheric Data Centre    Email: [email protected]
STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory     
R25, 2.22
Harwell Oxford, Didcot, OX11 0QX, U.K.

> 
> From: CF-metadata [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of 
> Tuomas Karna
> Sent: 27 February 2013 00:26
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: [CF-metadata] standard names for ocean model turbulent quantities
> 
> Hi All,
> 
> We are currently in the process of migrating SELFE outputs to CF compliant 
> netcdf, using the UGRID conventions (http://bit.ly/ugrid_cf).
> 
> I have a question about the standard names for turbulence closures used in 
> ocean models.
> We have the following fields:
> 
> - vertical eddy viscosity (diffusivity of momentum), unit m2 s-1
> - vertical eddy diffusivity of tracers, unit m2 s-1
> - vertical eddy kinetic energy (per unit mass), unit m2 s-2
> - kinetic energy dissipation rate, unit m2 s-3
> - mixing length, unit m
> 
> Looking at the documentation in [1], I guess for the eddy viscosity and 
> diffusivity we could use ocean_vertical_momentum_diffusivity and
> ocean_vertical_tracer_diffusivity, respectively. But for the other variables 
> I haven't found a reference.
> 
> [1] 
> http://cf-pcmdi.llnl.gov/documents/cf-standard-names/standard-name-table/16/cf-standard-name-table.html/
> 
> Would anyone know if standard names exists for these quantities, and if so, 
> where they are documented?
> 
> 
> Best Regards,
> 
> Tuomas Karna
> Post-Doctoral Fellow
> Center for Coastal Margin Observation and Prediction (CMOP)
> Oregon Health and Science University
> [email protected]
-- 
Scanned by iCritical.
_______________________________________________
CF-metadata mailing list
[email protected]
http://mailman.cgd.ucar.edu/mailman/listinfo/cf-metadata

Reply via email to